Google Doodle honours PK Rosy: When PA Ranjith narrated the tragic story of Malayalam cinema's first female lead

Google on Friday honoured PK Rosy, who is celebrated as the first female lead in Malayalam cinema. Google dedicated a doodle to her on her 120th birth anniversary. She shattered several glass ceilings when she landed a leading role in a movie in the last 1920s. Unlike today, women breaking glass ceilings were not encouraged or looked upon kindly. 

Born as Rosamma, Rosy was hired by director J. C. Daniel, who is touted as the father of Malayalam cinema, to star in his silent film Vigathakumaran (1928). When the movie got released, it caused a riot and turned Rosy's life upside down. 

Filmmaker Pa.Ranjith, who is known for making movies on the ills of caste discrimination, had earlier recalled the tragic story of Rosy. Instead of becoming a role model for women of her generation and enjoying the fruits of becoming a movie star, Rosy was chased into oblivion by a highly-prejudiced society. 

"PK Rosy was the first female lead actor in Malayalam cinema. She belonged to the Dalit community. When she got an opportunity to act in movies, there were objections. Despite that, she acted in the movie and it was also got released. And when her film premiered, she was not allowed inside the theatre. So she stands out and waited for the next show. It was an audio commentary movie. Meaning, one person narrated the film (in real-time) as the visuals played out on the screen. In a scene, the hero from the Nair community intercepts Rosy's character and gives her a rose. And the audience members took objection to that scene and they protested how can the film show a man belonging to the upper caste giving a rose to a girl from the oppressed community. I think the name of that director was Daniel. The crowd beats him up and sets the theatre on fire. And the mob went looking for that girl. Fearing for her life, she (Rosy) escapes from that place and goes to Nagercoil. Till her last breath, she hid her real identity. She married the lorry driver who saved her, bore his kids and died. That was the beginning of Indian cinema. And from there we have come so far," Ranjith recalled earlier in an interview. 

Rosy's achievements and contribution to Malayalam cinema were recognised posthumously. National Award-winning filmmaker Kamal made a film inspired by Rosy's life titled Celluloid. Malayalam superstar Prithviraj essasyed the role of Daniel and Chandni Geetha played Rosy.