The Eccentric Women in Malayalam Cinema

Every narrative is different, every movie is different, every plot is different for a male character in a movie but when it comes to women or the communities that don't come under the spectrum of male and female definitions, things have always been constant.

Whatever the case may be, some characters came through and showed us what real power meant, how strong leads they can make, and how they could change us.

Here is a list of some of the most memorable and strong female characters of Malayalam cinema.

Clara - Thoovanathumbikal

Actor Sumalatha plays the role of Clara, a girl from an ordinary household who takes up the job as a sex worker due to substandard living conditions. The story revolves around Jayakrishnan played by Mohanlal and Clara who fall in love.

Clara is not your typical female character. Here is why. The fact that she could hold out her strong feelings and desires is something that is so poetic in itself! Although the situation is a sad one, she handles it out of love and respect for herself as well as him. The question of love and the fact that she could hide the love in the depth of her eyes to save both of them from a situation that they never could have handled is brave and that act of bravery deserves all the praise.

Tessa - Charlie

The typical human behaviour of planning things ahead to be secure in a future is debunked! Not that it works out for everyone but to some. Tessa is a free spirited soul but not the irritating type! She does not do it for anyone else, she does it for herself. And that right there is something that struck me to the core. The fact that Tessa takes the initiative to find Charlie even though it becomes impossible at some point is so exciting to watch.
Tessa’s determination to get what she wants gives us a sense of hope to go behind what we desire.

Achaamma - Godfather

To be as powerful as Achaamma is unbearable to the regular human. Achaamma proved that there is a possibility of a female lead that can stand strong along with the male lead. The battle of Anjooran and Achaamma is a feast to the eyes. Even Though Achaamma is in the negative spectrum of characters we get the inbuilt urge to clap and scream every time Achaamma does the bad. Not that I justify her wrongdoings but the possibility of a potential female villian in a 90’s malayalam movie is revolutionary.

Suggested Reading: 10 Feminist Malayalam Films That Will Leave You Thinking

Nirupama - How Old Are You?

The unusual story of a regular homemaker who proves her capability to achieve her dream is the motivation we all need in our life. The fact that she had in her the vigour to oppose her partner and do what she wanted in her life irrespective of anything that came her way is impressive. Nirupama literally proved that age is just a number and that deserves a “Bravo!”

Wife - The Great Indian Kitchen

Alas…Alas…!!! The great Indian wife! How much can a person bear with the suffering of a pathetic marriage with no hope of anything getting better? The story deals with a wife going through the headaches of a marriage. More than that, the absurdity of the life she had to put up with. The courage of this character to express her grudge and come out of a hopeless place is indeed the best thing about her and her character puts forward!

Maybe it is the resistance to change that made all these writers write a woman in the same way over and over again. Maybe this was propaganda to make the community believe that we are supposed to be a certain way.
But they certainly broke all the rules and we are here for it.