Again, a woman is given a Hobson's choice: marriage or career. It's a familiar narrative in Indian society, and therefore not really a surprise coming from the regressive male chauvinistic industry that is filmmaking. This time, the would-be maker of that choice: the successful actress Amala Paul, whose marriage with director A L Vijay is headed for a divorce, because his parents don't approve of his working wife.
Amala Paul's father-in-law producer A L Alagappan, from the same industry, has no qualms in saying that the actress cannot continue her career if she wants to keep the marriage, and that since she has not 'kept her word' that she wouldn't sign on any more films, the family will legally proceed with ending the marriage.
In an interview with a Tamil television channel, Alagappan said, "She went ahead and signed more projects. She never bothered to consult with us or even Vijay. This created trouble between them. After a few fights, she told us that she won't be doing any more films. However, she didn't keep her word."
Alagappan says discussions were had with Amala's family too, about how she should give up her career, and she didn't. "We had discussions with her family. But Amala didn't give a damn and she behaved rather curtly," he told the TV channel.
"For us, our son's life is of utmost importance. So we would like to move ahead legally," he said.
There is of course no reasoning given as to why Amala Paul, a woman, alone has to give up her career when her husband can continue to keep his, and so can her father-in-law.
A L Vijay too has adopted a typical 'mama's boy' line: "I will go by my parents' decision."
In all this, the only one keeping a dignified silence and going about her work is Amala Paul, who is busy promoting her upcoming film 'Shajahanum Pareekuttiyum'.