A few years ago the Malayalam dictionary got a new word, FeminichiA slang term for a feminist or an opinionated woman. Faasil Muhammad has presented this term in a new light with his directorial debut, Feminichi Fatima (Feminist Fathima), which premiered at the ongoing International Film Festival of Kerala in the competition section.
The film’s layered story does not slap patriarchy hard. Instead it is told in a subtle but satirical way that the point is not lost on neither the characters nor the audience.
The main character Fatima’s life revolves around her home – her extremely conservative husband, Ashraf, who teaches in a madrassa, their three children, and her mother-in-law. She is always on her husband’s orders, whether it is to switch on the fan or to bring her shoes, and she is subjected to his husband’s taunts for everything she does. He became angry when Fatima refused to give birth to another child. The unhappy mother-in-law further increases her suffering.
Shamla Hamza (left) and Viji Vishwanath inside Feminichi Fatima
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Resigned to her fate, Fatima never bothers to respond. But her simmering frustration reaches its peak when her eldest child wets the mattress in his sleep. His repeated attempts to clean it fail and he is forced to sleep on his cot without a mattress, worsening his back pain. Ashraf refused to buy a new mattress and stopped him from paying the monthly installments, saying that buying anything by paying interest was against his religion! When she takes home her neighbor’s old mattress, he protests against that too. Fatima has no other choice but to find a way to buy it herself.
biological change
Faasil, who is also the writer and editor of the film, cleverly weaves situations and dialogues that naturally bring about changes in Fatima. There’s no dramatic rebellion, she just finds her voice. “This is the feminism I know. It’s about updating yourself with the changing times, no matter which religion you belong to,” says Faasil, spot editor for Malayalam films, who started his career by making short films and is currently working on the third season of the popular web series Is directing. series, tuition videoStreaming on YouTube.
Faasil says that he placed the story in a Muslim context due to his familiarity with that environment. “I jumped at the title first because I liked the sound of it. The story was different then. This changed when I went to live with my sister. In the morning I woke up hearing her talking to herself and saw that her son had wet the mattress in his sleep – Muthram Thatikkandu Kondu Nadakkarnu, Ini Aayinte Manam PovuliyaThis means that she was trying her best not to wet the mattress and not to smell anymore. That dialogue stuck in my mind and I developed the story of Fatima based on that scenario,” says Faasil.
from still Feminichi Fatima
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Faasil admits that he has seen countless Fatimas around him. “I always wondered why they weren’t responding. Presenting it in a satirical manner was a deliberate decision because I believe in entertaining the audience even if you are presenting a controversial, serious issue,” he said.
Shot in the coastal area of Ponnani, the film features the cast of their web series and several people who live in and around the place. “There was tremendous support from residents. I met many Fatimas in the crowd that had gathered to watch the shooting. When he saw the scenes happening in his life he started laughing. That’s when I thought the film would be discussed,” he says.
Fasil Muhammad, Director Feminichi Fatima
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Faasil stressed that he was never worried about whether the film would create controversy or not. “This thought never occurred to me because I was not making fun of any religion or sect. I have just stated the facts. Also, I have shown both modern and conservative elements in Muslim society. On one side there is Ashraf who adheres to age-old regressive beliefs and on the other side there is a maestro Which advises them to move with the changing times. Then there is Suhra (the wonderful Viji Vishwanath), Fatima’s no-filter neighbour, who is modern in her outlook and supports her daughter who is active on social media,” he says.
The film is produced by director Thamar KV 1001 nunakalIn which Faasil was the spot editor, and Sudhish Scaria, who acted in the film. Shamla Hamza, who played a character in the same film, was cast as Fatima.
A promotional poster of Feminichi Fatima
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Shamla, who was present at IFFK with her 11-month-old daughter Lazin Zoe, says playing Fatima was not difficult as she has seen many such characters in real life. “Even our mothers are like Fatima in many ways,” says Shamla.
Shamla, who currently lives in Dubai, says that her daughter was only six months old when she did the shooting. Feminichi Fatima“Fasil and the team were extremely understanding and allowed me to take breaks to breastfeed or be with him.” Shamla says she fell in love with acting after being inspired by her father, musician and actor, Kunji Hamza Thrithala. “I auditioned for 1001 nunakal After marriage and my husband, Mohammed Salih, has been supportive of my dreams, unlike Fatima’s case,” she says.
Kumar Sunil, a veteran theaterperson and now a busy actor in Malayalam cinema, believes that it was Faasil who groomed him to become Ashraf. “I didn’t see anyone maestro Understood their life and ways closely. It was also impossible to find references. Faasil guided me the whole time and if the role has turned out well then the credit should go to him,” says Kumar.
Faasil says he is hopeful that the film will be released in theatres. ,1001 nunakal The premiere took place at IFFK in 2022 and then I had expressed my desire to screen my film at the festival someday. That has finally come true, that too with the entry into the competition section,” he says.
Feminichi Fatima will be screened today at 5.30 pm at the New Theatre.
published – December 17, 2024 03:10 PM IST
