B 32 Muthal 44 Vare review: A daring take on gender politics and realities faced by women

Not all women-centric films necessarily deal with sexual harassment and the physical and emotional toll it takes on the victims. Director Shruti Sharanyam’s B 32 Muthal 44 Vare (Bust 32” to 44”) showcases the issues faced by six women living in Kochi.

Ramya Nambeesan, Zarin Shihab, Ashwathy B, Anarkali Marikar, Krishna Kurup, and Raina Radhakrishnan play the women characters in the movie.

Shruti Sharanyam introduces these women with their bust size, a daring attempt to show the realities faced by women in various streams of their lives.

Each woman in the movie has issues related to their breasts. One person is queer and the other undergoes a mastectomy. Another lady worries about her small bust size and believes that good looks are important for her career in the hospitality industry.

B 32 Muthal 44 Vare also showcases the plight of a minor girl who delivers a baby. Her inability to feed the baby makes for some touching moments.

Gender politics

In B 32 Muthal 44 Vare, Anarkali Marikar plays the role of Ziya, a transman. He is a fashion photographer who is facing an identity crisis and finds solace in his work.

Remya Nambeesan plays Malini and Hareesh Uthaman plays her husband Vivek.

He changes a lot after her breast removal surgery (mastectomy). He doesn’t interact with her like earlier and keeps ignoring her.

Jaya (Ashwathy), a domestic help, transforms into a model for lingerie products to make a living after her husband meets with an accident.

As she makes a mark for herself in modelling, Jaya’s husband — who once supported her — becomes jealous of her and starts accusing her of neglecting him and accuses her of insubordination.

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However, Jaya is showcased as a successful model which is a welcome change on the part of the creator.

In another case, Rachel (Krisha Kurup) is an aspiring actress and she is sexually assaulted by a film director inside a hotel room. Her decision to file a sexual assault case is also an impressive take by the filmmaker.

Rachel is shown as a stern woman and she stands up for herself even when her boyfriend doesn’t support her.

Nidhi (Raina Radhakrishnan), a teen, is a helpless mother of a baby. Her parents are reluctant to accept the fact that their daughter is a mother and give her nightmares.

Nidhi’s struggles to attend school and how she is not allowed to touch her child are some of the realities never discussed before.

The love between Anarkali’s queer character Ziya and Zarin Shihab’s Iman is a daring one. The portrayal comes at a time when the Union government told the Supreme Court that same-sex marriage is against Indian culture.

B 32 Muthal 44 Vare also highlights another important factor: how boys in our society treat women.

The opening scene and the ending give an outlook of the lack of sex education and counselling needed for teenagers, especially boys who fantasise about women and end up harming them.

Director Shruthi Sharanyam, who is also the scriptwriter, establishes a connection among all the women.

Initially, B 32 Muthal 44 Vare gives the feeling of six short stories but all characters are woven together to give a quality final product. Above all, the film isn’t preachy.

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Vivek’s (Hareesh Uthaman) aversion towards his wife Malini after her cancer treatment is relatable.
Gibin, who plays Joseph, initially encourages his wife Jaya to become a model but later shows his true colours.

There are several a-tight-slap-in-the-face moments in the flick which drew loud cheering and clapping inside the Sree Theatre in Alappuzha where the movie was screened at an International Film Festival on 18 March.

Performances

The six women remain to be the soul of B 32 Muthal 44 Vare.

Anarkali Marikar’s Ziya and Zarin Shihab’s Iman would become the talk of the town soon after the film’s release on 6 April. The actors are incredible.

Aswathy as Jaya has a significant character and her transformation gives positive vibes.

Nidhi and Rachel are safe in the hands of Raina Radhakrishnan and Krisha Kurup.

Remya Nambeesan delivers a fine performance as Malini who has to deal with aversion from her husband.
Sajitha Madathil also is impressive.

The male characters are good in their respective roles. But the movie celebrates women who aim big.

Technical aspects

B 32 Muthal 44 Vare is a technically sound film that captures the visual beauty of Kochi in most of its frames.

Cinematographer Sudeep Elamon deserves appreciation for many scenes. The colour tones give depth to the women’s characters.

Jaya’s transformation into a model is one of the examples where the frames are captured well.

Sudeep Palanad’s music takes the film to another level.

The movie is only 110 minutes long but leaves an indelible mark on the minds of audiences.

Verdict

B 32 Muthal 44 Vare is a genuine and awe-inspiring take on how women are treated by the near and dear, in particular, and society, at large.

It is vocal about several issues like gender discrimination, aversion towards women, and problems faced by the queer community which are deeply rooted in our cultures and society.

The film is hitting the theatres on 6 April.

(Views expressed are personal.)