The Tamil film “Aan Paavam Pollathathu,” starring Rio Raj and Malavika Manoj, is facing sharp criticism following its OTT release not for its performances, but for what many call a deeply biased and one-sided portrayal of gender relations.
At its core, the movie tells the story of a married couple whose relationship collapses within a little over a year, ending up in court. While the film sets out to highlight “men’s struggles,” critics argue it reduces the female protagonist to a caricature neglecting her individuality or viewpoint, and instead presenting her as arrogant, “pseudo-feminist,” or irresponsible.
The script often uses these as reasons to justify the husband’s anger and emotional abuse, effectively making his grievances the centre-stage and casting the woman’s independence in negative light.
Still, many viewers and critics believe the film misses that mark, opting instead for simplistic binaries aan painting women who assert themselves as antagonists and glossing over systemic biases. As one scathing review puts it: “a masterclass in how not to discuss gender equality through caricature, dismissal, and a narrow worldview.”
