A 57-year-old Muslim lady in Kerala, who has never stepped into a cinema hall, steps into one to watch a movie. Everyone who has seen the movie is calling up everyone they care for and asking them to see this movie.
A movie, 'Dhrishyam', is creating waves in Kerala. It has broken all collection records in the history of Malayalam cinema. It is bringing people in hordes back to the theatres. Looks like it is headed for 100 plus days in theatres. Its lead actor Mohanlal says what happened to his character, George Kutty and his family is something that should not happen to anyone anywhere. Its popularity is worrying top police officers. who are now saying that the message in this movie is wrong and Mohanlal, arguably India's most natural actor, should not have played the role of the school dropout George Kutty.
'Dhrishyam' is the brainchild by a young and very promising Director Jeethu Joseph. It is the story of a cable TV operator, his wife and two daughters. An incident of bullying using a mobile clip of the teenage daughter, taken clandestinely by the wayward son of a senior police officer changes everything. It leads to a crime. The father takes it upon himself to protect them from the crime. The movie buff cable operator outwits the investigators at every step using his filmy experiences.
Why is this movie then such a draw. Yes, it has Mohanlal essaying one of his finest acting moments. Yes, it is a brilliant murder mystery. It has no item girls...no popular songs, no fights. But this movie is much beyond the star, the plot and the screenplay.
I think it is about family. This movie has unnerved yet educated lakhs of families. A family is a safe harbour from the storms of the adversary. Here a relatively new adversary - cyber bullying - has been introduced in a shocking manner. Most families are aware of this, but thought this will not happen to them. This movie helps them take guard and be prepared to handle the new devil. In my student days parents worried about love affairs, cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. Online and virtual intrusion is here to stay. The movie is a cinematic eye opener.
In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make families the centre of our lives. The protagonist, George Kutty was convinced that he was doing the right thing when he protected his daughter and wife who committed a crime without intent. Before the law he is in the wrong. But for him he did the right thing. Most of his audiences seem to agree with him. More and more families are watching this movie to get the lesson right. To ensure that they don't have to go through this cinematic experience in real life.
To revert to the debate triggered by a top police officer that the message in the movie is wrong. He said the family that features in the movie should have informed the police about the bullying and not taken law into their hands. But the director has taken the route of shock and awe. Over half (52 per cent) of children in India have been bullied online, according to a survey released by Microsoft. China and Singapore are the only countries where cyber bullying is a bigger menace. There is a serious problem. If a movie has raised an alarm and has communicated to people the perils of online intrusion it has send a message. It has done its job.
I am told the movie will be remade in Hindi and many other Indian languages.
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