Biriyaani (2020) :
Brief Review -
Extra Spicy, exta bold, extra vulgar but still couldn't cook a proper dish of Muslim Women's problems because of absurd idealogy of Prostitution by Choice. Biriyaani has unexpectedly come out as one of the boldest film from Malayalam Cinema, and to some extent from Indian Cinema which had a cause to go bold but couldn't find a proper way for it. I remember watching couple of Classic Flicks from Foreign Cinema like Chinese Flick 'The Goddess' (1933) and Mizoguchi's Japanese Flick 'The Life of Oharu' (1952) where the lead actress is seen in the business of prostitution. However, those two films shows the real fight of women as we see the women being forced to do the work by the horrible situations hence the sympathetic connect was generated by default. Here, Biriyaani has failed to create that window for sympathetic connect as the lead actress herself chooses prostitution by choice and we are left with no other choice than hate her. The movie chronicles the life of Khadeeja, a married Muslim woman confined within the four walls of the household, forced to conceal her desires in the name of religious and societal norms. The movie begins with a bold Sex scene and warns you already to be prepared for the upcoming vulgar show. Eventually, it goes on to showcase several disturbing visuals such as Circumcision ceremony, masturbation and many sex scenes. Now i am just thinking what's this all had got to do with the storyline or the concept? It was supposed to be a story of a helpless muslim woman who gears herself up to fight against the social norms, right? Then how does that opening sex scene, circumcision scene and her prostitution by choice makes sense towards it? Ain't it pathetic to destroy the basic sense like morality? And how is she even okay having a child inside her whose father is unknown? And what's that brutal revenge makes her pain go away after that Iftaar biriyaani which isn't even acknowledged by the culprits? And how suddenly she becomes close to that aged man of her father's age? Everything was senseless, just absurd. Anyways, the ultimate redemption for her sins was expected then, and it happens, i mean thank god it happens. Biriyaani lacks the basic sense of how to make a woman oriented social flick, instead it demolishes that little chance by its own hands but thankfully it has realistic execution, good performances and technically correct direction to survive. The slow screenplay and useless scenes makes it boring occasionally and that's a bad thing when you know it's not a long film but just 90 minutes ride. Overall, a gutsy attempt to bring boldness into Woman oriented cinema which somehow serves an average and mediocre Dish.
RATING - 5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Extra Spicy, exta bold, extra vulgar but still couldn't cook a proper dish of Muslim Women's problems because of absurd idealogy of Prostitution by Choice. Biriyaani has unexpectedly come out as one of the boldest film from Malayalam Cinema, and to some extent from Indian Cinema which had a cause to go bold but couldn't find a proper way for it. I remember watching couple of Classic Flicks from Foreign Cinema like Chinese Flick 'The Goddess' (1933) and Mizoguchi's Japanese Flick 'The Life of Oharu' (1952) where the lead actress is seen in the business of prostitution. However, those two films shows the real fight of women as we see the women being forced to do the work by the horrible situations hence the sympathetic connect was generated by default. Here, Biriyaani has failed to create that window for sympathetic connect as the lead actress herself chooses prostitution by choice and we are left with no other choice than hate her. The movie chronicles the life of Khadeeja, a married Muslim woman confined within the four walls of the household, forced to conceal her desires in the name of religious and societal norms. The movie begins with a bold Sex scene and warns you already to be prepared for the upcoming vulgar show. Eventually, it goes on to showcase several disturbing visuals such as Circumcision ceremony, masturbation and many sex scenes. Now i am just thinking what's this all had got to do with the storyline or the concept? It was supposed to be a story of a helpless muslim woman who gears herself up to fight against the social norms, right? Then how does that opening sex scene, circumcision scene and her prostitution by choice makes sense towards it? Ain't it pathetic to destroy the basic sense like morality? And how is she even okay having a child inside her whose father is unknown? And what's that brutal revenge makes her pain go away after that Iftaar biriyaani which isn't even acknowledged by the culprits? And how suddenly she becomes close to that aged man of her father's age? Everything was senseless, just absurd. Anyways, the ultimate redemption for her sins was expected then, and it happens, i mean thank god it happens. Biriyaani lacks the basic sense of how to make a woman oriented social flick, instead it demolishes that little chance by its own hands but thankfully it has realistic execution, good performances and technically correct direction to survive. The slow screenplay and useless scenes makes it boring occasionally and that's a bad thing when you know it's not a long film but just 90 minutes ride. Overall, a gutsy attempt to bring boldness into Woman oriented cinema which somehow serves an average and mediocre Dish.
RATING - 5/10*
By - #samthebestest.