As India‘s film industry grapples with ongoing discussions about sexual harassment, the National Award-winning Malayalam-language film “Aattam,” a potential Oscar submission from the country, has gained renewed attention for its prescient exploration of the topic.
Director Anand Ekarshi and star Zarin Shihab spoke to Variety about the film’s impact, its chances on the international stage, and its relevance to current industry concerns.
“Aattam” follows the aftermath of an alleged sexual assault within a theater group. After a post-performance party, Anjali (Shihab), the troupe’s sole actress, becomes the victim of a crime committed by one of her male colleagues. As the group convenes to address the incident, long-buried tensions surface, suspicions arise, and the ensuing clamor threatens to tear the ensemble apart. The ensemble cast also includes Vinay Forrt (Rotterdam title “Family”) and Kalabhavan Shajohn (“Lucifer”).
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The film’s themes have become even more relevant in light of recent events in the Indian film industry, including the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. The report, commissioned by the Kerala state government in response to a 2017 actress assault case, documents challenges faced by women in Malayalam cinema.
Submitted in December 2019 but only recently made public after a lengthy legal process, the report reveals the existence of an all-male power group of 15 top industry figures who allegedly control casting decisions and industry access. The findings have reignited discussions about gender discrimination and harassment in the Indian film industry. While there have been harassment allegations in several of India’s many film industries, it is only Kerala that went ahead and commissioned a report.
Ekarshi explained the film’s approach to the sensitive subject: “I started to work on the dynamics of a group and the dynamics of an individual. I wanted to see how a group of people, a mob, a society, or whatever it is, how they would respond to a crime or an allegation of a crime, and how they would pursue the truth, what are the dynamics of a group when they pursue the truth or sense of justice, and how an individual goes about it.”
The director said that while “Aattam” was not directly inspired by any specific incident, it draws from a broader understanding of systemic issues. “I’ve heard so many testimonials from the media and from personal circles, from a lot of women that I’ve met in my life. So probably all the elements that have gone into my subconscious might have come to the script,” Ekarshi said.
Shihab, reflecting on her role and the film’s impact, added, “As a woman myself, I’ve heard so many instances of oppression and harassment in my own social circles which have happened to me within my family. So all of this has informed my understanding of how an experience like this would pan out.”
The actor noted the emotional resonance “Aattam” has had with female viewers. “For every screening of ‘Aattam’ that I had attended, women who watched the film were very stunned by what had just happened,” she said. “It always left me in a mixed emotional space, because when a woman who has watched ‘Aattam’ comes and tells me how relatable it felt, it felt positive and negative for me. Positive because people are appreciating your performance. Negative because you know why it felt relatable for them.”
There has been renewed interest in “Aattam” following the report’s release and its victory at India’s National Film Awards where it won best film, screenplay and editing.
Shihab said, “Right now, with what’s happened in the country, the film has become more relevant. A movie becomes cinema when people leave the hall and start discussing about the film, there’s different meaning-making, different interpretations for them. So I’m really glad that the film has stayed with people and created that impact.”
Since its theatrical release, the film has found new life on Prime Video, with Ekarshi noting a significant increase in viewership following the National Awards announcement. “The National Awards really pushed the movie. I know the statistics now that it is on Amazon, so I know the dashboard also, so it has created a huge burst, and there has been a lot of viewership post National Awards as well.”
As “Aattam” vies for consideration as India’s Oscar entry, Ekarshi expressed cautious optimism about its international appeal. “I hope we pass through the first level of nomination and being the official entry,” he said. “I feel ‘Aattam’ by structure, consciously or unconsciously, has a certain international structure to it. Of course, the theme being very universal, the theme being very relevant.”
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