Anjali (Zarin Shihab), the only woman in the drama troupe, is shattered when one of her castmates sexually assaults her. She doesn’t see the man, but she’s sure who he smells like. “The horrible smell of Hari’s perfume was all over the place,” she says. And just like that, the perfume adds another layer of complexity to the plot. Who did it?
Director Anand Ekarshi eventually makes us understand that the answer to that question is almost irrelevant. Every man in the room, consciously or unconsciously, contributes to making the troupe an unsafe, hostile space for Anjali. “For me, you and the other eleven are one and the same,” says Anjali in her play in the end, underscoring the sentiment that screams, “Yes, all men.”
Premalu, Pepper spray
Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar
Premalu, true to form, has a sweet and funny take on the “gun.” Aadhi (Shyam Mohan) casually gives Reenu (Mamitha Baiju) a can of pepper spray in the first act. This moment, in our heads, is initially only associated with that hilarious omelette joke that their colleague cracks. But in the climax, this is the same spray that becomes a weapon of self-defence for Reenu, who is forced to defend herself and her love (Reenu definitely doesn’t kid around. Who knew?). The “gun” here is a hilarious spoonful of his own medicine for Aadhi.