First of all, this post isn’t denying the unsavory cinematic liberties and stereotypes that Mani Ratnam has spewed in his films. In fact, his Kaatru Veliyidai and Chekka Chivantha Vaanam are major red flags. I haven’t watched Ponniyin Selvan 1. But still, I want to talk about Thalapathy and the movie’s feminist elements that are way ahead of their time.
A man pacifies his wife’s dilemma about her rape and the son she bore out of wedlock.
Not so long ago, Astro Ulagam conducted a poll if Malaysian Indian men would marry a rape victim/a girl with sexual experience. Only one said he would. Indian men’s biggest fear remains if they get “goods that were used by someone else” as their wives. Nayanthara is still abused for her past. Wikki is trolled for accepting a woman who is the leftover of other men. Krishnamoorthy character in Thalapathy broke this mold in 1991. Not only does he marry her, but he also calms Kalyani down every time she feels guilty about her rape and “illegitimate” child.
No stalking in the name of love. No blaming women for their helplessness to continue with the relationship. And no revenge plotting and slut shaming due to break up.
Surya meets Subbulakshmi randomly. He is honest about himself to her and says it’s fine if she rejects him because his path is different. What’s most natural is how he bursts out after learning about Subbu’s fixed marriage. He asks her if he says he likes her and scolds her after she says she’s unable to oppose her father. After chasing her away, he blesses her to live well, feels for his love failure for a while and then gets back to work. This can serve as a lesson to male youths these days who kill their girlfriends for wanting to break up or for unreciprocated love or even, not agreeing to talk.
A single, never-before married man marries a widow and accepts her child as his.
Although the marriage between Surya and Padma is one of convenience rather than love and mutuality, widow remarriage is a rare concept in our society and in films. Surya vows to protect her and her child to ease up his guilt of killing her husband. Although I disagree that men must protect women from other men, this portrayal is groundbreaking in terms of societal norms and culture.
A man says to the child his wife bore out of wedlock that he is of father status for him.
I think this was the first and last Tamil cinema to portray such an occurrence. Few men are ready to do the same. Often, such men are shamed for taking responsibility for a child that isn’t theirs.
Singlehandedly defines “rugged boy” correctly and negates toxic masculinity.
Surya is a “rugged boy” and see, he doesn’t abuse his wife and cares for her daughter like she’s his own. He also shows his vulnerability to his child and it’s so beautiful. So, men like Mokka Memes can take a hike for saying feminists like men like Arjun Reddy = “rugged boy”. Surya is rugged coz he has firm principles, a conscience, and a sense of what’s right and wrong, not mindlessly abusive.
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