The good people are believers, complete with rudraksha necklaces, saffron outfits and vibuthi (sacred ash), for good measure. One pimp is a fraud Hindu, who admits to wearing kunkumam only for show. The rationalist is a hypocrite. And the other pimp is a sleeveless-bloused, sunglass-wearing, smoking woman with short coloured hair. The only thing left is to call her Rita or something! At one point, Bimarasu claims that people in Pondicherry and Chennai live like Westerners, so his daughter should study closer to the village. Then, of course, there is the Mahabharata angle, but by now, I’m bored.
More than being inept, Bakasuran is harmful because it is clearly a message padam. Throughout the film, there’s exposition. In the end, there is a direct advice for parents to increase surveillance on their children — read: daughters — to protect them from sexual harassment.
The problem is that this message is victim-blaming, regressive and patriarchal. It only works to further lock up women in the name of honour and pride, relegating them to second-class citizens. And it uses society’s most potent weapon to achieve this goal: Family.
Mohan G is many things, but no one can blame him of being discreet. Because just for those of us who were wondering who the Bakasuran here is, he explains in the epilogue. It would be unprofessional of me to give away such a huge spoiler here. You’ll have to watch the movie yourself. I’m sorry in advance if you do.