Kannammaa Writes

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....