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

Angammal movie plot:

Adapted from Perumal Murugan’s short story Kodithuni, Angammal is the story of the titular character (Geetha Kailasam), a middle-aged woman in her 50s who lives in Tirunelveli. Her second son Pavalam (Saran) who returns to the village after pursuing medicine, is set to introduce his girlfriend Jasmine and his family to his mother. But before making them meet her, Pavalam must convince his mother to wear a blouse, so as to make her look sophisticated and cultured. But would that sit well with Angammal?

Angammal movie review:

The woman that Angammal is, in the film that runs close to two hours, is everything but what we have seen a woman of her age do onscreen. She is not centring her life around her two sons nor dote after them. Neither does she confines herself to the walls of her house, nor secretly hopes for a dawn in her life. But she is not your textbook definition of a powerful, independent, and politically correct woman either. She has her own toxic ruses with her elder daughter-in-law, indulges in some chit-chat gossip on the streetside, and sometimes does what a woman of age and time would seem to do. And that is what that makes Angammal flawed, in turn making her close to reality. The film in many ways, is a portrait of a woman whose conflicts does not always have to be big, but quietly makes a point on how often times, women are posed to change their simple life choices to those around them. Angammal, by not doing so, stands up for liberation, in this wonderful slice-of-life drama.

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If Angammal worked wonders, then Geetha Kailasam has a major share for she brings Angammal to life with her rooted and simplistic portrayal of who this woman she is playing. Geetha Kailasam embodies all the shades of Angammal; be it teasing the newly-weds who are walking down the road, with a beedi in her hand, or the soft romance and the pining she has for a local man. But her real conflict begins when her family members take up each route to convince her to wear a blouse. Why? So as to look presentable when Pavalam’s lover and her fairly richer family comes to village. Angammal refuses, and each of them, from Pavalam, his brother Sudalai (Bharani) and his wife Sharada (Thendral Raghunathan) try their best to convince Angammal. The film never hounds you with heavy scenes, and not more than caress with little thoughts on how Angammal is getting cornered from every side to make her do what she doesn’t want. It wins when the film never makes Angammal justify why she doesn’t want to wear a blouse, but just at one place when it is her granddaughter asking her the question. The latter stands for innocence and childish curiosity, the only thing, which Angammal thinks deserves her reasoning. Her motive is not profound or warrants a flashback, but simple, which only reiterates that sometimes big reasons are not needed to stand for what you need.

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There is a certain honesty that the film carries, careful enough not to make Angammal a sinner for her actions. She could have worn the blouse and make things easier for her family. After all, it is for her son’s sake. But no, the film without raising obviously, wants to subconsciously make you think why does it have to boil down to Angammal, to adapt to a change to make things work in her family favour. Angammal is a beautiful and silent commentary on the impositions that women face, most of which may not seem a problem at all or would need a full-blown argument. But those little compromises that goes unnoticed with little to no arguments, have the power to change the life, and that’s what Angammal encapsulates.

With a wonderful Geetha Kailasam at the centre, Angammal is brought to further life by Saran as Pavalam, Bharani as Sudalai, Thendral as elder daughter-in-law Sharada, and Yasmine who plays the granddaughter). Each of these characters have got their knacks and lives, despite living as one unit. Angammal, the matriarch of the family, has her own, and when the film never villainises this, it emerges out as a rich fabric of ecosystem that cradles liberation and independence.

Angammal movie verdict:

Angammal is a simple, budgeted indie film, that has more to offer than just a slice-of-life drama. Without coming down heavy on you, it leaves some poignant thoughts to ponder and exude a sense of liberation. That sometimes you can just do what you want without having to reason. A well-made, written, and enacted film, Angammal is a watch that will leave you with more thoughts, simple yet profound.