What if I told you that Neelambari isn't Ramya Krishnan's most legendary character? You have to believe me!
And, it's not Sivagami Devi from Bahubali either. I am talking about her role as Vasantha in
Paarai where she plays an orphaned woman who runs a tea stall to educate her brother. It's a pity that this role played brilliantly by Ramya Krishnan didn't get the recognition it deserved. Thus, this is me seeking justice.
Vasantha is an independent woman who has to deal with lascivious men in the village - to protect herself, she comes across as a loudmouth, belligerent woman who constantly accosts voyeuristic men who swarm her tea stall day in and day out. I think women need to have such a mouth to keep men from bothering them. It's fine if we're called "undesirable and unwomanly." What women got for being desirable and womanly isn't fantastic either, so might as well, you know, be like Vasantha.
A shrewd, yet honest businesswoman, and a responsible sister, Vasantha is also sarcastic. She works hard so her brother can find his feet and then perhaps think about herself. Though she's rude, she has to be so. Else, the men in the village would easily take advantage of her. Many times, as the movie progresses, one can understand Vasantha and laugh at how she deals with men.
When the reel life and real life pervert Mansoor Ali Khan molests Vasantha while she was bathing, she chases him through the village brandishing a machete. She vows to chop the hand that touched her. Put 10,000 Neelambaris in this one scene and Vasantha would eat all of them for breakfast. When the village menfolk ogle at her for coming out in a sarong, she says, "What? Come, see, see!" All while waving the machete in their faces.
When Sarath Kumar (Dorairaj) kisses Vasantha in public because she "talked too much," Vasantha didn't change her rebellious personality - instead of becoming subdued and meek, or worse, acting like Neelambari, falling in love with a man oozing "masculinity, she shows her hatred and protest openly every time he crosses her tea stall.
It's only after Dorairaj apologizes to Vasantha does she finds in her heart a good impression on a man. Local gremlins rarely apologize, especially to strong women with iron will. Notice that it was Dorai's realization of him wronging her, due apology, and promise to frequent her stall are what won her over, not his kiss. I am so glad KS Ravikumar crafted this character with so much dignity and self-respect.
After hearing about the death of his lorry owner, who is his father figure, played superbly by Vinu Chakravarthy, Dorai bursts into tears. And Vasantha only grows fonder of Dorai who shows his vulnerability to her as she acknowledges his sadness and comforts him.
Dorai likes Vasantha although he pretends that he doesn't. Vasantha gets disappointed when Dorai says that he can't take her with him. She then goes back to business, taking rejection in her stride. This is the complete opposite of Neelambari.
Just like Vasantha vowed, she chops Mansoor Ali Khan's hand when the latter attempts to kill Dorai. Though the circumstance that united Vasantha and Dorai is very cinematic, it's still heartwarming.
In conclusion, Vasantha ate Neelambari and left no crumbs. The characterization is something women can emulate to thrive in a man's world.
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