Kannagi review: A female-oriented film that blames men for all the problems

With Kannagi, director Yashwanth Kishore comes up with a female-oriented film that blames men for all women’s problems.

Kannagi also takes potshots at the institution of marriage, which is portrayed as a concept developed by men to imprison and exploit poor, gullible, and helpless women.

The Tamil film revolves around four women, each one exhibiting a different kind of behaviour and facing a different set of challenges.

The first is Kalai (Ammu Abhirami), an obedient, shy, dutiful daughter for whom her parents are just beginning to look out for prospective alliances.

Her mother (Mounica) constantly abuses her father (Mayilsamy) with hurtful statements and wants to marry off Kalai to a guy who would meet all her specifications.

Kalai’s father, a communist, believes that the institution of marriage was created by men for selfish gains. He is the ideal male who continues to praise his wife despite the barrage of abuses she constantly showers on him.

The second character is Nethra (Vidya Pradeep), a poor, helpless woman looking to stop her marriage from disintegrating. Her husband, despite being impotent, seeks divorce from her, claiming that she is unable to bear him a child.

Helping Nethra fight this battle is a lawyer.

The third character is Nadhi (Shaalin Zoya), a truly empowered woman who breaks free from the shackles imposed by men. She does not believe in marriage and looks to have live-in relationships with potential partners.

Nadhi loathes marriages to the extent that she kicks the wedding ring out of a prospective partner’s hands when he goes down on his knees to propose to her.

The fourth woman is Geetha (Keerthi Pandian), an unmarried pregnant woman. Helping her abort the child is an assistant director in films with whom she is in a relationship.

Also Read: Thadavu is a heartfelt drama that talks about the harsh reality of being a woman

Finally!!! my most favourite character till the date. that too in Tamil. after a looong gap as an actor. Omg I’m so emotional right now Forever grateful to my director yashwanth for giving me ‘Nadhi’ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/SQDBedvOaZ

— Shaalin Zoya (@shaalinofficial) January 14, 2023

A typical “feminist” world

Director Yashwant Kishore showcases a typical feminist world in Kannagi where women can do no wrong, and men can do nothing right.

Initially, when the film begins with Kalai’s story, you develop an interest in the plot as the story appears unbiased and relatable.

However, all that credibility goes for a toss when the filmmaker tries to justify the actions of a toxic, abusive wife as love.

The irony is that the husband — constantly subjected to these verbal abuses — is shown defending his wife by shifting the blame for her actions on society. He defends her actions by saying they arise from the “stress” she is experiencing by worrying about what society might say.

That’s not all! The director wants us to believe that while the laws are in favour of women, the society that enacted them is against women!

Director Yashwant Kishore also gives us a taste of the “empowerment” he is rooting for.

When a senior woman colleague of Nadhi gently pleads with her to dress more conservatively, Nadhi shows this woman her place by choosing to wear her innerwear over her dress the next day. After all, who are these people to suggest to women how they should dress to work?

Then again, when her male bosses ask her not to put her legs on the work table at the office, she gets offended. How dare they deem it disrespectful?

The empowered woman responds by keeping her leg in a cast and putting it on a table.

One could go on and on, but you get the point, right?

Also Read: ‘Family’ gives a tight slap to society that normalises child abuse

Final take

In short, Yashwant Kishore’s film Kannagi looks to glorify women by putting down men and the institution of marriage as well.

(Views expressed here are personal.)