Bramma’s
Magalir Mattum - Movie
A
Review
Good movie indeed,
attempted to explore the world of women. In general, the theme of the movie
seems to be “freedom – which most women in India been denied off”. Jothika, a
documentary film maker – drive the three women out of their daily chores,
boredom. In a larger picture, Director’s touch – he have handled minute things
with care.
My favorite from the
movie, Rani’s (Banupriya) son Karthi got by the paramilitary guards at state
border while he was in search of his mother. He along with his two goons was taken to the training campaign;
actually that was a women regiment. They were provided with a
food parcel. He has been projected as an adamant, male chauvinistic, self-centered,
heartless creature from the beginning. So when the food parcel been offered, those two guys in the
hungry grabbed it and started eating. He was taking a sarcastic look, as he
found a long hair in the food. He makes a comment “Ithu yeppadi sapdurathu?” (How
to eat this?) to the chief, who is a woman. She steps forward and made him to
standup. She slapped him hard and says, “unaiyella, sapatla mudi irruntha
yeduthu pottu sapdanum solli valakkula…” (You have not been taught to have food
after taking away hair, if it comes by mistake)… “pombalainga irrukka veetla
saptla mudivizharathu sagacham…. Ithu unn veeda irruntha yenna panniruppa…” in
the dim-colour video goes (imagination) as if himself in house throwing away
the food plate….. She continues “ sapattu thattu paranthirukkumla!!”. For me,
this is the core of the movie; actually it’s the turning point too…. It goes
with my belief too “Women, has the potential to change the society”. Some could
be taught in Tamil, some in Telugu, some in the language of Love whereas people
like Karthi need different language as she did.
Other favorite dialogues “
Naanum intha ulagathula thaan irrukken (sarcasm – as they were often unnoticed)”
and Suder (Madhavan in cameo) says “yentha veetla aangal samaikuraangalo anga
kuperen kupura paduthuta pomatten solvanaam… pethavalukku samaichu kudutha vazhakaikku
appuram sorgam… katunavalukku samaichu kudutha vazhumbothe sorgam…”
Dialogue in the Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCC0gq34Gmw
Director played a
balance between Women breaking the shell within and Men to step into the domain
of women to explore their world of suffering. I.e. Subu (saranya) pursuing her
passion as a beautician despite of personal problems, making three women to go
on week-long trip, several attempts by the three at college days – playing a
trick to stop marriage, out for movie, and
about the second part Movie starts with a rage of cry about the domestic
chores, unrecognized unrewarded contribution of housewives, (reiterated and
better presented when Jyothika ask Rani to keep Velaikari – she replies “ appo
naan yaaru… naan than Chief velaikari of this house” shows how often we treat women as a
servant or domestic maid) , Subu’s husband who is an alcoholic fulltime after
office (namma oorla rasam yeduthu pora Jam bottle’la TASMAC poi sarakku yeduthu
varum aalu) – fail in taking care of his mother even for three days…. Child
bearing pain of Karthi’s wife, Phone conversation with the childhood friends
which is hardly possible for many women who lost themselves in the family….
Subtle issues have been
discussed in the lighter tone, better way of avoiding any controversy as often
faced by this sort of movies. (Issue 1). Modern Educated Women often argue “why
female should bear the child, why child-rearing sole responsibility of women?” –
Gomatha (Urvashi) replies to Jyothika in a funny tone “It’s a problem of you
and your husband… Unnala mudiyalana avanaiyaachu pethukka sollu” (Issue 2)
Women are emotional prisoners – “why you are like… Neenga illana avanga sapda
mattanga, Neenga illana avanga thoonga mattanga…. Better live your life…. Modern
Liberal thoughts…. Which intend to make human more self-centered, greedy, ambitious”
and (Issue 3) is “kind of live-in relationship – while discussing on an easiest
divorce provision among particular tribal community - if the couple had a child, who will be
responsible on divorce?”…. Though these issues not dealt in detail… sure would
give an insight to those who has this kind of quest…..
Jyothika often quote
Marriage as a “Mayajala jail – which trap woman’s dream”… she also points out
in a other occasion, the real freedom of women is not about walking alone at
midnight with full ornaments; it’s about marrying the man of her choice and
doing what she loves.
Most of the patriarchal
mindsets were not created by men, indeed actually by women themselves. What
people often quotes as TABOO, are upheld by women so strongly. They grow children;
future generation could be directed as they wish. Mothers want her child to grow
as a typical man (completely dominating) and restrict the girl child in all
spheres (education, social interaction, career, choice of life… etc.)
Yes… when I saw the
trailer and poster of this movie… I was feeling like… this movie would be a
misleading precedence “ if you go by the character of Prabha (Jyothika), you
could be good, liberated, independent, happy women”. But it doesn’t make such
remark atleast to some extend…. Tries to touch the dilemmas of a transition society –
previous generation (traditional values, social norms, emotion, and love) and
present generation (passion, career, modern ideas, liberal thoughts, and even some
misconceptions) – the movie, all it attempted is to make a fine balance between
the two.
Some things could have
been avoided…. though it has been handled uncontroversial… Director want to
make a point about HONOUR KILLING directly & indirectly – so he preferred to
name those love couple as Sankar & Kausalya… and also picturized the market
attack scene … fortunately there was Jyothika at the spot to rescue Sankar, but
reality was different. Periyar and DK identity were just passing reference,
could not have made much impact.
Ps. Jyothika, earlier i dunnt like much…. But in this new avatar… lovely …. Yeppa I mean, she performed like SURYA…..
Also read, my previous write-up if time permits
Please do comment….
Well said and written 😀👏👏
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