Sometimes, a director comes along who completely changes the narrative of cinema and gives you a deep insight into social issues like patriarchy and misogyny. Tamil director PS Vinothraj gave us his debut film Koozhangal in 2021, which went in this direction, and although it didn’t hit theaters, it was one of the most acclaimed films of the year. Now, he is back with Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl), another critically acclaimed film – starring Anna Ben and Soori – that tackles the same social issues but presents them in a novel and simple way. Read also | India’s Oscar candidacy: Koozhangal’s path is marked by the director’s difficulties

The premise

In Kottukkaali, set in a small village near Madurai, we meet Meena (Anna Ben), whose family believes she is “possessed” and wants to take her to a shaman to expel the evil spirit. They pack into a car for the journey and the group, led by Meena’s fiancé, her maternal uncle, Pandi (Soori), sets off. Meena’s angry family believes she is possessed by her lover, who they believe is from a lower caste; this road movie takes us along on Meena’s journey.

PS Vinothraj is a master storyteller who has complete command of his craft and the characters he presents to us on screen. Meena is someone who has only one dialogue in the film and whose entire story is told through her expressions and emotions. For her, silence is power and through this she retreats into a world where no one else can enter. She is trapped and the director depicts this through the rooster who thinks he can roam free but is caught in a trap.

On the other hand, Pandi is a typical petty yet aggressive, arrogant man who embodies patriarchy and the belief that women are objects that belong to you. The caste system plays a key role here, as do regressive beliefs that keep women in check. Unfortunately, the women also perpetuate these regressive beliefs because they don’t know any better or different. We see how the men think they are all-knowing and can’t do a simple thing like deal with the fly, and how the women are smarter in comparison.

The performances

Anna Ben and Soori have inhabited their roles in this film and their performances deserve applause. They are the heart and soul of this film. Soori, who started out as a comedian and proved his mettle with director Vetrimaaran’s Viduthalai, has once again shown that he is a highly talented actor who needs to be given the right role.

Kottukkaali is an experience and not just a film

Visually, the film is a work of art too, as Vinothraj takes us on a beautiful road trip with a family from a small village in rural Tamil Nadu, rooted in regressive, patriarchal beliefs. The director’s screenplay is impeccable, and the shots and camera work by B Sakthivel and the editing by Ganesh Siva are top-notch.

Tamil star Sivakarthikeyan and producer Kalai Arasu must be congratulated for choosing to back this gem from Vinothraj, who has proved that he is a supremely talented director whose best work is yet to come. Kottukkaali is an experience and not just a film.