Veruthe Oru Bharya:Paean to Womanhood

Veruthe Oru Bharya echoes the spirit of the age with deep and pertinent tones signalling the emancipation of the woman in her household. The movie has vindicated the woman's stand to be heard and considered as an individual in her own right. With Gopika and Jayaram in the lead, and the backdrop of a middle class family in Kerala, the movie does justice to those women of the society who silently bear the burden of running the family in their own way by managing the household. Voicing the unpaid labour of women, while skillfully placing the story in a middle class family, the director Akku Akbar lends credibility and conviction to the plot. As a perfect and wholesome entertainer, cashing on the womenfolk, who can easily empathize with the lead heroine, the movie vindicates its title aptly.

The success factor of the movie lies in its subtlety and simplicity while narrating commonplace issues. Tinged with a slight humour and irony, Veruthe Oru Bharya reveals the paradox latent in its title. Acknowledging woman's labour with due respect is the key message. Without leaving an inkling of doubt regarding the steady success of the film, the filmmaker has brought the women of the household back to the theatres to undergo a self-introspection and realize their standing in their family, to inculcate self-esteem and above all self-respect . The strength of the movie lies in not making the emancipation too loud, even as the heroine revolts and proclaims her strike within the household. The beauty lies in conveying the message, without preaching, which Akku has definitely mastered. Laced with songs, the household and the drama within emerges to be the real character.

Jayaram, labelled the family man has once again charmed the audience with his histrionics and simplicity akin to the common household man of Ayalathe Addeham, Veendum Chila Veettu Karyangal, Meleparambil Aan Veedu, Manasinakkare, Sneham and so on. Gopika has done a commendable work evolving out of her lover girl image, to be the mother of a school going daughter. Shedding their star images, the actors enter into the skin of the character, virtually living them throughout the movie.

Veruthe Oru Bharya ironically highlights the importance of the woman of the household, binding the whole family in a bond. Hats off to this paean to womanhood celebrating the woman as the true 'homemaker'. It is yet debatable whether the movie vindicates woman at the cost of man or turns the irony inside out !