Fans let loose war of words in Mollywood

Trolls go on the rampage as women in Malayalam cinema speak up, in reel and real lives

December 21, 2017 05:58 pm | Updated December 01, 2021 06:27 am IST - Thiruvananthapuram

 Film actors Parvathy and Rima Kallingal

Film actors Parvathy and Rima Kallingal

 

Mollywood is in a twitter! Actor Parvathy’s candid observations about misogyny in Malayalam cinema stirred a hornet’s nest when she pointed out its many manifestations in a mundane Mammootty-starrer Kasaba . The film had been in the news for all the wrong reasons on account of its appalling dialogues and picturisation of a chauvinistic cop with a chip on his shoulder.

Parvathy had made the remark at an open forum on ‘Women in Cinema’ during the just-concluded International Film Festival of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram. Since then the national-and-State-award-winning actor has been trolled and abused by self-appointed guardians and fans of Mammootty who assumed that the remark was about their superstar.

“An online publication’s sensational headline made them jump to the conclusion that the actor had criticised Mammootty. Many of the men and, some women too, trolling Parvathy and her supporters had not even bothered to read or find out what she had said during the discussion or make an attempt to understand the context in which Parvathy had made the remark. It is all there on YouTube,” says film director Vidhu Vincent, one of the panellists in the open forum and a State award winner herself.

 

The latest to join the long list of trollers was a young filmmaker who posted a snide remark without naming the actor. Retribution was swift and scathing as Parvathy tweeted a sharp reply and what followed was a lame retort. Facebook and Twitter have been agog with supporters sharing Parvathy’s tweet meant for the film director.

While the director of Kasaba and many male guardians of Mollywood rushed to pour scorn on the “aunties” of Mollywood, the “uncles” themselves vanished into the woodwork, perhaps to ponder on weightier matters such as which shades to brandish for the next shoot!

Silent stars

In the meantime, Mammootty and the patriarchal world of Malayalam cinema have maintained a studied silence. Although his admirers have been posting their thoughts about how a star of his stature should have been reining in his fans, the star has chosen to stay silent.

Film producer and actor Prakash Bare posted on his Facebook page: “ An actor who came to films by dreaming to be protagonist of MT stories.. Captured the love and respect of generations ofmovie lovers through many landmark films and roles....

Mammookka, we expect you to take a lead in working against such decadence in Malayalam cinema… Stand against the caucus behind the attacking of our fellow actress.. Rein in your fan goons from attacking Parvathy for her bold and genuine voice. ” [sic]

Similarly, scenarist Deedi Damodaran, in a post on her page, gently pointed out how fans of Mammootty expected him to act in a heroic manner in real life too and take steps to drill some sense into his fans spewing venom.

Instead of giving the impression that Mammootty was with his abusive fans, she requested him to speak up in support of Parvathy who had only spoken the truth.

In fact, Tamil superstar Vijay had done that when a scribe was trolled and abused by his fans for her critical remark about his film. Vijay reminded his fans that every viewer had the right to comment on his films. However, till we go to press, Mammootty, has chosen to remain silent while a young woman and all those supporting her continue to be harassed on the basis of a misconception.

Equal opportunities

Vidhu adds that the senior actor had apparently told a colleague that they should not take “children seriously”. “Who are the children here and who are the adults? It is a typical feudal, patriarchal attitude that has been used to suppress and silence women’s voices. We are looking at equal opportunities and space in cinema,” she points out. While the slanging goes on unabated in social media, actors and filmmakers who shared the dais with Parvathy during the open forum have taken up cudgels on her behalf and for the right of women to express themselves.

 Vidhu Vincent and Geethu Mohandas

Vidhu Vincent and Geethu Mohandas

Film director and actor Geethu Mohandas asserts: “This kind of bullying is to force women into submission. It is not going to work. Some of my friends and well-wishers have been forwarding posts, trying to turn this into a joke. This is no laughing matter. This is a serious matter regarding the representation of women and it would be great if they could see the big picture.”

“There were friends who said that one must understand that cinema has to show the good, the bad and the ugly that exist in real life. By all means please do show all the shades of people, but don’t glorify these misogynistic characters. Don’t show them delivering punch lines that degrade women and then depict them swaggering away in slow motion,” she adds.

Vidhu avers that no matter what, women in cinema and their Women in Cinema Collective (WIC), are determined to speak up against cringe-worthy portrayal of women on screen. “This has been a learning experience for us. It has unmasked the ugly, hypocritical Malayali. All those delusions about high literacy, political consciousness, liberal views and so on were merely a smokescreen for such men,” says Vidhu.

Members of WIC agree that they know it is going to be a long struggle to get a fair playing field in cinema. “But all such struggles for equality and justice have never been easy. Even if it takes a 100 years, we are in for the long haul. All this mudslinging and juvenile name-calling are not going to discourage us,” emphasises Vidhu.

Twitter wars

— Parvathy T K (@parvatweets) December 12, 2017

Cinema can reflect all aspects of the society and all kinds of people. The good, the bad and the ugly. But no! It cannot glorify injustice and violence as “cool” & “mass” entertainment. I rest my case. This was a good day indeed! Thank you for sharing (and hurling) your thoughts!

— Parvathy T K (@parvatweets) December 12, 2017

Vanamala vannallo!!! #trolls

Welcome welcome- please kindly take my words out of context, remind me that I'm “just a actress” and curse at me. Here’s to your sensitive chauvinistic blind hearts! Yours- that annoying feminist.

— Parvathy T K (@parvatweets) December 12, 2017

#feminchispeaking is winning the hearts of women and many men too. It is their way of expressing support for an actor who has been trolled for something she did not say. Aysha Mahmood is the person behind the picture that Parvathy chose to give it back to Jude. Calling herself ‘Feminichi paathu’, Aysha has been on a project to embroider 100 such motifs along with pithy words to protest against misogyny and to support women.

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