Chiththa Movie Review

 

I like how child sexual assault is handled so sensitively in Chiththa. It’s not graphic and the focus is on how the child is affected, not what was done to her.

The film doesn’t try to prove, “not all men.” Ponni becomes afraid of ALL MEN after her abuse. That’s what trauma does to anyone, and this is what the not all men gang fails to understand. I was afraid of bearded men for quite a while after I was molested by a heavily bearded man in the school toilet. I was 10. I was even afraid of Santa Claus who is loved by children.

When Ees is accused of sexually assaulting Ponni, he doesn’t use the “not all men” card. His innocence was proved by Ponni – the onus was left on females to decide which men among men. The victims’ experiences weren’t trivialized and deflected through the “not all men” clarion call. Notice how Chiththa is hurt when Settai’s mom tells her that even if he touches her, it’s wrong and she must report to her but doesn’t say anything – that kind of understanding is what this society needs, not “not all men” blind defense.

What happens in the movie is men proving “not all men” through action and not by scolding women who are wary around men when recounting their own sexual abuse experiences in the hands of men. It also subtly shows how men don’t trust men. Notice how Ees is so protective over Settai and Ponni – it’s implied that as a man, even he doesn’t trust other men. How Ees and Vadivelu itch to do something but are helpless made me feel really bad and instilled hope in me as well. Yes, the ones working to rescue Settai are also men, but they work to make the world safe for children/women. That makes them different men. That makes them men who bring change.

The way the children express their trauma and Sakthi’s tremors and reflexes were gut-wrenching to watch. When Settai slaps her Chiththa, I hope men understand what women feel and how “yes, all men,” is not saying all men rape but the reflection of the victims’ trauma. I’m glad the film isn’t preachy and taken from the female victims’ POV.

Chiththa allows women/victims to talk and express what abuse does to one. It enlightens that our self-proclaimed decency = “I didn’t harass anyone, so, not all men/women,” cannot be used to justify what happens to people, children, the disabled on a daily basis. IT DOESN’T HELP ANYONE BUT OUR OWN EGOS. Keep your ego aside because it’s not about you or men. It’s about victims and their trauma. Your “not all <wuteva>” BS actually emboldens molesters, abusers, rapists, harassers, and pedophiles. Of course, they will commit crimes and you’ll be right there, defending them through “not all men.” Even pedophiles can say, “not everyone is a pedophile,” – teriyava poguthu?