In Solidarity with Oppressed Womanhood

by Sucheth P R

Kannur: 'Pranayapoorvam Penkoottaymakku' (With Love to Women's Collectives) is how filmmaker M G Sasi likes to describe his documentary 'Thozhil Kendrathilekku' (To the Work Place). It is an adaptation of the first ever all-women drama made in Malayalam, jointly written by the members of the Namboothiri Antharjana Samajam and the inhabitants of the Thozhil Kendram at Lakkidi Cherumangalathu Mana which was inaugurated by E M S Namboothirippad in 1947. Having already completed 16 screenings arranged by various collectives across the state in the past two months, the documentary is obviously a hit among the women audience, especially the members of Kudumbashree units who thronged the venues of the show at many places and described the film as their own lives being portrayed on the silver screen.

  "The work place is still a symbol of the freedom and emancipation of women. Just like the Mysore weddings nowadays, the practice of marrying off women to the people in South Canara and Coorg for money was rampant among the Namboothiries in Valluvanad in the early decades of the bygone century. Many women who managed to escape from such traps sought shelter at the Thozhil Kendram which was damned and derided by men. The play was made to change the image bestowed on them by the male hegemonic forces and as a reaction of the oppressed women of the community to gender inequalities. Though 'Thozhil Kendrathilekku' deserves to be known as the first feminist play in Malayalam and a major work of feminist literature, it was not celebrated the way V T Bhattathirippad's 'Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathekku' or MRB's 'Marakkudakkullile Mahanarakam' were," Sasi said on the sidelines of the documentary screening organised by the Chethana Film and Cultural Society at Desaseva Sangham Hall at Puthiyatheru here the other day. Sasi, a native of Valluvanad himself, wanted to give a new birth to the historic play which had been relegated to oblivion.

 The director added that he had to face the question from many feminists in the state about the moral right of a man tomake such a movie. "It's meaningless to criticise someone who expresses his solidarity with the oppressed sections of the society, including the adivasis, women or peasants." M G Sasi, director of the feature film ‘Adayalangal’ which bagged the State Awards for the Best Film and Best Direction in 2007 and the documentary ‘Kanavu Malayilekku’ which won the National Film Award for Best Educational Film in 2002, has successfully overcome the creative challenge of adapting a drama into a documentary with the help of a\ vibrant narrative style.
  Sasi's wife Geetha Joseph, daughter of writer Sarah Joseph, has played the lead role in the movie. The plot has been designed as the attempt by a new women's collective to revive the old drama. ‘Thozhil Kendrathilekku’ was enthusiastically received at Puthiyatheru and an interactive session followed the show. 

The New Indian Express