User:Ansilinn/sandbox

HOW OLD ARE YOU: A MOVIE WITH FEMINISM ON THE COVERS AND THE ANTONYMS BENEATH.
Feminism has always been the topic for discussion in literature including movies. They are meant to uplift women’s status in society or strengthen their right. The molly wood movie, ‘How Old are You?’ is one such, which claims itself as a voice of woman in the society. ‘How Old are You?’ is a 2014 Malayalam movie, talking about a 36- year old married woman named Nirupama Rajeev, a Government employee. Mrs. Rajeev is portrayed as a ‘typical Kerala wife’, who is expected to sacrifice her dreams and life for the sake her family’s smooth functioning. Though the film is said to be a feminist movie, but, a re-reading of the movie can bring a new interpretation, where it can be called as an anti-feminist one. The movie possibly tries to reinforce the expected attributes of a woman in a patriarchal society. With an anti-feminist approach, it can be interpreted as a tool to condition the ‘prescribed’ culture of the society. The movie depicts age as a great issue in the case of women. Mrs. Rajeev being a 36-year-old home-maker, is very much concerned about her growing age. In reality, 36 years is not such a big deal I the present society. But, the movie showcases it as a great issue in women’s life. Meanwhile, Mrs. Rajeev receives a chance to meet the honourable President of India. Her daughter asks a question to the President of India, during an interactive session conducted in her school. The depth of the question pleases the dignitaries and later learns that its root was from her mother, Nirupama. Her subsequent meeting with the President and her fainting shows that she is completely insecure and uncourageous enough to face complex situations in life. A woman of 36, a mother of a thirteen year old girl, and moreover a government employee, is she that incapable of confronting such a situation? This is still questionable. This has a connotation that, once a woman is married, she loses all her identity. This idea of woman’s loss of identity is pointed throughout the movie. This is evident, when Rajeev, Nirupama’s husband sends her to IG’s office all alone when she was asked to summon there. Here, Nirupama herself believes that she always needs a support of her husband and if she is left alone, she is nothing. The script writers Bobby and Sanjay, has tried to creatively structure an ideal woman who is naïve, submissive and a machine to work for the family. Even, this submissiveness is vividly seen when she talks to her daughter. Her fainting before the President of India goes viral through social media and Nirupama becomes a laughing stock to the public. The daughter, frustrated of shame accuses her mother’s insane behaviour. Nirupama does not react vehemently to the behaviour of her daughter, but endures it. Even her husband blames her for being a hindrance for his dreams. He aspires to fly to Ireland and get settled there. The Ireland government denies a job for Nirupama and thus she was rejected for visa. It is through the introduction of the character Susan David, her old classmate, the outstanding college girl which is hidden inside her was revealed. The drastic change from a highly vibrant college girl to a spiritless house wife is unbelievable. Over the course of the movie, we could see the sudden transformation of the protagonist. She is then, depicted as a strong and self-efficient lady. This is grown out of resistance. The movie in a roundabout way claims that the feminine strength is born only when she encounters a crisis. Nirupama’s self-identity which is expected to be buried within herself is unearthed when her husband and child leave her and fly to Ireland. Even after receiving all fortunes and fame in life, she chooses her husband as the most precious thing in her life and their reunion as the proudest moment. The movie can be considered as a voice towards societal stereotypes. It is supposed to be a movie to enhance woman’s role in society. But how much ever we try to talk about women empowerment, the more we are made to believe that women are submissive in the society. The movie puts a question to the society asking who determines the expiry date of a woman’s dream. When it argues that no man can ever stop a woman’s dream, it is understood that, women’s dreams are generally meant to be suppressed. ‘‘How Old are You?’’ possibly depicts a woman who faces the challenges in the society, but it is limited to the happiness of her family. Thus it can be inferred that, this movie indirectly tries to condition the concepts of an ideal woman in the society. In a society where male chauvinism has its roots deep and firm, the film makers have tried to disguise their patriarchal mind-set with an outward tone of feminism. Thus pondering into the core of the work “'How old are you?”, a viewer can understand the veiled thoughts. Altogether it's a product with feminism on the covers and the antonyms beneath.