Kumari HD Released

 

Who doesn't love bedtime stories and grandma's tales? Every Malayali would have at least one nostalgic moment where they were part of these story telling sessions that has created strong imageries in their minds on good vs bad, evil vs virtue and culture and traditions. In fact, these stories and myths have played an integral role in creating an alternate reality in contemporary Kerala, which has even led to some heinous crimes like human sacrifices for prosperity and peace.

Kumari, the lead in the movie, is one of the characters in a tale told by a grandmother to her granddaughter. It talks about a sleepy village and the head family, Kanjirangattu, located next to the Illimulam forest and about the children of a goddess who left heaven and decided to live in the world; who were born as 'Chathanmar' - with wierd features. Kumari, an orphan, brought up by her uncles and brother, gets married to the youngest son Dhruvan of Kanjirangattu tharavadu, which is heavy with mystery, myths and superstitions. As Kumari finds her comfort zone in her new family, she also realises that the people over there are blinded by faith and sorcery.

Nirmal Sahadev's second outing is a fantasy thriller that reminds one of the good old grandma's tales. The movie also takes one through a nostalgic ride to films like Manichithrathazhu, with traits of Ganga being visible in Kumari, and the music that is also similar to Manichithrathazhu and Anandabhadram. The movie manages to take one to those fantasy worlds with the support of well crafted visuals by Abraham Joseph which is a perfect blend of lights and colours.

The crisp edits give a good flow to the movie. However, the climax misses its power with repeated visuals, poor imageries of Chathanmar and weak performance by the lead character.

Aishwarya Lekshmi impressively plays the titular character. She deserves appreciation for taking it up and trying her best to give life to the happy, confused, fearful and fearless Kumari. However, she misses out the intensity of the character in the climax sequence which seemed a bit challenging for her. The movie is shouldered by Shine Tom Chacko and Surabhi Lekshmi. Shine plays Kumari's husband Druvan who evolves into a dreadful, greedy occult practitioner and thampuran, from a submissive good-for-nothing young lad of the house. He brings back the memories of Kuttan Thampuran in Sargam. Surabhi, who plays another occultist showcases a mesmerising performance. She gets into the character with ease, at times making the audience wonder if it is real.

Cinema is a piece of art. If it is watched as an art, irrespective of the harm and the subconscious semiotics created in the human minds, it might be enjoyable. But for that, the film needs content that could look beyond the peripheral narrations. Fasal Hameed and Nirmal Sahadev who wrote the story, screenplay and dialogues for the film fails to add that element - the most important one, to a technologically good movie. The story is regressive and old school which again gives society a false idea of the world around. How did Kumari decide the 'gender' of her yet-to-be-born child and why is the chathan who is worshipped by 'thanpuranmar' fair and the one from forest, black?

It's alarming to understand that human sacrifices and child sacrifices as offerings to please gods are still prevalent in India. According to National Crime Records Bureau, in 2021, there were six recorded cases of human sacrifices and 68 murders related to witchcraft in India aming that six were of children. Animal sacrifices are very common in Kerala irrespective of religion or monotheist or polytheist belief systems.

When on one side we see women adorning the chairs that men once celebrated, don't we also think of rewriting these narratives? Well, it's time for a myths retold edition!