Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam.: After Saras , another look on motherhood

Santhoshathinte Onnam Rahasyam (Malayalam). is an interesting angle to parenthood for first time couples. Though the shot does not shift from the car front window screen and has two actors talking to each other for close to 85 minutes, the film does not bore those who are interested in the topic that these two youngsters talk. Keeping aside that the couple are not married and in a secret live in relationship, the problems they discuss is also applicable to those who are married.

Jithin and Rima Kalingal are the actors who have the conversation. They are on the way to a lab to get result of a pregnancy test. Rima raises many questions that a middle class working woman faces when she is pregnant. Hubby is a budding actor with no work due to Covid situation. Breaking the news to parents and it's after effects. The hubby not appearing to be much concerned about the problems that they would face if the wife was pregnant.

Conversations veer forth and back with wife blaming the hubby and he being helpless in coming out with any answers that are comforting. Through the entire conversation they address  a whole gamut of issues related to parenthood for a young couple and the society that they live in.

The woman is a film journalist and her interview with an art house film director is also an answer to those who see the film as just two people talking to each other for 85 minutes and in a frame that does not change. The voice is of film's director Don Palthara. The credits say that it is written by the actors Jithin and Rima. I remember reading that the actors had rehearsed thoroughly before the shoot.

Saras which came on OTT talked about a girl who is not too fond of bringing up babies and changing diapers and finding herself in a spot where the in laws are against aborting the baby soon after marriage. Here the problem is about a nuclear couple who would have to grapple with day to day survival and the changes that they have to make. Add to this the stigma that the woman got pregnant before marriage. Finally , all it takes is understanding of each other's outlook.

Interestingly, the English title is  The Joyful Mysteries , verses from the Bible. The Mystery is " The feast of the Annunciation marks the visit of the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during which he told her that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is celebrated on 25 March each year" . A message to Roman Catholics ?

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