Uyare, the film that tells the story of an acid attack survivor, is one that all of the society should watch, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja writes on her Facebook page.
“Uyare points a finger at the problems that girls face these days. As a member of society, a girl should be able to realise her complete individuality. It becomes a democracy only when every citizen could use opportunities equally. But the male domination that exists in our society throws big challenges against the self-respect of girls and women,” the Minister, who is also called Shailaja teacher, writes.
Uyare shatters the webs of inequality that girls experience, she says. “The film describes how an acid attack survivor rises in life instead of disappearing into the dark corners of neglect. Uyare is proof of how cinema can be used to pass on positive energy to the society.”
The film also unveils the risks of relationships made with selfish interests, and shows the depth of beautiful friendships between a man and a woman, Shailaja says. “It is fortunate that the society gets such humanity, at least rarely, at a time when movies try to make money by creating anger and hatred among the younger generation with loud noises and terrifying pictures and the sadism of hurting the human body.”
She heaps praise on actor Parvathy Thiruvothu for playing the character of Pallavi, the acid attack survivor. “Parvathy proves she is above those who are called superstars by clearly depicting the teenage innocence and the desires of a young woman to reach certain heights in life.”
Shailaja then writes how it was feared if the artistes who formed the Women in Cinema Collective would lose their opportunities in cinema. “But this young woman (Parvathy) proves that real talents cannot be pushed into the darkness.”
The minister also makes an observation about the character that Asif Ali plays in the film. “It is the price to be paid for the disregard that guardians and the society show in shaping a child’s character. It is appreciable how Asif Ali has presented this negative character. And Tovino becomes a symbol of friendship with his measured performance.”
Shailaja also appreciates Bobby and Sanjay for their script, producers Shenuga, Shegna and Sherga and director Manu Ashokan.
“Children and parents should watch this film. The Directorate of Woman and Child Development and the Social Justice Department are planning to screen it for the children at the government home.”
A heartwarming experience: Sathyan Anthikad
Filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, too, lauds Uyare. The film does not follow the formula for making hit movies and even then the applause that greeted it at the end made him happy, Sathyan writes.
“For one, Uyare became a heartwarming experience. For another, there is the courage shown by first-time producers S Cube Films, disregarding the challenges and risks involved. It is not the first time that Bobby and Sanjay surprise us. Their films are not detailed stories but there are certain situations that a man goes through. We have seen the beauty of it in films like Traffic. The latest example is Uyare.”
The director mentions all the actors – Parvathy, Tovino, Asif, Siddique, Prem Prakash – for giving life to Uyare. He also lauds the camera work and the editing and the music.
It is a time when promising young filmmakers are coming to Malayalam cinema, Sathyan writes. “Zakariya, Madhu C Narayanan, and now Manu Ashokan.”