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Njan Marykutty

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Njan Marykutty
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRanjith Sankar
Screenplay byRanjith Sankar
Produced byRanjith Sankar
Jayasurya
StarringJayasurya
Jewel Mary
Aju Varghese
Innocent
CinematographyVishnu Narayanan
Edited byV. Saajan
Music byAnand Madhusoodanan
Production
company
Dreams N Beyond
Distributed byPunyalaa
Release date
  • 15 June 2018 (2018-06-15)
Running time
126 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Njan Marykutty (transl. I am Marykutty) is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Ranjith Sankar and co-produced with Jayasurya. The film stars Jayasurya as a trans woman named Marykutty, with Innocent, Jewel Mary, Jins Baskar, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Aju Varghese and Joju George in other prominent roles.[1] The music for the film was composed by Anand Madhusoodhanan.[2] The film was released on 15 June 2018 on the eve of Eid.[3]

Theme

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A transgender woman's attempt to realize her true orientation in a society that stigmatizes gender transformation. Will Marykutty come out victorious while shredding all the taboos associated with transgender people and the stigma of surgery?

The film attempted to educate audience on various issues faced by transgender people and also the plot of the film explains the difference between transgender and those who have gone through surgery to align with their gender.[4] In doing so, the film showcased the trauma that families go through, as well as the emotional and physical trauma that members of this community undergo, at the hands of society and governmental authorities.[5][6][7]

Plot

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Mathukutty, a born male undergoes a Sex reassignment surgery to his body and wants to become a female. He becomes Marykutty, a transsexual woman, leaves her Job in Chennai and comes back to her native place. Her father and sister disowns her due to her sexuality but her mother continues supports him. She lives with her friend Jovi and her child Tanu. To set an example in the society, she determines to become a Sub-Inspector and joins a coaching institute to prepare for the exam. She was treated ill by the fellow youngsters everyday. She Joins the Church’s Radio Programme and continues to become the Host for the show Jingle in the name RJ Angel. One day, while travelling with her fellowmate RJ Alwin Henry, S.I Kunjippalu, a corrupt police officer interferes them and asks for a bribe. When Marykutty questions that, she was badly treated by the officers and vengeance between the both takes place.

Marykutty becomes a famous radio jockey in the town as her programme succeeds in the town. Her application for the Kerala public service union got rejected due to lack of certificates regarding her gender. One night, Mary takes Tanu to buy her Al-Faham chicken as her wish. At the time Mary was harassed by fellow youngsters in which SI Kunjipallu takes her to the station and humiliates her. Her father visits the station and tells her to go somewhere. Being shattered, Mary was released from the station with the help of Church father whlist her name was potrayed bad by the local newspapers.

Now, Mary shifts her place to a home run by the Church and tutors the children there. She visits her mother a day without knowing that her sister’s engagement ceremony is going on, where her father and sister disowns her by introducing her as an 'Unknown' to the guests. Being hurted, she leaves the place with a smile by saying her mother that they will accept her one day. With the help of her RJ Angel fame, Marykutty befriends the District Collector and explains her problem where he helps with the application and supports her.

With a firm determination Marykutty now prepares hard for the exam, cracks both written and physical tests and was in the final stage where SI Kunjipallu threatens her about defaming her name. A courageous Marykutty stands against him by saying that the world is not for men or women, its only for talented. Mary asks her sister's groom that she won't interfere in their life anymore and promises to give her share also to his sister.

During the SI interview Marykutty says that she wanted to set an example and ended up by succeeding in that. At the end, Marykutty was shown as a cop where she enters the Police station followed by her house and the Church radio station where she introduces herself as the new guest ‘I am Marykutty’.

Cast

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Production

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Jayasurya agreed to collaborate with film director Ranjith Sankar in March 2018, for the project titled Njan Marykutty.[8][9] This film marks their fifth collaboration. Filming began in Muvattupuzha on 17 March 2018.[10][11][12]

According to an interview given by the team, originally they thought of making a comedy film.[13] As other trans movies with comedy, or sympathy theme already exist, later the plan was changed to create a movie with a positive message. Hence the character is someone who succeeded in life against all the odds. Also to avoid common pattern of long hair for trans characters in many movies, short hair was chosen in this movie. Additionally makeup man Ronex Xavier used less makeup for Jayasurya's character, and certain shot were taken without any makeup at all.[14] As preparation for movie Jayasurya pierced his ear, dieted to put on weight, and stopped his normal daily workout programs. Jayasurya also learnt to drape a saree within 4 minutes for the shooting of the film.[15]

Jayasurya revealed that his role as a transgender woman was the most difficult character that he ever played in his career and also revealed that he wanted to play the character to change the aspects and mindsets of the society that it generally thinks upon the transgender people.[16] The costume designs for the film were designed by Jayasurya's wife Saritha and the trans woman getup of Jayasurya was used by his wife Saritha to display as the model for the promotion of Saritha's costume design boutique.[17][18] Ranjith later revealed that he was inspired by transsexual actress Anjali Ameer to make a transgender-related film.[19]

Release

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The film had its theatrical release on 15 June 2018 in Kerala and a week later in rest of India. It was released in the Middle East on 5 July 2018.[20] The posters of the film displayed in the United Arab Emirates screenings featured a faceless Jayasurya as the UAE government prohibits sex assignment surgery in the country. The film was also tagged adult only and no promotions of the film were allowed in the country. According to Sankar, there were other restrictions as well.[21]

Reception

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The Times of India rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and lauded the performance of Jayasurya for his role as a transgender woman in the film stating that this is a fine effort to portray the respect and dignity of transgender people through the versatile acting of Jayasurya.[22] The Hindu newspaper gave positive reviews to the film for handling the troubles and challenges of a transperson with sensitivity.[23]

Deccan Chronicle rated 4 out of 5 stars and said "Njan Marykutty stands out for the fine way the lead character Marykutty has been scripted by director Ranjith Sankar and interpreted by actor Jayasurya".[24] International Business Times wrote "for the first time in the history of Mollywood, a transgender character has been portrayed with dignity and respect". Although he said there are some unrealistic moment it is forgettable for Sankar's good intention.[25]

Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South wrote "A finely tuned Jayasurya performance carries a black-and-white tale of a transgender who wants to become a cop "[26]

Accolades

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Music

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Anand Madhusoodhanan composed the music, who collaborated with Jayasurya and Sankar for the third time. Lyrics were written by Santhosh Varma.

  1. Doore Doore - Biju Narayanan
  2. Cherupulliyuduppitta Poompaatta - Nidhin P. K.
  3. Ennullil Ennum Nee Maathram - Sithara Krishnakumar
  4. Kaanaa Kadalaasilaaro - Sithara Krishnakumar
  5. Oru Kochu Kumbilaanennaakilum - Nidhin P. K.
  6. Penninullil Priya Mohangalkku - Nithin P. K.
  7. Thirakalethire Vannalum - Vineeth Sreenivasan
  8. Uyaraan Padaraan - Nidhin P. K

References

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  1. ^ BookMyShow. "Njan Marykutty Movie (2018) | Reviews, Cast & Release Date in - BookMyShow". BookMyShow. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Njan Marykutty out on June 15". Cinema Express. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Before Njan Marykutty: Box Office Analysis Of Jayasurya's Previous 5 Movies!". filmibeat.com. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Jayasurya's 'Njan Marykutty' Wins Over Kerala's Trans Community". The Quint. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Movie Review: "Njan Marykutty" - CLPR". CLPR. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Anjali Ameer is in awe of Jayasurya in Njan Marykutty". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  7. ^ "The great transformation". Deccan Chronicle. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  8. ^ "'We as a society drive trans persons away': Director Ranjith on 'Njan Marykutty'". The News Minute. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  9. ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (1 June 2018). "'Njan Marykutty' steps into the mindscapes of transpersons". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  10. ^ Palengil, Mrudula. "Jayasurya-Ranjith Shankar combo 'Njan Marykutty' to release on June 15". International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Jayasuriya's transsexual drama 'Njan Marykutty' to release on June 15". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  12. ^ "'Njan Marykutty's' new teaser shows the fighter side of the protagonist". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  13. ^ "സ്പെഷ്യൽ ചാറ്റ് ഷോ -'ഞാൻ മേരിക്കുട്ടി' വിശേഷങ്ങളുമായ് താരങ്ങൾ". മഴവില്‍ മനോരമ. 10 June 2018. 15:20. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  14. ^ "'Challenging task': Makeup artist Ronex Xavier speaks about styling actor Jayasurya for 'Njan Marykutty'". The News Minute. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  15. ^ "How Jayasurya learned to drape a saree in just four minutes". OnManorama. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  16. ^ "Njan Marykutty is my gift to the LGBTQ community: Jayasurya". Cinema Express. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Jayasurya models as Marykutty for wife's boutique". The News Minute. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  18. ^ "Saritha uses Jayasurya's female getup in her shop's ad!". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 15 June 2018.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Ranjith Sanker: Anjali Ameer inspired me to write Njan Marykutty". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  20. ^ "'Njan Marykutty' releases in the Middle East". The News Minute. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  21. ^ "Njan Marykutty poster doesn't have a face in UAE, guess the reason!". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  22. ^ "Njan Marykutty Movie Review {3/5}: Jayasurya amazes with a subtle performance". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  23. ^ Sudhish, Navamy (16 June 2018). "'Njan Marykutty' review: Transperson's troubles handled sensitively". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  24. ^ "Njan Marykutty movie review: A breakthrough moment in Malayalam cinema". Deccan Chronicle. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  25. ^ Narayanan, Nirmal. "Njan Marykutty review: The first-ever Malayalam movie to portray transgender with dignity and respect". International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  26. ^ "Njan Marykutty Movie Review: An Impressive Performance Let Down By The Contrived Screenplay". Film Companion. 30 June 2018. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  27. ^ S.R. Praveen (27 February 2019). "Kerala State film awards: ‘Kanthan...’, 'Sudani from Nigeria' win honours". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
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