Articles and tweets on the
horrific Asifa tragedy have made me feel rather depressed in recent days
thinking of the world in which kids live.
In a Whatsapp exchange, my Aunt remarked, “Don’t trust your child with
anybody!” Of course, it might sound
hyperbolic but such is the fear that these acts of depravity put in our
minds. As I saw one of those hauntingly
innocent pictures of little Asifa, my mind went back to Kutty, the remarkable debut feature of Janaki Viswanathan that was
released in 2001. In case you have not
seen the movie, let me tell you that there is zero graphic content. The eventual fate of the little girl, played
marvelously by Shwetha, is heartbreaking.
Sometimes leaving something to our imagination tends to be a lot more haunting
than showing something on screen. I will
hasten to add that Kutty is not a
one-note depressing movie. I remember
smiling quite a bit owing to the sweetness of several of its characters. There is not a trace of manipulation in this
movie – the movie flows like a rivulet through joy, hope and despair.
An adaptation of a story by Sivasankari,
Kutty tells the story of its titular
character, a little girl who leads a limpid childhood in an idyllic village. She is the apple of her father’s eye. (The
father is essayed by Nasser, who makes you want to give him a hug in the sequence where he pacifies his daughter.) To him,
the little joys of parenting help vivify their tough lives. But her mother (Eashwari Rao who turns in the
performance of her short career) is a little more worldly wise, constantly
urging her husband to let go of his pampering ways. Fate strikes when the father dies in an
accident. Struggling to make ends meet,
the mother is forced to send Kutty to Chennai as a domestic help for an upper
middle-class couple, played by Ramesh Aravind and Kousalya.
In Chennai, the couple treats her
with affection but their son and Aravind’s mother (MN Rajam, who makes you want
to give her a tight slap, throwing respect to the winds) ill-treat Kutty to the
point where she wants to escape the house.
This leads to the sequence that left me not only misty eyed but also made my
eyes bereft of any more tears to shed, the day I first watched the scene. It is the scene where Kutty requests the kindhearted shop owner – Vivek is fantastic in this short role – to write a letter
to her mother to come rescue her. But
here’s the catch - she does not know the address.
We, in the audience, are in Vivek’s shoes, watching helplessly as the
girl breaks down.
Start watching at the 39-sec point:
The movie also offers, in an
understated manner, social commentary on the way even seemingly good natured
people (like the ones played by Aravind and Kousalya) take the easy way out and
don’t always do what is in the best interests of society at large. This is illustrated in a sharply perceptive
scene where Kousalya talks to her colleagues about Kutty’s plight and the evil
of child labor. All this happens while a
school-age kid delivers them tea!
Above all, the huge reason memories
of this movie refuse to be erased by the waves of time is that it skillfully
juxtaposes goodness with sadness and poses difficult questions. How a kid’s body and soul must be protected
with utmost care in a world where the juggernaut of antisocial elements can
crush innocent souls, leaving many a victim in its wake. Kutty
cautions us that for goodness to flourish, it has to co-exist with caution and
heightened awareness. It is a testament
to the skill of the writer-director that the movie never feels preachy or
didactic. Like a seasoned filmmaker, the
debutant director tells a story unflinchingly, trusting us to pause, reflect
and most importantly, act on the messages packaged organically within the
construct of the story. It is a certainty
that these messages have to sink in deeply for humanity to stay afloat.
5 comments:
I have a vague recollection of this film, but no, I haven't watched it. And I don't know, given the subject matter, that I'll watch it anytime soon. Not in that frame of mind. But I'll put this on my to-watch list. I've always liked Sivashankari's writing. I remember I was introduced to it in good ol' Doordarshan days - there used to be a (Hindi) serial based on regional writing - each episode one story from one language, directed by different directors. After that, while I was working in Madras, my aunt introduced me to Sivashankari's stories. Thank you for the recommendation.
Ram : The whole episode is so repulsive and gut wrenching. I've stopped watching movies and like Anu dont think I'll watch this one.
No amount of soul searching seems to throw up any answers on how to protect our girl children.
Nasser appears to be at the forefront of any and every experiment in Tamil cinema. His contributions to debutants' films are too numerous to count. The man's energy and commitment is astounding.
Just went back and re-read your Nasser article :) Too good !
Anu and Ravishanker - thank you for your comments. Yes, I do agree that one needs to be in a specific mindset to watch this film. It is heavy. But it a must-see too.
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