News

ReviewAriyavan lectures, shames, and goads survivors of gendered violence, only to offer bloody revenge wrapped in religious fanfare.Ariyavan. Here is yet another Kollywood male revenge-fantasy centering on sexual violence against women. But even this prior knowledge doesn’t prepare you for the triggering, infuriating experience of watching the film. Debutant Ishaaon plays Jeeva – just your average, kabaddi-playing, bad-guy bashing, cringefully romancing Tamil cinema hero, until a sickening plot twist strikes. His girlfriend Nethra’s (Pranali Ghoghare) best friend, Jessi (Nishma Chengappa) is being blackmailed into sex work. The blackmailer is a man Jessi loves and has had consensual sex with in the past. But he films her secretly, in order to coerce her later. What’s worse, this man, Appu, is part of a racket led by his brother, Durairaj (Daniel Balaji). Durairaj has made it a business, in his own words, of using his men to cultivate relationships...