Language : Malayalam
Director : K.G. George
Writers : K.G. George, Kallikkad Ramachandran
Cast : Srividya, Soorya, Suhasini, Mammootty, Venu Nagavally, Bharath Gopi, Thilakan
Genre : Drama
IMDb: Adaminte Variyellu (1983)
Streaming on YouTube (FREE)
Spoiler Alert: This review contains slight spoilers about the theme, nature and ending of the film.
When discussing modern cinema, one name that cannot be overlooked is the legendary director K.G. George, who raised the bar of Malayalam cinema. This movie is truly remarkable in its approach to the subject of women’s empowerment.
The film opens with a title song showcasing the daily routines of various women in a town, leading to the chance meeting of Vasanthy and Alice, which is portrayed beautifully. The movie delves into the lives of both rich (Alice & Mamachan) and poor (Vasanthy & Gopi) families, detailing their lifestyles and behaviours with outstanding depth.
From the children to the senior characters, and their homes, every element in the frame reflects the stark differences between the two families. The portrayal of how both women manage their homes and families is captivating. Alice lives a lavish lifestyle supported by servants and spends her days in a huge mansion, ending them with pills and whiskey. She also has an extramarital affair, while Vasanthy, a working woman, struggles to run her household due to her unsupportive husband’s drinking problem. (When we look into her life we can see tons of similarities to the movie The Great Indian Kitchen by Jeo Baby). No wonder why most modern-day directors are inspired by K.G George’s movies, for example in the title song we may get a similar feeling to Dileesh Pothan’s Maheshinte Prathikaram; its opening scene.
The editor, M.N. Appu, deserves credit for seamlessly depicting these differences.
The movie boldly addresses the mental health of women within mainstream Cinema, portraying it effortlessly. The film essentially presents what happens when a camera is placed into two homes. In addition to these two families, there is a sub-character, Ammini, an orphan maid living with Alice, who also has a powerful story of an independent woman and her struggle to tell. Ammini transcends the confines of the family, breaking stereotypes and even surprising the director and crew in the process. The climax features a brilliant shot that brings together every aspect of the director’s vision. The movie ends with a sense of liberation, demonstrating the brilliant conception of the climax.
Verdict : 6/7 stars
Brilliant.
Trivia
The extended cameo contractor role is done by Mammootty in this KG George flick just after his significant role in the blockbuster Yavanika.
