Angammal director Vipin Radhakrishnan: We invested the most onscreen to deliver an uncompromised theatrical experience | EXCLUSIVE

Directed by Vipin Radhakrishnan, Angammal adapts Perumal Murugan’s short story Kodithuni, exploring themes of familial love and identity through the lens of a middle-aged woman in 1990s Tirunelveli.

Angammal director Vipin Radhakrishnan interview

Angammal, the upcoming slice-of-life drama starring actor Geetha Kailasam, is due to release on December 5. The film, which is adapted from Perumal Murugan’s short story Kodithuni, is directed by Vipin Radhakrishnan, who says that he read it during the Covid-19 pandemic. “I felt the story was more profound on the theme than the character, and when I spoke to him, I realised that it was a real incident that inspired him to write the story. It was the simplicity of the story, and how relevant it is even now that made me do the film,” says Vipin in conversation with OTTplay.

Angammal director Vipin Radhakrishnan Interview:

It was by accident that Vipin stumbled upon Perumal Murugan’s short story, which made him think about developing it into a feature, thus making it reach out to a wider audience. But once he wanted to adapt the screenplay, Vipin was sure that it was more ‘cinematic’ and adhering to the sensibilities of the audience. “We decided to change the characterisation of the central figure, and the ending too. Once we began with it, many other aspects organically began to fall into place.”

Angammal is set in the 1990s Tirunelveli and revolves around the titular character, a middle-aged woman who is taken every effort by her family members to make her wear a blouse, so as to look presentable when her son’s girlfriend and her family are due for a visit.

Vipin says that Angammal is a character that is not foreign, given that she might exist in each of the women in our households. “They will be strong and the backbone of our families, but might also do things that are not deemed politically right. But nevertheless, with all their flaws and good, we love them. Angammal is one such person, and we want everyone to feel the same way,” he adds.

Also read: Angammal movie review: Geetha Kailasam shines in a tender, liberating slice-of-life drama about a woman who refuses to bend

The making of Angammal:

The director mentions that it was during the pandemic when he thought of making Angammal on a humble scale and deliver it to OTT. However, as the project progressed and in 2023, the cinematographer of Angammal, Anjoy Samuel, also took up the production in association with others. “The OTT market was also tough, and we also wanted to always say this story on the big screens. To make it into a cinematic experience, we structured the screenplay with an interval and other necessities. We also did not want to compromise on the technology and quality that a theatrical experience would demand. We invested the most for onscreen, and the rest working as an indie film.”

Also read: Angammal movie 2025: Release date, trailer, plot; everything you need to know about Geetha Kailasam’s rural drama

Angammal was shot in Kalakkad, about 40 kilometres away from Tirunelveli. Calling it a beautiful landscape, which contributed to the story, Vipin says that the myths of the place were also incorporated into the story. “The Uchimalai wind, which is in the story, is also a subtle and subconscious, that we took up from the place. At the same time, we also made the characters use gadgets like a Walkman, or even Angammal riding a scooter, so that we don’t see this village and its people as aliens or cut off from the modernity of the rest of the world.” He also adds that, given Vipin is not from Tamil Nadu, he comes with an objective viewpoint to the culture.

Talking about the feather-light approach to the film, Vipin circles back to their need to make it a theatrical watch. He explains, “It is only to make it relatable, and how we understand who these characters are. A light-hearted story will help us to objectively watch the film. We wanted to have a feel of Malgudi Days, to cover the beauty of villages, and explore the rural life.”

There are seldom any films which have a strong woman as the protagonist, and fewer who are middle-aged. Agreeing to this, Vipin says, “Projects happen because of star value and male stars bring the money. They end up having male stars and bankable from an industry perspective. But if films like Angammal win, then we will be getting more stories in which we can see female protagonists and their stories too.”

Vipin also adds that Angammal is about loving people in their own ways, without wanting to change them. “I would always stand for Angammal for how she stands up for herself. Why cannot we love people for who they are, despite their flaws. That is the very essence of Angammal, apart from identity and freedom.”

FAQs

Q. Where can I watch Angammal?

A. Angammal can be watched in theatres from December 5.

Q. Who is Geetha Kailasam?

A. Geetha Kailasam is an Indian actor, writer and producer, who predominantly works in Tamil films.

Q. Is Angammal a good movie?

A. Yes, Angammal won awards at international film festivals and opened to good reviews.

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