Aaryamala

“Aaryamala” is a Tamil romantic-drama film directed and scripted by James Yuvan. It features the stars RS Karthik and Manisha Jith. It is the emotional, thought-provoking story of a young woman's fight against a cruel society.

“Malar” (Manisha Jith) is a free-willed adolescent girl who resides in a village. Her uncomplicated life is disturbed when her younger sister undergoes puberty at an early age in relation to her. This unsettles her mother, who thinks that Malar's late puberty is a disease. When she suspects she will be unable to procure a good bridegroom, she approaches a traditional medicine man, who prescribes a cure.

Under mounting pressure from society and her family, Malar feels incomplete and wants to be a complete woman. She wants to change herself and submits to the treatments suggested to her without realizing their aftereffects. In this moment of crisis, she meets a theatre artist, and their chance encounter blossoms into romance.

When love generates a new self and confidence, Malar begins questioning the authoritarian domination over her. But she is forced to accept the reality of patriarchal society rooted in long-standing traditions wherein a woman has to be held accountable for what she believes.

With its engaging woman-focused storyline, Aaryamala explores tradition's chains, gender roles and self-respect in a very emotional manner. "Aaryamala" draws viewers in with its story of women discovering how traditions restrain individuals, what it is to be a man or woman, and how individuals perceive themselves. It does so in a manner that pulls at your heartstrings.

Manisha Jith knocks it out of the park demonstrating Malar's innocence, her tough decisions, and learning about herself in a way that is believable. RS Karthik's brief appearance gives some gravity to the story making it more believable that Malar does find herself as she goes along.

This movie takes a hard look at what society expects from us, and it does it in a way that feels true and touching. If you're into stories that are well-told and pack an emotional punch, you've got to see "Aaryamala."