Aami controversy: How trolls, right-wing politics forced Manju Warrier to defend her art

 

Currently, in the news for her denouncing the abuse, assault of a Malayalam actress, Manju Warrier also has her own share of worries in her kitty. She is being plagued, trolled by plenty of members of the right-wing public for her acceptance of playing the role of controversial Kerala poet Kamala Suraiya, also known as Madhavikutty in a biopic titled Aami. The role was earlier played by Vidya Balan who walked out of  the film.

 

The film is being directed by Kamaluddin Muhammed, who is no stranger to controversy himself. He was recently asked by the Bharatiya Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the BJP, to leave the country for allegedly  ‘insulting’ the national anthem.

 

 

 

Two issues form the crux of the concerns of trolls and fans who have commented on Manju Warrier’s decision to go ahead with the role -  Religion and the person that Kamala Suraiya was. 

 

People have warned her that she is playing a Muslim character and she will be chastised by the Hindu society for doing so, a loose translation of the post below.

 

 

Some well-wishers have warned her of the fans she will lose. However, it was heartening to see that there was a section of the commentators who encouraged the actress and expressed their confidence in her justifying the role.

 

 

Dear Manju Warrier,

    

        Congratulations on having put your foot down. I hope I have not jumped the gun by applauding you for your conviction and that you too like Vidya Balan or for that matter might bite the right-wing bullet. This post of yours surely looks like an ‘apology’ beforehand and less like reiterating your stand.

 

Art has long been patronised by the masses and those in power, but sadly true admirers of the profession have yet not been able to differentiate between the real and reel or activism and work. I believe people feel you, the quintessential Hindu girl will be caught or rather influenced by the radical views of a Muslim woman. Sacrilege for most!

 

And this is the view that comes from the land where Sita was asked to take the agnipariksha to prove her chastity and you too are being asked by these right-wing activists to prove your loyalty to your religion and profession.

 

My country is my politics. I go to the temple twice a day to offer prayers. Just the same way I bow my head in reverence when I am in front of a church or a mosque. – Warrier

 

Your post clearly mentions how it was purely because of your respect for the director that made you do the film, unlike the controversy associated with the character.

 

 

Controversy is the very reason that still films like Aami or My Name is Khan is being targeted by right-wing activists. You have been accused of being anti-nationalist by some for working with Kamal, a Muslim, and for taking up a movie with a controversial person like Kamala Suraiya.

 

Filmmaking is an art and everyone work together to create a good film putting aside their personal differences – Warrier

 

However, these lines are ignored by right-wing activists who in the name of Sanghs, morchas and senas think they have the right to tell people what to do, whom to watch, why to watch and what people need to see. It because of them good films, good art suffers because at every step there are these not-so-friendly society policeman who dictate the morality of things by bringing in religion. In the name of 'Indian culture, religion and society' these brigades cast aside other religions, cultures and society. Ironical, isn't it?

 

 

Aami, as you said, is just a character, who I hope, will reflect the spunk of the original badass woman – Kamala Suraiya. Going by your recent choices in life and some of the powerful women characters you have essayed on screen, far from the naive Hindu girl, I hope Aami too brings about a revolution and an example where art is finally left to where it belongs, without the interference of politics.