Anand Ekadarshi's acclaimed Malayalam film Aattam has made its way to OTT, landing on Prime Video after its theatrical release on January 5, 2024, and is once again garnering praise from audiences. This ensemble drama unfolds within the backdrop of a theatre troupe and centers around an incident that threatens to unravel the dynamics within the group. Drawing inspiration from Sidney Lumet's masterpiece 12 Angry Men, much of the action takes place within a confined space, as characters engage in conversations that gradually unveil the events of a fateful night. Aattam Film Review: Anand Ekarshi's Directorial Debut Shines in This Powerful #MeToo Drama With Exceptional Performances.
Spoiler Alert: Before proceeding, be forewarned that the following article contains significant spoilers about Aattam. If you have not yet watched the film, it's advisable to proceed with caution or revisit this discussion after viewing the movie.
The plot of Aattam revolves around a drama troupe named Arangu, comprising 13 actors - 12 male and one female. Following a night of revelry at a resort, the female actress Anjali (portrayed by Zarin Shihab) becomes unreachable for several days. Upon resurfacing, she confides in her married boyfriend Vinay (played by Vinay Forrt), who is also part of the troupe, alleging that Hari (played by Kalabhavan Shajon), the lead male actor in the play and a renowned film star, had sexually assaulted her while she was asleep. Although she did not witness the assault, she identifies Hari as the perpetrator based on the scent of his cologne and the recovery of his misplaced car keys at the scene.
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Vinay, harbouring longstanding envy towards Hari for usurping the lead role, embellishes the story and seeks the intervention of a senior colleague, Madan, to convene a meeting with the other actors and decide Hari's fate. Reluctant to spearhead the proceedings due to his known animosity towards Hari and his desire to keep his relationship with Anjali clandestine, Vinay delegates the responsibility to Madan.
Consequently, Madan gathers the rest of the troupe, excluding Hari and Anjali, at his residence to deliberate on the matter. While the group expresses shock at the allegations, consensus eludes them regarding Hari's expulsion solely based on an accusation, much to Vinay's frustration. Eventually, they agree to oust Hari but opt to inform Anjali of their decision in person, tasking Vinay with escorting her to Madan's house.
Only a few refrained from entering the pool, which could clear the rest of suspicion, albeit leaving some room for doubt. I will discuss who seems the most suspicious, saving my prime suspect for last.
Hari - Despite Jolly's photo showing Hari asleep at 2.12 am, it's plausible he woke up later and passed by Anjali's room while heading to his car for a cigarette, possibly leaving his keys behind in his inebriated state. However, compared to the others, Hari appears the least innocent, though he had also not taken a dip into the pool.
Vinay - While Vinay may be Anjali's boyfriend and initially displays genuine shock upon hearing about the assault, he later reveals himself as a manipulative liar. He harbours jealousy towards Hari for stealing his lead role and dislikes Anjali's closeness to him at the party. Additionally, Vinay refrained from jumping into the pool. So we can't put him out of our suspicious radar - dude used his lover's trauma for his own benefit after all.
Nandan - Nandan admits to visiting Anjali's room and potentially knowing where she slept. He also seemed eager to blame Hari and was instructed by him to retrieve cigarettes from his car, though he claims he couldn't find the keys. However, Nandan also entered the pool, possibly washing off the perfume.
Sijin and Santosh - In a private moment at Madan's house, both indirectly implicate each other, suggesting they had Hari's car keys to access alcohol. This implies they were drinking that night more than the rest, possibly clouding their judgment to commit such an act. However, they did jump into the pool and later took a bath, partially absolving them.
Jolly - Jolly remained awake for most of the night arguing with his fiancée on a video call and was seen mixing drinks, making him a strong suspect. He has a questionable past with the group and was among the few who avoided the pool. Furthermore, his timely presentation of the photo exonerating Hari raises suspicion.
Prashant - Prashant harbored feelings for Anjali and was willing to betray the group by revealing their European secret to her. However, his attitude towards her deteriorates when her relationship with Vinay is exposed. Prashant refrained from entering the pool that night, possibly due to frustration over rejection.
Sudheer - Sudheer emerges as the most suspicious due to his hypocritical behavior, portraying himself as liberal but secretly exhibiting misogynistic tendencies. The discovery of him watching porn that night, coupled with his avoidance of the pool, raises red flags. Sudheer's reaction to Jolly's findings further incriminates him.
Having considered these factors, let me still draw a parallel of Aattam to Christopher Nolan's Inception. The controversial ending of the film prompts debate over whether Cobb remains in a dream or returns to reality. However, for Cobb, being reunited with his children signifies his reality. Similarly, for Anjali, the identity of her assailant becomes insignificant; what matters is that those who didn't support her are complicit.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2024 11:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).