Mar. 26, 2021|97 Min.
Genre: Drama;South;Indian
Description: “Aanum Pennum” (2021) is a Malayalam anthology film that explores the dynamics of man-woman relationships, highlighting the strength of the mind that women possess in contrast to the might of men. Despite the Malayalam film industry being relatively small, there have been few anthologies, and even fewer that delve into the complexities of gender politics. “Aanum Pennum” is a notable addition to this rare genre.
The film comprises three distinct stories: Savithri, Rachiyammma, and Rani. Directed by Jay K, Savithri is set in post-British Raj Kerala, during a time when communists faced public persecution. Savithri, a comrade on the run, takes shelter disguised as a house-help, with her story drawing parallels to Panchali from the Mahabharata during her exile. Venu directs Rachiyammma, based on Uroob’s 1969 novella, which follows a milk-maid and her platonic bond with a plantation officer. Aashiq Abu’s Rani narrates the tale of two passionate lovers whose eagerness leads to unforeseen consequences.
The film is brought to life by stellar performances from Samkuktha Menon, Parvathy Thiruvoth, and Darshana Rajendran, who portray their characters with depth and conviction. Joju George, Asif Ali, and Roshan Mathew provide strong support, seamlessly blending into their roles. The cinematography by Shyju Khalid, Venu, and Suresh Rajan is visually captivating, while the music by Bijibal and Dawn Vincent enhances the storytelling, making “Aanum Pennum” a compelling audio-visual experience.
Cast director: Venu
Cast actor: Samyuktha Menon, Joju George, Indrajith Sukumaran, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Asif Ali, Roshan Mathew, Darshana Rajendran, Nedumudi Venu, Basil Joseph
Original name: ആണും പെണ്ണും