Dec. 15, 2017|India|122 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Drama;South;Indian
Description: The film *Aruvi* (2017) begins with the protagonist, Aruvi (played by Aditi Balan), and her friend Emily being interrogated by a law enforcement officer named Shakeel, who suspects Aruvi of being involved with a terrorist organization. During the interrogation, Aruvi’s parents and friends recount her past, describing her as an innocent girl from a middle-class family who was raised with love and care. However, her life takes a drastic turn when her family accuses her of bringing shame upon them and forces her to leave home.
Aruvi finds temporary shelter with her college friend, Jessy, before moving to a hostel where she lives with Emily, a transgender woman. The two work as tailors for a man named Arulmani at an NGO. At one point, Aruvi approaches Arulmani in tears, requesting a loan of 1 lakh rupees to support her father, who has suffered a minor cardiac arrest. After this, she disappears without returning. Throughout this time, Aruvi also undergoes touch therapy with a Swami, who uses hypnosis to alleviate her stress.
Emily eventually contacts the producers of a reality show called *Solvathellam Sathyam*, which aims to address people’s problems publicly. She brings up the issue of three men who had raped her friend, Aruvi. The show’s Assistant Director, Peter (played by Pradeep Antony), agrees to feature their story and calls the three men in for questioning.
The next day, the show begins filming. The host (played by Lakshmi Gopalaswamy) asks Aruvi to share her story. Aruvi reveals that the three men are Jessy’s father, Joseph, Arulmani, and the Swami. She explains that Joseph sexually abused her when she stayed at his house, Arulmani exploited her vulnerability when she asked for a loan, and the Swami raped her under hypnosis. Aruvi also discloses that she has been living with AIDS for the past two years, which she contracted after being exposed to contaminated blood from a coconut seller.
The film portrays Aruvi’s struggles and resilience as she confronts the injustices she has faced.
Cast director: Arun Prabu Purushothaman
Cast actor: Aditi Balan, Shwetha Shekar, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Mohammad Ali Baig, Kavitha Bharathi, Aruvi Bala
Original name: அருவி