R ARIVANANTHAM
National Poet Mahakavi Subrmaniya Bharathiyar in his “New Woman” (Pudumai Penn) declared that “women would learn many new sciences (sastras), they would destroy all of the old rules and foolish ties that controlled them; they would travel all over the world and bring all that is new of their learning to India, and work to make their country great.”
- Director Muthukumar not only crack the magic but cut above the rest with its strong content and bold screen play and apt dialogues
- The story talks about superstitious beliefs that fuels patriarchy and oppression against women
- When Tamil Selvi realises that her dream matters more than what others think, she says that everyone in the village is a fool
Despite Bharthiyar and EVR’s efforts, the society is still resisting women’s education and empowerment.
Ayali, a social drama against superstitious belief of a remote village Veerapannai in Pudukottai district in Tamil Nadu during 1990s will really impress the audience. When everyone talks about web series on crime thriller, Director Muthukumar not only crack the magic but cut above the rest with its strong content and bold screen play and apt dialogues. This reminds us of ‘Iyakkunar Sigaram” K Balachander.
Trailer:
This series would set a new bench-mark for the future web series for the OTT platforms. The story talks about superstitious beliefs that fuels patriarchy and oppression against women, especially the girl’s education. The girls who attains puberty (adulthood) will not be allowed to continue their school education and the will not be allowed to go out of their villages. Because of this reason, no one has passed even SSLC.
However, Tamil Selvi (the role played by Abi Nakshatra), who is born to Anumol and Aruvi Madhan, aims big. She wants to become a doctor. She was motivated by her new teacher. Whether Tamil Selvi will achieve her dream in the patriarchal world she is living is the rest of the story.
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ZEE5’s Tamil original series – ‘Ayali’, a social drama creates waves
Director Muthukumar’s Ayali takes a different approach and sharply conveys much-needed messages with its thought-provoking dialogue. When Tamil Selvi realises that her dream matters more than what others think, she says that everyone in the village is a fool. Simple dialogues like these hit you hard.
Every character, including Tamil Selvi, her mother (Anumol) and her father (Aruvi Madhan) get great character arcs. Tamil’s world also revolves around her friends. Mythli (a brilliant Lovelyn) is what Tamil could be. Mythili wants to study, but her life turns upside down when she hits puberty. She is forced to marry at 14, deal with a drunkard and even bear a child at a tender age. Tamil listens to Mythili’s laments and decides to take on everyone to achieve her dream.
Tamil Selvi’s friendliness with her mother is one of the most heartwarming sequences in the series. We see the mother going through a 360-degree change when she puts her child’s needs first. When the mother gets to enjoy freedom while travelling on a bus, it’s when you understand how important it is for women to know their rights. Long gone are the days when a woman had to listen to a man in the family. This crux is well-explained in Ayali.
Director Muthukumar emphasing a simple thought, ‘do what is right for you.’ This simple statement makes the lives of people much easier and it is explained in such a way that you root for the women who have been oppressed for ages in the village in the name of age-old traditions.
Ramji’s cinematography and music director Reva’s music aptly supports the series.
Cast
Abi Nakshathra- Tamil Selvi, Anumol – Kuruvammal, Aruvi Madhan – Thavsi, Lingaa – Sakthivel, Singampuli – Thiruppathi, TSR – Dharmaraj – Murthy, Lovelyn – Mythili, Gayathri – Eswari, Thara – Kayazhvili, Melodi – Selvi, Pragadheeswaran – Murugan, Jenson – Sekar
Lakshmi Priya Chandramouli – Inspector (Guest Appearance), Smruthi Venkat – English Teacher (Guest Appearance), Sendhil vel – Collector (Guest Appearance) and
Bagavathi Perumal (Bucks) – MLA (Guest Appearance)
Crew
Director: Muthu Kumar, Producer: Kushmavathi, Production House: Estrella, Stories
Screenplay & Dialogues: Veenai Maindhan, Sachin, Muthu Kumar, Music: Revaa,
Editor: Ganesh Siva and Cinematographer: Ramji
