Mullum Malarum (1978)

My third MUBI movie, and with this I complete the hat-trick of "movies that I am not sure how I feel about", the other two being Makalkku (2005) and My Favourite Fabric (2018). I don't even know what is it about these movies that makes me feel conflicted- half of me is in love with them, and the other half feels distanced from the entire spectacle. 

With Mullum Malarum, what disturbed me the most is its misogyny, despite the presence of a strong female protagonist Manga, played by "Phataphat" Jayalakshmi, who I simply adored and considered the true hero of the film. Her constant refusal to completely supplicate to Kali's (Rajinikanth) demands was what won me over, and made me look at the movie in a different way. However, there is no doubt whatsoever about whether or not the director chooses to glorify Kali and his understanding of gender politics (he does, be warned). One can interpret the whole thing as a mockery of his fragile male ego, but at the end of the day, it's just an interpretation, an attempt to analyse the subtext even if that wasn't necessarily the director's intention.

What really endeared me to the movie was its visual prowess- everything was shot in the most beautiful but also realistic way possible. I didn't want to take my eyes off the scenery, and on top of it, the acting performances were all brilliant, which made the whole experience even more satisfying for me. Ilaiyaraaja's music never disappoints, and this soundtrack is no exception. From the very first song, I was emotionally invested in the movie (it even made me cry a little). Also, the Jayalakshmi-Rajinikanth chemistry?? INSANE. Easily my favourite part of the movie (except for the domestic abuse, OBVIOUSLY all my shipping happened before that bit, I must clarify). No wonder Rajinikanth called Jayalakshmi his favourite co-star in 2018.

In conclusion, since this was the first time I saw a Jayalakshmi or a Shoba movie, I ended up reading about their personal lives, and I feel incredibly sad about how they both had such tragic ends. And so many other women in Indian cinema, because it is such a misogynistic and inhospitable place, my god. I hope things change for the better soon. And I truly hope these two are happy wherever they are, they did not deserve to go so soon. RIP. 

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