Sexist Lens Mars This Film Advocating For Men's Rights

HE Kerala society, despite its high literacy and liberal outlook, has always been notorious for its endorsement of the dowry system.

- VIGNESH MADHU

HE Kerala society, despite its high literacy and liberal outlook, has always been notorious for its endorsement of the dowry system. This social evil, practiced across religions, is often the root cause of the harassment women face after marriage. Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was implemented to safeguard married women from such harassment. The law, which has now been replicated in the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as Sections 85 and 86, aims to protect married women by criminalising cruelty against them by their husbands or relatives. However, one major concern associated with this section has been its potential misuse to file false complaints. Sethunath Padmakumar's debut film Aabhyanthara Kuttavaali is woven around this thread, where the protagonist, Sadhanandan (Asif Ali), is falsely accused of domestic violence. Through his struggle for justice, the film raises some important questions about men's rights, but in doing so, it falters by resorting to regressive and sexist ideas.