KOCHI: Rape and revenge is your regular celluloid staple, but Vanyam, Sohan Seenulal's latest, is different in more ways than one. “It's not about the victim alone, but maps the social and emotional factors that lead to the inhuman act. Vanyam portrays both the reason and aftermath of rape,” he says. Featuring Aparna Nair in the lead, the film boasts of a woman-oriented narrative, and, as per the director, is a totally realistic take. “Though there is a crime at its core you cannot call it a thriller or crime drama,” he adds.
Aparna Nair steps into the lead as Sr Aneetta, a pious-and-docile nun brutalised by three men. “But the rape is just the beginning of her nightmare. It turns out to be much more than a personal trauma as she is forced to leave the church as well. Vanyam also shows how a nun who leaves the folds of religion is treated by the society,” he says. The film has Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Anoop Ramesh and Sumith playing other key characters. “Vishnu appears as Vivek, a web designer waiting for his site to have heavy traffic and earn big bucks. Anoop plays Riyaz, a mechanic, while Sumith is Krishnakumar, the son of a temple priest waiting for a chance to go abroad,” he says.
The trio belong to a small tourist village which sees a regular inflow of visitors. “They all belong to the lower class, struggling to make their ends meet. And just like most of the youngsters today they are hooked to youtube and watsapp. The rape in the film is no accident, but the result of meticulous planning and execution,” he adds.
The wildest mode of man is when he turns a sexual predator, and it's exactly what the title indicates. “The savagest instinct of a man is to assault a woman. I can't say whether audience will like the film or not, but I am sure that nobody will think of attacking a woman after watching Vanyam,” says the director. The tagline of the film is 'Men can stop rape' and he adds the film will convey a strong message to the audience. “It shows how the victim can raise from the ashes,” he says. Vanyam, produced by V S Nagarj, will hit the screens next week.