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Hindustan Times
3 days 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.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali Movie Review: Sexist lens mars this film advocating for men's rights
The film opens with Sadhanandan and Nayana's (Thulasi) wedding. We first see Nayana beautifully decked up, or rather covered in a variety of gold ornaments. She wears 100 sovereigns of gold, which signifies a certain status symbol in our society. While it's evident that the gold is part of the dowry system, Sadhanandan, and his family argue that "we never asked for it". But when Nayana asks Sadhanandan to pledge the gold for her studies, he refuses to agree as if it's his earnings. And when he's forced to return it after police intervention, the whole sequence is depicted as if it's an act of sacrifice. So there's a clear lack of understanding of where the film wants to position itself concerning the dowry system. Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali primarily wants to talk about men's issues. Fair enough. But by doing so, the film constantly invisibilises the women in it. Despite being crucial to the overall narrative, there's hardly an attempt to understand Nayana. It is only towards the climax that we get to know a bit about her, but by then, it's too late. What it means is that even though she's a victim of child abuse, we are not allowed to empathise with her. The other women in the film are also stripped of any agency. While Sadhanandan's sister goes absent right after the wedding portions, his mother hardly has a say in the case except asking occasional questions like, "Nee evide aayirunnu?" or "Casente karyam enthayi?" Then there's a junior advocate, whose incompetence leads Sadhanandan to present his points himself in the court. She is also casually mocked for not knowing how to drive despite having a licence. "Appo athum ariyille?" scoffs Sadhanandan. Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali also attempts to highlight that Sadhanandan's case is not a rarity by introducing two more characters—Peter and Makarikka, who have also been wrongly vilified by the women in their lives. While Peter (Sidharth Bharathan) is framed as mentally unstable by his wife to keep him away from their daughter, Makarikka (Harisree Ashokan) is dragged to court by his greedy, widowed daughter-in-law. By picking characters from all three major communities, it seems like the makers wanted to stress that men being harassed is a common issue across religions. Sidharth Bharathan's performance, especially his dialogue on how such legal tussles affect children, is a poignant moment. But in the very next scene, we see a banner in the background that reads, "Effect of divorce on children." This lack of subtlety is a constant throughout the film. With a large portion of the film's second half set within a courtroom, the makers take a lot of cinematic liberty to dramatise the proceedings. Asif Ali gets two lengthy monologues where he lists out the consequences of misusing 498A, statistics comparing the suicide ratio of married men and women, questions the practice of alimony, and even brings up an example from the Ramayana to drive home his point. At one point, he even breaks the fourth wall to address things directly to the public. By the end of it, the judge, impressed by Sadhanandan's arguments, urges him to consider taking up LLB! With women empowerment narratives becoming increasingly common, it does make sense that there is a clamour for films that speak for men. Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali does seem to have started at the same point, but as we have seen through films about women empowerment, too, intentions can only take you so far if the writing is flawed, the execution is functional, and your 'villains' are mere caricatures.
India Today
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Pavithram actor Nayana Josan marries longtime boyfriend Gokul
TV actor and dancer Nayana Josan, known for her role as Radha in the Malayalam TV series 'Pavithram', married her longtime boyfriend Gokul, a dancer and model, in a grand traditional wedding ceremony. The wedding was a vibrant affair, with Nayana wearing a Kanjeevaram saree paired with traditional South Indian jewellery. Gokul complemented her in an elegant kurta and ceremony was attended by family, close friends, and celebrities from the television industry. The celebrity presence wasn't limited to the wedding itself but extended across the pre-wedding festivities as well, which included a bridal shower and a much-talked-about pre-wedding pre-wedding shoot featured Nayana in a traditional Christian wedding gown, which she matched with elegant diamond-studded jewellery. Her family were seen wearing traditional Kerala outfits with intricate embroidery work. Pictures posted by Nayana on her Instagram from her pre-wedding photoshoot The couple, who had been in a relationship for several years, got engaged in May last year. Nayana had candidly spoken about the difficulties she faced convincing her family about the interfaith marriage—something many of her fans resonated with when the interview was started her journey in the entertainment industry as a child artiste. She went on to feature in various TV series and reality shows as an adult. She first gained widespread recognition after winning the reality dance show 'Dancing Stars'. She is currently playing the lead role in the TV serial 'Pavithram', which further cemented her status as a celebrity personality. advertisement
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pavithram actress Nayana Josan ties the knot with long-time BFF Gokul
TV actress and dancer , best known for her role as Radha in the hit serial , has entered a new chapter in her life. The actress tied the knot with her long-time friend, Gokul — a professional dancer and model — in a grand, traditional wedding ceremony. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The wedding was a vibrant and traditional affair. Nayana looked ethereal in a designer Kanchipuram saree, adorned with traditional South Indian jewelry, while Gokul complemented her in an elegant designer kurta and mundu. The ceremony was attended by close family members, friends, and several celebrities from the television industry. The celebrations weren't limited to just the wedding day. The couple's wedding festivities included a colorful bridal shower and a much-talked-about pre-wedding shoot. One set of photos from the shoot, where Nayana is seen dressed in a stunning Christian bridal gown, continues to make waves on social media, earning admiration for its elegance and grace. The couple, who had been in a steady relationship for several years, got engaged in May last year. Nayana had previously opened up about the challenges she faced in convincing her family for the interfaith marriage, a story that resonated with many of her fans. Nayana Josan began her journey in the entertainment industry as a child artist and went on to feature in various TV serials and reality shows. She gained widespread recognition after winning the reality dance competition , showcasing her versatility and talent. Currently, she plays the lead role in the television serial Pavithram, which has further cemented her place in the hearts of viewers. Fans and well-wishers have been flooding social media with congratulatory messages and blessings for the newlyweds.
