An Ode to Feminichi Fathima

Feminichi Fathima is a Malayalam movie I had been waiting to watch for a long time. The film received strong appreciation at several film festivals. Many critics also spoke highly of it in their reviews. Now that it has finally released on OTT, the wait feels worth it. After watching the film, I can say it truly lives up to the praise it received.

The movie is a bold and thoughtful effort by director Fasil Muhammed to explore feminism from the perspective of a Muslim woman. This is a refreshing shift in Indian cinema, where feminist narratives are often shown through a cultural Hindu lens. Films like The Great Indian Kitchen (Mrs. in Hindi) and Thappad shaped much of that earlier conversation. Against that backdrop, this film feels timely and necessary. It adds a new voice to discussions on gender, faith, and everyday patriarchy.

What’s It About?

Fathima is married into a conservative and deeply religious family in the Malappuram district in Kerala. Her husband is a usthad (a religious leader) who expects his household to follow every rule without question. Life in the home is seen only through a strict, conservative lens.

Trouble begins when their young son wets the mattress. Fathima cleans it and leaves it outside to dry, but a dog later urinates on it. Since dogs are viewed as ritually impure, her husband reacts with anger and disgust. What follows is Fathima’s quiet struggle to fix the situation, facing resistance at every step.

The film makes a strong point that a woman in religious clothing can also be a feminichi (a slur often used by Malayalee misogynists to dismiss feminists).

Thoughts

Shamla Hamza and Kumar Sunil deliver standout performances. Shamla Hamza, in particular, is remarkable throughout the movie. It is hard to believe this is only her second project, after 1001 Nunakal, released in 2022. She performs with the ease and control of a seasoned actor. Her expressions carry much of the film’s emotional weight. Shamla winning the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress feels well deserved. The storyline is fresh and quietly rebellious, which makes her performance even more powerful.

In many ways, the film feels braver than other feminist movies. Dissent is rarely encouraged in conservative Muslim families, which makes this narrative more powerful. The story shows how questioning norms itself becomes an act of courage. That is what sets this Malayalam feminist film apart. It opens space for conversations that are often silenced. Ideally, it will inspire more Feminichi Fathimas to speak up and stand for their rights.

Even though the subject is heavy, the movie never becomes overwhelming. It avoids melodrama and keeps emotions grounded. Light comedy is woven into the narrative. This balance makes the film feel surprisingly breezy. The pacing is tight and engaging throughout. You can easily watch the full 1.5 hours in one sitting without needing a break.

I would call this movie a must-watch for anyone interested in meaningful Malayalam cinema. Feminichi Fathima is now streaming on Manorama Max. You can also watch it via Amazon Prime with a Manorama Max subscription. English subtitles are available.

Horror Movie Spotlight: Diés Iraé

Like many, I found the movie’s name, Diés Iraé, tricky to pronounce. I’m quite sure I’m still saying it wrong. But the offbeat name adds to its charm. For those who don’t know, Diés Iraé is Latin for “Day of Wrath.” It’s a term from Christian theology referring to the day when souls are judged.

The first time I heard about Diés Iraé was when I went to watch Lokah. The trailer of the movie immediately captured my attention. The execution looked stylish, and Pranav Mohanlal looked good. I knew then that I had to watch this movie in a theatre.

What’s It About?

A young, wealthy man who lives life to the fullest begins experiencing strange supernatural events in his home after visiting the house of an ex-fling who was found dead in a well. The restless spirit haunting him seems furious for unknown reasons and determined to destroy his life.

Thoughts

Since Diés Iraé is a horror film, only adults were allowed inside the theatre. An ID card was required. The theatre I went to was almost empty, which I actually didn’t mind. It meant no one was around to make unwanted comments or jokes. This has become a real problem in many Kerala theatres. I faced this issue when I went to watch Bramayugam. I hope the film industry or theatre authorities take strict action against such behavior. If they want to attract more viewers, they must ensure a respectful environment. Otherwise, serious movie lovers will simply wait for the OTT release and enjoy the film peacefully at home.

Getting back to Diés Iraé, I wouldn’t call it mind-blowing. The special effects were impressive, though. Nothing looked fake or unintentionally funny. Pranav Mohanlal delivered a decent performance, and he looked great on screen, which helped balance out a few of his less convincing moments.

There are a few jump scares, so be prepared for that.

Overall, the story felt average. If you’ve seen a lot of horror films, this one might not surprise or scare you much. Still, the execution was solid, and the fact that a film of this scale and quality came from Kerala is definitely something to be proud of.

The creepiest part was seeing the line “inspired by true events.” I didn’t dare look up what those events were. Some things are better left unresearched if you want to sleep peacefully at night.

I would say Diés Iraé is a good one-time watch. At under two hours, it’s a quick and engaging film that keeps you entertained throughout.

Comedy Movie Review: Prince and Family

I think it’s safe to say I’m seriously craving a good comedy film. The genre seems to be fading in Indian cinema. I’m not enjoying that shift one bit. Remember the Andaz Apna Apna era? Pure classic. Even Malayalam cinema had its fair share of timeless comedies that still hold up today. That comedy void is exactly what led me to subscribe to Zee5, just to watch the Malayalam film Prince and Family.

To be honest, I’ve become quite disconnected from new movie releases. Life in your 40s tends to be more news-oriented and less in touch with the entertainment world. And to make it worse, the kind of feel-good content I enjoy seems to be rare these days. I was brought up in the era of Yash Chopra and Karan Johar movies. So it’s natural that I miss the soft aesthetics of good ol’ Bollywood romance and the comedy movies of Malayalee actors like Mohanlal and Sreenivasan.

Considering my disconnect, I actually discovered Prince and Family through Instagram Reels. It was the viral dance entry of Chinju Rani that caught my eye and motivated me to subscribe to Zee5.

What’s It About?

Prince and Family tells the story of Prince Chakkalakkal, a well-known fashion designer in his 40s working in Kerala. He carries the weight of his entire family, including his two unemployed brothers and their families, on his shoulders. Despite his success, Prince remains unmarried, struggling to find the right partner.

Enter Chinju Rani. A hyper-energetic woman in her 20s and a popular social media influencer. Their match is arranged through an online matrimonial site.

Chinju Rani lives for the ‘likes.’ Every decision she makes is filtered through the lens of her followers. So much so that on her wedding night, she’s busy editing and posting her wedding video, while her husband waits and eventually falls asleep.

Can two people from such different worlds build a happy marriage? That’s the heart of Prince and Family.

Thoughts

I enjoyed Prince and Family overall. It had a promising comic tone at the start. I only wish they had stuck with that all the way through. While I understand the film’s intention, that is to highlight the dangers of living through social media at the cost of real-life connections, the shift to a more serious tone felt a bit abrupt. Honestly, the world of influencers offers plenty of material for comedy, and the film could have explored that further in a subtle manner without losing its message.

Some of the emotional scenes felt exaggerated. But not to the point of losing interest. The film kept its entertainment quotient intact throughout.

Dileep’s character is particularly interesting. He’s choosy about marriage proposals, with one preference that seems to be clearly dominant over all others even though it’s not explicitly stated: he wants a young, unmarried, attractive woman. Despite being in his 40s, this mindset makes him dismiss proposals from women his own age with a certain disdain. It’s old-school thinking, but it mirrors real-life attitudes in India that still persist. This is why we see 50-year-old Indian male actors romancing 20-year-olds on-screen, while actresses of the same age group play their mothers.

The real star of the movie, though, is Raniya Raanaa. Some might say she’s overacting, but I think she nails the hyper energy of a social media influencer who lives for the camera. Her performance is full of life, and she handles emotional scenes with ease. Siddique and Bindu Panicker are excellent in their supporting roles as well.

All in all, Prince and Family is worth a watch. Just don’t expect too much logic or nuance. It’s streaming now on Zee5.