Aanum Pennum Review

Aanum Pennum, which translates to "Man and Woman," is a 2021 Indian anthology or compilation film in the Malayalam language that consists of three episodes or stories.

The man-woman relationships are explored in the context of three distinct timelines in each portion of the film, which offer stories of romance, betrayal, and passion. This compilation has performances from a wide range of actors, including Basil Joseph, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Asif Ali, Joju George, Samyuktha, Roshan Mathew, Darshana Rajendran, Indrajith Sukumaran, Nedumudi Venu, and Darshana Rajendran.

The three tales from Savithri, Rachiyammma, and Rani are a part of the collection, each of which has a different director. Jay K directed the story of Savithri, Venu directed the second episode, the story of Rachiyammma, and Aashiq Abu directed the third episode, which depicts the story of Rani.

Review

There have only been a few anthologies in Malayalam films so far. Additionally, there aren't many films that have gradually highlighted the politics of gender binaries. Aanum Pennum would generally be in one of them.

The three stories of Savithri, Rachiyammma, and Rani are included in the collection. Immediately after the British Raj, when communists were being tried in front of the people, the story of Savithri took place in Kerala. Savithri, who is on the run, hides out as a housekeeper. Her experience is compared with Panchali from Mahabharata, who lived in exile. The short film Savithri is "based on real-life incidents."

Rachiyammma is based on a 1969 story by Uroob. The main character of this story is a milkmaid named Rachiyamma, who develops feelings for a plantation officer who takes charge of the land next to her home. She is a strong, self-sufficient single woman who lives alone. The plot and the film are incredibly advanced even for today's modern times, in the sense that Rachiyamma does not feel incomplete without a guy, even after breaking her promise. She desired Kuttikrishnan because he had special meaning for her, but when she was unable to have him, she did not feel pressured to find another man to take his place or even to get married.

Two young, passionate lovers who let their desire rule them are at the center of Rani's story. Darshana Rajendran plays the lead in this film, whose boyfriend is anxious about being physical with her but in a place where his family and neighbors won't see them. She is the most modern of the three characters in this short film, and unlike the male lead, she doesn't care what people think about their relationship. Although it is admirable that she doesn't give a damn about it, the context in which her resistance should be seen in this film is missing, which is the fact that in traditional countries, women are criticized for engaging in sexual activity in a way that men never do.

Aanum Pennum, directed by the talented Jay K, Venu, and Aashique Abu, is terrific. Samkuktha Menon, Parvathy Thiruvoth, and Darshana Rajendran all give outstanding performances in the play. Their characters come to life in their vivid portrayals. Asif Ali, Roshan Mathew, and Joju George support women equally. They adopt the personalities of their characters, which makes it simple for the audience to become involved in the story. Shyju Khalid, Venu, and Suresh Rajan, three master filmmakers, give it their all. Cinema becomes an effortless audio-visual experience, thanks to the music by Bijibal and Dawn Vincent, which integrates invisibly with the narrative.

Anthologies, however, are collections of films that share a common concept. There are frequently a variety of stories, some of which are successful while others are not. All of the stories in Aanum Pennum fall somewhere in the middle. The binary narrative, or man and woman, is the central theme in this story. What are the three storylines in Aanum Pennum?Savithri's, Rachiyamma's, and Rani's?in common? Feminine characters who make decisions are brave and organized, and their corresponding masculine opposites are uncertain, unsure, and occasionally violent.

The most detailed and politically dangerous of the three stories is Savithri's opening story. It combines caste, politics, mythology, and gender in an intriguing narrative relevant to the times we live in. The second, Rachiyamma, is a straightforward reciting of an old story. It brings back memories of a time when the goodness of a woman resided in her selflessness, and her devoted love for a man was praised. Rani is the anthology's most commonly naive yet thoughtful story. 'Rani' is an unforgettable experience to watch on the screen due to its religious references and humorous scenarios. The final author of the third episode, Rani, genuinely wraps up the collection on a positive note.

There is the "empowered" bold and strong woman in the middle of a disaster which is most usually brought on by a physically or socially dominating abusive man. However, Savithri has a positive impact when she attacks the rigid politics of privilege. Rachiyamma then adds more detail to the narrative that a woman's excellence is closely related to her sacrifice. Then, with Rani, it continues on an optimistic note.

Anyone is going to enjoy Aanum Pennum. It shouldn't be missed, but you can choose which feeling you want to bring with you.