Latest news with #AabhyantharaKuttavaali
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali movie review: Asif Ali ably anchors this misguided film on men's rights and Section 498A
Malayalam actor Asif Ali has been having a dream run at the box office with films like Kishkindhakandam and Rekhachitram turning blockbusters. His choice of roles has been astute, and that's one reason perhaps why the audience looks forward to every release of his. Debutant director Sethunath Padmakumar has now given us Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali, which, like the trailer depicts clearly, is the story about a husband (Asif Ali) who is charged with Section 498A denoting dowry harassment and domestic abuse. Sahadevan (Asif Ali), who is a government temp worker in a cooperative society, is over the moon when he is going to get married to Nayana (Thulasi) and is all set for a happily married forever after on their wedding day. Unexpectedly, Sahadevan ends up with a gift of 100 sovereigns of gold from his father-in-law, and when his wife files a case against him for dowry harassment and domestic abuse, his entire world turns upside down. Sahadevan and Nayana's marriage isn't going perfectly, but what compels her to file a case of Section 498A against him? Hauled off to the Anthikad police station, Sahadevan desperately tries to prove his innocence by recounting events that took place in their short marriage. Nayana is very aloof, preferring no intimacy of any kind with him and insists she wants to go to the Netherlands to study. She suggests that the gold her parents gave can be sold off to fund her education, and when an unsuspecting Sahadevan objects to this, things go haywire. Nayana gets back at him by injuring herself and filing a domestic abuse case. The director then takes us through how Sahadevan struggles to prove his innocence in the courts. There have been numerous real-life incidents when women have misused Section 498A of the IPC and framed their husbands, and director Sethunath Padmakumar presents us one such case through his film. He bats for men's rights, and Sahadevan, along with two other men (Peter and Makkar), who are affected by a fake dowry case, are the vehicles through which he highlights this critical issue. However, what the director has also – wittingly or unwittingly – done is show that these men are extremely good-natured and can do no wrong, even if they have small vices like drinking. The women, on the other hand, are uniformly portrayed as evil with shallow values. And the director uses numerous instances to highlight this as well. But can men and women just be painted as black or white with no shades of grey? To soften the stance about women, there is a narration of various women, including Nayana, about the issues they face – but none of these issues are the serious ones like real domestic abuse, sexual harassment or ill-treatment that they deal with on a daily basis. One must commend Asif Ali for doing a fine job as Sahadevan on the quest for justice. But Sethunath Padmakumar has taken one aspect alone in this story – how a fake case of dowry harassment and domestic abuse is foisted on a good man - and built a case against the law. The story is not juxtaposed against the real cases of scores of women facing domestic abuse and how they struggle to get justice. Moreover, claiming that Section 498A is a bane for all men as it is misused by women is regressive and a slight to all the women who have and are undergoing this plight. Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali has the right idea of talking about men's rights, but the director and the story are truly misguided.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali' movie review: A one-sided pamphlet against Section 498A
The way a filmmaker conceives a single sequence can sometimes reveal the entire thought process behind the film. This is especially true of single-agenda films like Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali, the debut directorial of Sethunath Padmakumar. Sahadevan (Asif Ali), the protagonist who is facing a case under Section 498A over dowry harassment and domestic abuse, is shown returning to his wife's family the 100 sovereigns of gold that he got as a 'gift', a modern-day euphemism for dowry. A sentimental background score accompanies this sequence which is framed fully from the man's perspective, although he was earlier shown to have denied his wife's demand for a part of the gold to fund her higher education. Even this demand on her part appears unjust by the way the film looks at it. This sequence fits well with the rest of the film which is an emotional narrative of men 'victimised' by Section 498A. By now, we have a handful of such films, a number significant enough to call them as part of a universe of films proudly carrying the flag of men's rights associations. In most of these films, nuance is shown the way out, with bias welcomed in through the same door. 'Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali' (Malayalam) Director: Sethunath Padmakumar Cast: Asif Ali, Thulasi Haridas, Shreya Rukmini, Sidharth Bharathan, Jagadeesh Run-time: 123 minutes Storyline: A man faced with a fake dowry harrassment case goes to great extents to prove his innocence While it is true that there have been cases of women misusing the law to frame their husbands and claim alimony, the number of such cases are miniscule compared to the actual cases of domestic abuse and dowry harassment even in recent years in Kerala. Yet, in the world of Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali, men of all ages are at the mercy of this law. To convince us, the film provides us with three case studies, including the central one of Sahadevan. Now, a good number of the allegations against Sahadevan, like the one related to domestic abuse, are shown to be fake, which can be reflective of real-life examples. Family court lawyers occasionally make such claims to bolster their side's case. The problem arises when the film generalises this case and gives the protagonist an opportunity to deliver two long preachy speeches inside a courtroom, emphasising how this law has made life hell for men. The accused man has to make this speech because the female advocate (Shreya Rukmini) who is supposed to represent him is too scared to make her point in court. By some sheer coincidence, this lack of voice is a common affliction of all of the female characters in the film, due to which we rarely get to know what any of them thinks. Even Nayana (Thulasi Haridas), Sahadevan's wife, gets only a short monologue towards the end of the film. By the time she gets to speak, the agenda has been well set that the feeble attempt of the makers at appearing to be balanced and gaining some progressive brownie points, seems to be insincere. Even Asif Ali's natural flair in emotional scenes cannot lift this film, partly because it comes in the service of a regressive idea. The only safeguard, perhaps, is that the film intended to spread such ideas is not particularly well-made, with the treatment mirroring that of television soaps. Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali is currently running in theatres
News18
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sarkeet Trailer: Asif Ali Forms A Special Bond With A Troubled Child In This Emotional Drama
Last Updated: Alongside Asif Ali, Sarkeet features Divya Prabha and Deepak Parambol. Asif Ali and Divya Prabha, known for their strong performances, have come together for a film titled Sarkeet. The makers have recently unveiled the trailer of the film which hints at an emotional story built around friendship, family and meaningful bonds. Sarkeet will make its theatrical debut on May 8. The trailer begins by introducing a young boy (portrayed by child artist Orhan) who appears to be hyperactive and short-tempered which makes it difficult to handle him. His parents, played by Divya and Deepak Parambol, are shown struggling to cope with his behaviour. We then meet Ameer Karuvandivalappli, played by Asif, who has just arrived in the city in search of a job. He ends up applying for the role of a shadow teacher which is a support person meant to help children like Orhan in a classroom setting. As the story unfolds, Ameer begins working with Orhan. At first, he finds it hard to connect with the boy and doesn't know how to manage him. But slowly, a bond starts to develop between them. This growing connection becomes the emotional centre of the film. The trailer takes a serious turn towards the end. In one scene, Orhan goes missing and his parents are seen looking for him late at night. While the trailer doesn't reveal everything, it clearly hints at a heartfelt story about understanding, patience and how unlikely relationships can change lives. Sarkeet is written and directed by Thamar KV and backed by producers Vinayaka Ajith and Florine Dominic. The music has been composed by Govind Vasantha and the film has been edited by Sangeeth Prathap who was earlier seen in Premalu. Apart from Sarkeet, Asif has a busy line-up of films. One of them is Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali which is directed by debutant Sethunath Padmakumar. The film was scheduled to hit theatres on April 17. But when the date arrived, it was missing from the theatres. Later, Asif went live on Instagram along with the film's director Sethunath Padmakumar and producer Naisam Salam to clear the air. They explained that the film's release was delayed due to a legal issue. The makers revealed that a former producer had filed a financial fraud case against the current producer which has held up the release. Besides this, Asif will also be seen in Mirage, directed by Jeethu Joseph, co-starring Aparna Balamurali. He is also part of Tiki Taka, directed by Rohith VS which is a follow-up to Thalavan. Another film in the works is Houdini – The King of Magic, directed by Prajesh Sen. First Published:
