Aattam (The Play) marks the directorial debutant of Anand Ekarshi. It discusses a relevant issue that is not new to the Malayalam audience.
An incident in the life of a woman member of a drama troupe forms the crux of the plot.
Aattam talks openly about the male ego, moral policing, misogyny, and how men deny women their personal space and dignity in the name of patriarchy.
The film draws significance since women’s rights and security are being widely debated.
“Arangu” is a theatre group comprising 13 artists.
Anjali (Zarin Shihab) is the sole female member of the group. She is an architect, too.
The other 12 members are from different backgrounds and have their respective jobs’s daily wage workers, employees, and one is a priest in a temple.
Hari is a film actor. Vinay (Vinay Forrt), who initially used to play the lead role, is replaced by Hari (Kalabhavan Shah John)’s a film actor. This hurts Vinay’s ego.
Vinay has an affair with Anjali. The movie begins with a troupe performing a play, which reminds us of old films Yavanika (1982) and Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995) where theatre and drama were core elements of the plot.
Coming back to Aattam, having been impressed by their play, a foreign couple invites the troupe to a resort. The same night, Anjali is sexually assaulted by a troupe member.
Anjali discloses this to Vinay but does not want others to know about the assault. But Vinay reveals this to the drama coordinator, who, in turn, informs all the troupe members.
Anjali is upset with Vinay after realising he has a hidden agenda behind his act.
From here, Aattam continues like a courtroom drama where 12 male lawyers (troupe members) judge and give character certificates to Anjali.
Their opinionated statements for Anjali reflect how women are mistreated in the patriarchal society. The scenes and dialogue that highlight internalised misogyny and moral policing are portrayed well by Anand Ekarshi, who also penned the script.
Vinay, an egoist, is shown as a problematic man. He seeks a mutual divorce from his wife. However, he fails to win the trust of Anjali because of his conditioned mindset and patriarchal traits.
The movie has several eventful incidents and events with new twists and turns at regular intervals of time.
Aattam takes a strong stand for women through the character of Anjali.
After winning our hearts with her performance in the award-winning movie B 32 Muthal 44 Vare (2023), Zarin Shihab plays a crucial role in Aattam as Anjali.
The final play in the film, helmed by Anjali, gives her an outlook on the sexual attack.
The play underlines that women have a right to make their own decisions. Also, it showcases the struggle and feelings of a woman who is sexually assaulted.
Since most of the actors in the movie are from a theatre background, they perform the play really well.
Vinay Forrt, as Vinay, is brilliant. His expressions as a lover and an egoistic actor are applause-worthy.
Zarin Shihab is here to stay.
Except for Nandhan Unni, the other actors in the film are theatre artists and are impressive.
The art direction by Anees Nadodi is the major highlight of Aattam. The drama sets are terrific.
Basil CJ’s background score and music are impactful. Everything goes with the mood.
Anurudh Aneesh’s cinematography gives a different tone to the movie.
Aattam adopts a different storytelling method to raise pertinent questions about the patriarchal society and women’s issues. It’s a must-watch!
(Views expressed here are personal.)
Aattam review: This well-executed movie raises its voice against patriarchy, misogyny, and conditioned mindsets
