Parvathy Thiruvothu weighed in on the ongoing discussion about gender representation in the Malayalam film industry. Despite recent successes like 'Manjummel Boys,' 'Aadujeevitham,' 'Aavesham,' 'Premalu,' and 'Bramayugam,' criticism has surfaced regarding the absence of women in the narratives.
The online debate was sparked by director Anjali Menon's question, "Where are women in Malayalam cinema?" in her post.
In a recent interview, Parvathy acknowledged both positive reactions and criticisms of her perspective. She agreed that many narratives primarily focus on men and emphasised the importance of not forcefully inserting female characters into such stories. Parvathy explained that filmmakers are free to choose the films they want to make, and given their control over production and distribution, this reality cannot be denied.
Parvathy stressed the significance of filmmakers concentrating on creating their own projects rather than expecting them to alter their approach. She questioned whether the criticism was directed at the appropriate individuals, highlighting her role as an actor, which doesn't entail decision-making authority. Parvathy pointed out that even if she were to direct, she would still operate under a producer. She voiced her apprehension about the deliberate sidelining of films predominantly featuring women.
