Day-to-day
practice of religion goes as per the customes evolved through
interpretations of religious tenets,which,in essence,strongly
advocate certain basic values for enhancement of quality of
life for all beings. However,we do find instances of "intelligent"
interpretations of these very tenets by unscrupulous people
to serve their own interests. One such instance is the exploitation
of woman for the sheer thrill of man in a male dominated society
taking advantage of the"custom" of marriage,particularly when
the woman is struk with ignorance,fear and poverty. MUNNUDI
deals with this kind of gender discrimination - a crime perpetrated
by man against woman in the guise of "marriage". But how long
can this go? A day comes when the suffering woman rises in revolt
against this system and takes the lead to walk away into freedom
- freedom from fear and oppression. The story goes like this.
Mutthuchchera, a tiny seaside village, has a special attraction
to Arabian traders. They come in a particular 'season' for buying
wood, spices etc. Local traders vie with each other to woo the
Arabians by providing them all comforts including 'temporary
wives'. They induce poor local woman to agree to a ' system'
in which they marry the Arabians only to be divorced in about
three months. These woman return to their huts and wait in silence
for the next 'season' to become 'new wife' for some 'new Arabian
husband. These woman get some money as Meher every time they
marry. There are other inducements like visa to their kith and
kin to go to Arab countries for work. There are Agents who fix
such marriage for a commission. Their trump card is knowledge
of Arabic language. For ages, these woman have accepted this
system as way of life. No one can question the 'sanctity' of
such events as everything is done as per the 'rules' of marriage(Nikaah)
and divorce(Talaaq); 'Meher' and 'Visa' are anyway too tempting.
As if by exception, an Arabian who marries Rukhiya develops
true love her. He does not divorce her and promises to return
soon to take her back with him. Rukhiya gets a daughter(Unnisa)
through this marriage. Sixteen years pass by; the Arabian does
not return. She continues to wait fot him. Meanwhile, sensing
the concern of the local youth group, a pious religious leader
explains the complexities involved in Nikaah and Talaq and advises
the group to deal with the situation as a social problem. This
youth group becomes a stubling block ti the local Trader and
Agent . But the system has to go on , as otherwise the trader
suffers!. So, what was going on openly takes the form of secret
marriages!! Rukhiya tries her best for a dignified marriage
for her daughter with some local boy. But no one is prepared
to marry a girl whose paternity is not known. This stark reality
and the mounting pressures of the Agent and the trader compel
Rukhiya to painfully agree to her daughter's 'marriage' with
an Arabian trader. But soon, her pent up anguish explodes. She
breaks the marriage and vows to end this inhuman practice for
ever. This film is based on the short story 'Mutthuchera' by
Boluwar Mohammad Kunhi; a pioneer in the projection of various
aspects of Muslim Life in Kannada Literature and winner of three
Sahithya Academy Awards including Fellowship. With this maiden
directorial venture, P.Sheshadri opens up a new avenue for fresh
and sensitive subjects for films.
