The female revolution: A glimpse at some of the strongest female characters in Malayalam cinema

Here are some of the strongest women in Malayalam cinema, who will always be remembered,

When Clara (Sumalatha) rejected Jayakrishnan (Mohanlal) in the 1987 film Thoovanathumbikal, it was not just a choice, but a strong statement. Director Padmarajan took a chance to state that sex is never a promise for anything, back when society left women with no choice, but to be a mere toy under patriarchy.

Almost two decades later when Appu (Aishwarya Lekshmi) said the same to Maathan (Tovino Thomas) in Mayanadhi, the Malayali audience celebrated the revolution of womanhood, as they have already seen many seeds planted by the industry like Clara, who walked against the existing norms and brought some strong females to the screen.

If the same audience, who couldn’t accept Clara’s revolution then, empathised with Appu, it is solely due to the efforts Mollywood has taken, to write bold, opinionated female characters, who walked against the gender roles put upon them.

Here are some of the strongest revolutionary female characters in Malayalam cinema, who stood out in terms of the ideology they showcased.

Clara - Thoovanathumbikal

Padmarajan’s Clara (played by Sumalatha) in Thoovanathumbikal, was among the bravest characters written in the 80s. She didn’t allow the patriarchal rules of virginity and marriage to rule her over. Neither did she choose to marry someone just because they had sex. She was a strong independent woman who had choices and who knew whom she should leave and whom she should marry. Even though the character is introduced as a prostitute, it was not a shady identity given to her like most of the others. Rather it was treated as the mere choice of a woman and her sexual freedom. Unlike the women who were portrayed only as wives, caretakers and mothers during the period, Clara was an exception, who ignited a spark in the society.

Jyothi - Yathrakkarude Sradhakku

When the Sathyan Anthikkad movie introduced Jyothi (played by Soundarya) back in 2002, she was a matter of amusement for most of the audience, since she could do almost everything on her own. She earns for herself, travels alone, deals with men, has a unique fashion sense, and even takes the initiative to share a room with a man. Breaking further stereotypes of the age, she dares to propose to the man she loves, to marry her. What attracts the character more is her attitude and boldness to speak out her opinions and needs and her will to go for them, without considering ‘what will the society think!’.

Vanaja - Achuvinte Amma

Vanaja (played by Urvashi), the strong and witty single mother in the movie Achuvinte Amma, is still remembered by Malayalis due to her decision of raising her daughter alone, despite not having birthed her. She works and manages to run a middle-class life, and still chooses not to marry just because she is not interested. She has a close bond with her daughter and doesn’t scatter even at the times when the latter stands against her. She collects her will every time back, during every odds, and faces all the trials offered by the creepy society to a single woman who lives without the companionship of any man.

Tessa - 22 Female Kottayam

Rima Kallingal’s Tessa in this Aashiq Abu movie is one of the most discussed characters by the millennials. However, one could never skip her while talking about revolutionary female characters, since she is a courageous woman who instead of crying over her fate, takes revenge on her rapists, by killing one and castrating the other. A woman is considered destroyed when she is sexually abused. More than the physical struggle, the mental trauma beats her down each time when someone physically assaults her. However, Tessa proved it wrong and strengthened them by showing there is no need to accept the abuse, instead one could smash back very strongly, and not give up.

Vasudha - Ishq

Vasudha (played by Ann Sheetal) left everyone’s jaw dropped and walked out from her relationship in the climax of Ishq, and proved a woman should never stand in a place where she is loved and respected only for her body. Even though her boyfriend was a strong character who taught her assaulter a lesson, he proves to be a product of patriarchy and sexism, when he tries to safeguard his girl’s so-called virginity. When he proposes to her after knowing she is ‘perfect’, Vasudha rejects him completely by raising her middle finger against him and leaving the place. The character says a lot about modern-day relationships and shows what it means to be objectified.

Pallavi - Uyare

Parvathy Thiruvothu’s Pallavi has been an inspiration to many women ever since Uyare was released. The movie addressed a common and less discussed issue of the era - a toxic relationship. Pallavi dreams to fly high as a pilot and is pulled down by her boyfriend with whom she had a long-term relationship, through an acid attack. The woman then shows why she is not ready to give up, even when she loses her dream job. The movie speaks a lot about how far a relationship can ruin someone if personal space and choices are not understood properly.

Khadeeja - Biriyani

The 2020 movie Biriyani is a revolutionary subject revolving around Khadeeja (played by Kani Kusruthi) that speaks about the sexual freedom of a Muslim woman. Even though vulnerable, she comes out of her patriarchal marriage, deals with various social issues and stands up for her own choices. She authentically portrays an oppressed Muslim woman. The intriguing and disturbing storyline ends with Khadeeja’s act of vengeance through a feast of Biryani, which has human flesh in it.

ALSO READ: Were Malayalam movies really ahead of their time? Check out these underrated movies of the past

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