36 Vayadhinile: Age Is Just A Number
This year, Hindi movies are falling like nine pins. When I took pride in writing about then with gusto and enthusiasm, strangely positivity was missing from my reviews. What Hindi movies lack now is being wholly offered by the regional cinema. They are not only dealing with crucial issues but are presenting them in an entertaining way.
For example, this Friday's Tamil release 36 Vayadhinile(At the age of 36) deals with a slightly discomforting issue - age. With the increase in finer external appearances, men and women alike are looking for remedies that will leave them looking perennially young despite growing old. The first appearance of a grey hair, sends shivers down the spine and black dye appears to hide the unwanted color. Mere asking, "How old are you?" leaves one feeling discomfort. Women count seconds is declaring themselves younger than others. Men too have started following this trend.
Age is a natural phenomenon. Childhood - youth - old age are part of life. Why hide it when it lends certain credence to you? Age is just a number. It is your inner beauty combined with the natural outer look that sums up a total you. No amount of applying dye can reverse your increasing years. So, why not accept it gracefully? Instead of embracing a temporary artificiality, have a perennial natural look. And other people do appreciate the growing years. For example take actress Nafisa Ali os Waheeda Rahman. Both have aged gracefully without hiding their silver strains. They add to their beauty. Growing years do not bar a woman from any work. They can do anything, if they apply themselves. 36 Vayadhinile is the official remake of the Malayalam movie How Old Are You(2014). The movie is produced by actor Suriya and his wife Jyotika(36) has played the lead character. The movie is being lapped up by the audience courtesy Jyotika.
A 36-year-old Vasanthi(Jyotika) works in a government office. Her husband Tamilselvan(Rahman, 47) works in Akashavaani. He wishes to settle abroad in Ireland. Problem arises when Vasanthi's job applications are turned down by the Irish companies. Without a steady job offer, she cannot accompany her husband and daughter(Amrita Anil) to Ireland. She leads a boring life and wants to change it but finds no avenue. She receives a call from the IG's office. She is informed that the President of India(Siddhartha Basu) would like to talk with her. But the meeting is a disaster and social networking sites go wild taking potshots at her. To add to her embarrassment, she is finally left alone when her husband and daughter fly away to Ireland.
Her school mate Abhirami, is now a successful business woman. Vasanthi realizes that she used to be as confident as Abhirami. Abhirami helps her in rediscovering her former confident self that has become hidden. She still is a woman, who has dreams and aspirations about herself. Like an average Tamil woman of her age, she dreads the approaching forties. She is unable to meet her daughter's expectations. Her ageing look makes her look like her husband's elder sister. But Abhirami makes her realize she must do something for her own self, without catering to anyone's expectations.
Our society attaches gender and age specific stereotypes to women. But many women go beyond these road blocks and this is where Jyotika comes into her own. She goes back to her former self only to return stronger. She has realized her core strength, which no one can separate from her. It is her identity, her uniqueness. She not only realizes her dreams but knows that a woman can make them come true at any age.
Remember Sridevi in English Vinglish(2012). That movie had Sridevi written all over it. 36 Vayadhinile has Jyotika written all over it. For no one could have done justice to this role like Jyotika does in a natural way. This movie will be a definite source to women's internal and external change. This is a path-breaking movie. And Indian women can only gain from it. Eagerly waiting for it's Hindi remake.
It is a welcome change that roles are being written for mature women. It reflects the coming of age of women. Their careers do not end with twenties. They go on as long as women live to carve out a niche for themsleves. Cheers.
- Thank You! We appreciate your effort.