Indira, Clara and Others - Revisiting the Strong Women of 80's Malayalam Cinema

1. Indira, Clara and others: Revisiting the strong women of 80's Malayalam cinema The 1980s – considered the golden era of Malayalam cinema – is said to have created strong women characters, but were they really so?

2. Mollywood News» Ammukutty (Seema), alone and looking after her old uncle in a Kerala village, is the heroine and unnamed subject of the title – Aalkoottathil Thaniye, ‘Alone in a Crowd’. Rajan (Mammootty), her cousin – the old uncle’s son with the big job in the city – had once been in love with her. But he is married to another now – city-bred Nalini who gave him a son. When they visit the ailing father, Rajan cannot hide his remorse looking at the old lover who had given “her all” for him, including the little money she earned as a schoolteacher to send him to the city for higher studies. He loathes the wife, rich and ambitious and wanting to leave for a better career. IV Sasi’s 1984 film is an example of the two extremes of the portrayal of women in that decade, fondly called the golden ‘80s of Malayalam cinema. Directors – who are loved even today – gave some of their best in those years – in terms of stories and characters. It was a time when Malayalam cinema is said to have created strong women characters: strong in their words, deeds and expressions. But looking back, were they really so? Sacrificial strong woman Seema, as she often did in movies of the ‘80s, plays the woman who is portrayed as “bold” (because she doesn’t hesitate to be physically close to Rajan before marriage), nice (because she sacrifices her feelings when he gets a “better” alliance), caring (because only she takes care of the ailing uncle when his own children don’t want to) and proud (because she throws away the money Nalini offers to settle the old dues of sponsoring her husband’s education). And Unni Mary plays the rich and beautiful wife who is portrayed as arrogant (because she dares to offer money to Ammukutty), selfish (because she only cares about her career) and unloving (because she is ready to go away from her family). Seema is also be dressed in the traditional mundum neriyathum while Unni Mary is in fashionable... continue reading full story