22 Female Kottayam (2012) User Reviews

aberrantly Stupendous!!!

[bonzybino · 8/10 · 28 May 2012]

A quality drama with some bold substance shown flawlessly, that with no cooked up dialogs, no surrealism, no stupid subplots whatsoever. The plot doesn't boasts to be a novel one, the story of the deadlier sex in its throttling boldness have been told many a time. In fact, 22 Female Kottayam had bit of a resemblance with "ek haseena thi" big time. That said, emasculation of men in a subtly crude manner makes this drama a distant class, an aberration never seen in Malayalam Movies makes it top notch.

Shades of misandry and feminism can be pointed to, but all well complemented by the innocence, love and passion we see in each characters. All of them honestly sketched and neatly written be it T.G Ravi, Sattar, Prathap Pothen or Fahad. The protagonist played by Rima Kallingal stands out, easily the best female character written in a long time - loved her in nidra too. Fahad is a charm with his looks and subtle emotions. There were reasons why i started hating the neomallu noirs, read new generation film making. But then, this movie changes my perspective. The screenplay could have been crispier, for not all would find this an enjoyable outing. The background score and cinematography fuses well.

Lovable are the technicalities - was awed by the movie making style more than anything else - all so perfect which makes it an impeccable movie product. All credit to director Ashiq Abu & team who makes a raw film which shows the ugly side of our societal lives. 8/10

22 FK, a bold step towards change

[foreverran · 8/10 · 10 June 2012]

I saw 22 Female kottayam from cinemax bangalore. After watching Salt n pepper, i was eagerly waiting for another Ashiq Abu movie and luckily this one also lived up to the expectations. The highlight of the movie is definitely Rima Kallingal. She has single handedly carried the whole movie on her shoulders with ease. It was a refreshing experience to see a Female actor driving the movie and others supporting her. Fahad has a natural spoiled rich kid look and it has helped him in this movie. Prathap Pothan has made an impression as the villain and has carried out his role well

Pros.

1. Very good screenplay, fantastic narration and apt acting 2. Rima Kallingal 3. Ashiq Abu has proved again that he has bright future

Cons.

1. The life of nurses is exaggerated 2. Adaptation from other movies question the credibility of the story

The movie will be definitely a landmark in Ashiq Abu's career as he has proved that his initial success was not by fluke.

This is definitely a worth watch.

My rating is 8/10.

about 22 female kottayam movie......

[anita-robins007 · 8/10 · 28 June 2014]

Was a nice one and a moral boost for the harangued females of kerala. I hope the women out there take a leaf out of the plot. But a question lingers at the back of my mind.... "Why did Tessa lovingly invite the 'pimp' Cyril to Canada, where she plans to start life afresh?" Don't tell me that she still loves him, after all the degrading atrocities he heaped on her! and if she does, then its again a carry over of the mallu female psyche... where she loves the man despite all the filth he flings on her.... yuck! Wish the director had stepped out of this narrow mindset and rather had her simply walk out of the room having performed the penisectomy, leaving him to struggle in pain till he's discovered by the room boy or somebody. Would have been a lesson for life for all men like him.

.... I'm reminded of a Hindi movie 'Ek hasina thee'... which spelt the doom for a similar pimp of a man at the hands of a woman he tortured likewise. A very good lesson for the man! Malayalis need to get out of the frame of 'cushioning' the male psyche, however wrong he be............

You are The Real Girl.....

[arunrcmanjeri · 8/10 · 11 May 2012]

Just one word to say about the movie. Excellent.. Whole crew did an extra ordinary work and that reflects in the final output.

The movie is about a young Malayali Nurse who is trying to go abroad. Her surroundings, the problems she face and all. A great movie with a female lead.

The main positive I felt about the movie is that, each and every single character who came infront of us has their own identity and depth. Well written and superbly directed. Hats off to Abhilash Kumar and Shyam Pushkaran(Writers) and the real hero Aashiq Abu. He really deserves a great applause.

Performance

Rima did a great job as the center character. Her acting has been improved a lot. Excellent.

Fahad was superb with his natural way of acting. He really proved his talent and is showing us how much he grew up from his debut movie 'Kayyethum Dhoorathu'. Hats off man..

T.G.Ravi was another surprise in the movie. Small, but a great character. The last scene of him was great and touching.

Pradap Pothan & Sathar. A great come back by the veteran actors. Did a good job with their roles.

Positives:

*Direction *Script *Character Creation *Rima *Fahad *T.G.Ravi *etc……..

Negatives:

Didn't felt that much negatives or may be the movie didn't give me a chance to think of the negatives.

A simple revenge story

[binto-14270 · 8/10 · 16 March 2023]

It should have been a fantabulous revenge story but in the end she lets the rapist to live. Great story lineup and cast. The story is about a simple ordinary nurse Tessa who is looking to work in Canada. Unfortunately she comes to the wrong consultant and they become lovers. She is being raped by his boss twice and made her to stay in jail for a fake cocaine case. Who would have let the rapists go away that easily.. She has done what should have been done. She was strong and an independent lady. In the end she kills the boss and takes away the genital of her boyfriend. Wow , i have never thought these scripts would come from Malayalam industry and such long way back. Fabulous.

I spit the grave malayalam version

[anupviswanath · 7/10 · 21 April 2012]

The movie starts with a nurse named Tessa who is trying to get to Canada. The guy(Cyril) who helped her get visa gets more attached to her and finally falls in love with her. It all seemed fine until Cyril hits a guy and wounds him in a pub who insulted Tessa. He goes hiding for 2 days while his boss rapes her and injures her. Cyril gives helping hand to tessa and finally makes her normal again. Then the real plot reveals Cyril actually was working as a pimp for his boss(Prathap Pothan). Again the boss rapes her and then Tessa decides to kill his boss with Cyril as her accomplice but instead he plants cocaine in her bag and finally she is jailed for period of 2 years where she gains strength(mental) and some friends in the jail to take revenge on the 2 who shattered her life. She goes to a DK who wanted her for a long time and submit herself to him for his help,to kill Cyril and his boss. She first kills the boss and then goes to her ex boyfriend and sedates him and take his male organ(castration) and makes him realise the emotion when someone feels helpless and finally tells him she will be in canada if he wanted to take revenge. The movie had the essence and spirit from I spit on your grave. The movie during credits show movie titles:Kill Bill,Ek Hasina Thi and Cabaret Dancer. The showcase by Rima Kallingal is to be applauded, Fahad did well in his role and bringing in Old Villain Sathar as a Casanova and Prathap Pothan as Villain brings in the old type of villains whom we missed for a long time(who would rape).The Director Aashiq Abu has done a great job in the direction part as well. The story was brought in by two guys Syam and Abhilash they are indeed the masters who created a genre of this type and brought in a new air to the movie.The dialogues and presentation are superb, especially before raping the Prathap pothan's role asking her "Can I have sex with U"??

Loved it .. totally!!

[jijoijk · 8/10 · 5 February 2013]

22 FEMALE KOTTAYAM ( 2012 )

A Very Sweet Movie :-) Movie Of A Sweet Girl Tessa And Her Sweet Beautiful Life. A Mind-Blowing, Mind-Stirring Movie. Couldn't Just Leave This Back In Theatre And Go Home. 'Tessa' The Character Got Stuck In Head And Was Thinking About Her On The Way Back. One Of The Very Few Movies Whose After Effect Has Lasted Long Time.

Rima Kallingal's Best Role So Far And She Has Become TESSA Amazingly. She Is The Show Stealer Throughout. She Is Going To Be The Best Soon I Hope. Watch Out..

'FAHAD FAZIL' Stays Different And Also Proves That He Is Indeed A Different Actor Unlike Others In Choosing Roles.

A Big Salaam and Thousand Claps To The Director Aashiq Abu, The Producer Ogee, Script Writers Abhilash And Syam , The Man Behind The RealIstic Frames Shyju Khalid , The Unique Musician Rex Vijayan And Always Rocking 'AVIAL' Band.. You All As A Team Is Responsible For A Brilliant Movie Made In Malayalam In The Most Recent Times.

Waited For Some Days To Release It In Chennai. Finally Felt Very Very Happy To Have Watched It. All Those Who Haven't Watched It. 'DONT EVER EVER MISS THESE TYPE OF MOVIES. DO WATCH THEM. MOVIES Aren't JUST MOVIES ALWAYS.ITS SOMETIMES STRANGER THAN REALITY'

A Girl is not JUST a girl. She really is THE GIRL..

Good movie...a bold attempt...but??

[maheshmanutd · 7/10 · 8 May 2012]

I saw 22 Female Kottayam yesterday from Changanachery Apsara Theatre....First of all, a thumbs up to the theatre management..After the success of Second Show and Masters, I think they gained some money such as they have been able to modify the seats and interior.....Now it has become a good theatre.Coming to the movie, it is a good movie worth watchable. I must appreciate the bold attempt by the team not to restrain dialogues or scenes involving sexual matters. The theme of the movie is good. A woman going for revenge against men who cheated her and abused her sexually. The way it is treated is also good. Good direction by Aashiq Abu. The visualisation of the story is superb. Eye catching visuals actually. I have not seen Salt and Pepper yet. But by this movie, I regard him as one of the future bests.

The best thing about the movie, I think, is Fahad Fazil. He is absolutely amazing. Believe me, he is going to be one of the best actors in Malayalam movie industry. He has portrayed a complex character with such ease and fine precision. The transformation from a handsome chocolate boy to a heartless villain is simply amazing. The main thing to say here is that he has not overacted a little bit. He did what was required by the screenplay. That is a very difficult thing to do. This guy has got talent

Having said all these good things, I really do not appreciate the movie as some other people have reviewed it. I think it is a good movie, but not that very good. It lacks something somewhere. My main argument is that the movie lacks an inherent logic. It is like the team wanted to portray the power of women and some feminist thoughts all along the way, let it be in the expense of a good, solid storyline. I felt that especially during the climax scenes (when she wants Cyril to know what he has done wrong). That felt comical to me. No real depth in those scenes. Actually, who in the hell is going to forgive a person who surgically removed one's genital organs and who is still going to say that "Neeyanu pennu??" . (Although one can argue that Cyril was bluffing throughout the scene, but certainly not in this case ). It was all symbolic. A little too much feminism for the sake of feminism.

And another thing I felt went wrong was Reema Kallingal. I know most people praised her for her acting. I am not saying that she was bad. Actually overall she was good. In the latter half, when she is a smart and bold and deadly woman, she is very good. But that is in her comfort zone. That is what Reema Kallingal can do. We have seen the confident-self of her in Happy Husbands and all. That is who she really is. But what about the first part of the movie where she is a pretty naive girl??? I don't think she has handled it well, especially in the scenes after she was raped and she gets emotionally disturbed. There was way too much theatrical, melodramatic overacting (especially in the scene when she cries all over Fahad). I did find it irritating actually. (When Anne Augustine did it in Ordinary, everyone booed. What is the difference here?). The main flaw of the movie lies in the transformation part. The focus was not at all on Reema Kallingal. Just because of a jail sentence (where she actually had not much difficulties or did not have to endure that much torture), will one become a ruthless cold minded person over two or three months?? In Kill Bill (one of the movies from which it is inspired as the director himself quotes), Uma Thurman was already an assassin and she just came back with a vengeance. Here, just over time, she transforms (without much shown in the script). I couldn't accept it.

But another good thing here is the woman who portrayed the pregnant Subaida. She is an absolute class actress.

And finally do not get me wrong here. I liked the movie. It is a very good movie. But the reason I spoke too much negatives about the movie is that no one did it before. Everyone was in appreciation of the movie. So someone has to flip the coin, right?

It is a good movie, go and watch it, you won't be bored,

My rating is 7/10

excellent

[josekuttyjoseph · 8/10 · 12 September 2012]

Tessa (Rima Kallingal) is a nursing student in Bangalore with plans of traveling to Canada for a career. She meets Cyril (Fahad Fazil) from the travel consultancy agency working towards setting up her visa. They soon fall in love and start living together. Tessa loves him with all her heart and takes their relationship and living together seriously.

One day while at a pub, a guy misbehaves with Tessa and Cyril beats him up badly. The guy tries to take revenge on Cyril and searches for him. Cyril goes into hiding with the help of his boss Hegde (Prathap Pothen). Hedge arrives at Cyril's home to inform Tessa about the situation. Then he asks her plainly "Can I have sex with you?" A shocked Tessa is then brutally attacked and raped. When Cyril finds out what happened, he becomes violent and wants to kill Hegde. Tessa calms him down saying that she does not want to make the incident worse than it is, and instead just wants to get to Canada at the earliest. Once Tessa recovers from her injuries, Hegde visits her again to ask for forgiveness. He comes while Cyril is not around and ends up raping her for a second time. Tessa decides not to travel abroad and plans to murder Hegde.

Cyril discusses the situation with his boss who suggests killing Tessa and appoints Cyril to do it. Cyril traps her by putting some drugs in her bag. The police arrest Tessa and she is imprisoned. While Tessa calls out for help, she finds Cyril simply walking away from her, which is when she realises Cyril set her up. Cyril later relocates to Cochin and runs a modeling agency.

While in prison Tessa meets Zubeida (Rashmi Sathish) who is sentenced for murder. Through Zubeida's criminal world connections Tessa realizes that Cyril, a pimp, was cheating her along with the support of his boss Hegde, a nymphomaniac. Zubeida and Tessa bond well with each other and Zubeida gives her the strength and courage needed for striking back on Cyril and Hegde.

When the court sets her free, Tessa with the help of DK (Sathar) kills Hegde by poisoning him with a cobra. Next, she arrives in Cochin in search of Cyril while pretending to be a model. Later one night they meet in his studio but Cyril recognizes her and becomes angry. He beats her and verbally abuses her not because he knows she has a plan of revenge but thinks that she became a slut who does every 'adjustments' to flourish her career. But his frustration dissolves as he wants to enjoy her company. He reminds her she is a mere woman.

But at night Tessa sedates him and penectomises him. When he regains consciousness she tells him that she has removed his male organ through a medical surgery. While Cyril finds himself in intense pain and bound to his bed, she taunts him so much to make him realise his faults and the gross wrongs he committed on her. But he doesn't yield and doesn't admit his life as a pimp is a fault. Then another twist happens when Tessa reveals Cyril that her appearance as a model is a disguise and she knows that she is still somewhere in his heart. She reminds him that she has only lost someone who cheated on her, whereas he lost someone who genuinely loved him. Now Cyril is stunned that he is not even able to face Tessa with whom he can argue if she is a model. Cyril recollects that her love was true and his love was overshadowed by his male supremacy concept and greed for wealth. He understands and admits his mistakes. Then Tessa leaves him but not before inviting him to settle the score with her, if any remains there. Cyril corrects his concept of her as she is the women and accepts her challenge and tells her that he will confront her when he is ready, knowing that he has to settle the score with her in terms of true love.

Tessa leaves for Canada and dismantles her cell phone and cuts farther contact with DK who is after her to bed with her as a reward for his help in her plans.

This movie may have been seen as a good feminist movie.

[sudheeshthulaseedharan · 6/10 · 30 October 2021]

Ashiq Abu, the director of the life story of Tessa, a nursing student from Kottayam, is very well portrayed in the film.

Tessa and Cyril lead the film in a living together style that conveys the idea that a woman does not need a marriage relationship to live with someone.

Rima, Fahad and other actresses deserve congratulations for their acting. TG Ravi has acted well in the role he got.

This movie may have been seen as a good feminist movie.

The film shows that the new generation of girls, especially those studying outside Kerala, are willing to drink toddy and share a bed with someone or some big man to get some pocket money. The director has exposed a green truth in today's female society in the film.

At the end of the movie, the vengeful heroine, after having her penis surgically cut off, the conversations between them did not go well enough.

Especially since it was revealed that the hero still has a crush on the heroine, a way of ending the film did not seem so good.

Respect...!

[sribornagain-394-460163 · 7/10 · 10 August 2012]

Aashiq Abu's "22 Female Kottayam" is a must watch. Though seems to have been inspired by numerous female revenge movies ( the makers have actually acknowledged the same in the end titles..! Kudos for honesty) the manner in which the narrative blends in with the brazen reality makes it a compelling watch. The happenings in the movie are just a slice of what is actually happening in the real world. Not everyone of them would have the gumption or courage to do what the protagonist of this movie do to her exploiters. But it surely cautions the vulnerable lot from falling prey to the hounds out there.

Screenplay written by Abilash Kumar & Shyam Pushkaran travels at a steady pace. With ample does of reality & cinematic liberties when needed , the screenplay keeps the viewer engaged throughout. The writers have broken various clichés that one would associate with movies of this genre.The ending is actually more impactful than what movies of this type usually ends with the protagonist killing the antagonist. Also they have managed to keep away from the compulsion that the Indian movie heroine should be embodiment of "so-called " virtues, values & virginity. It is refreshing to see a heroine for a change who doesn't feel shy to admit to her lover that she is not a virgin & boozes on par with her lover.

Reema Kallingal is touted to be the most promising actress in Malayalam currently & she lives up-to the billing with a sparkling performance. Character has myriad of shades & emotions. From being a gullible & innocent nurse to a caring lover , traumatized victim to revenge seeking woman with "what-is-left-be-lost" attitude , Reema scores in each & every scene she is on screen. And what makes her role powerful is equally commanding performance by Fahad Fazil. He too has different shades to his character & his performance in the last 20 minutes or so is topnotch.

Others in the supporting cast including Pratap Pothen , Ravi , Sathar & the rest have done a neat job.

Background score by Rex Vijayan is patchy. In some parts it is excellent but in some other inadequate.

Shyju Khalid's cinematography with various hues depending on the mood of the story is excellent. Numerous transitions the movie goes through has been wonderfully delineated by the change in color tone.

Dialogues are a huge strength to the movie. Especially in the climax when Fahad chides " F@#k you" & Reema retorts "Not any more" one gets a "Wow..!" effect.

On the whole, "22 Female Kottayam" is a neatly written , excellently acted & well directed movie.

Ek Haseena Thi (2004 -Hindi) -Inspired Rape vendetta

[ranjit-n76 · 5/10 · 2 August 2013]

The movie script is based on 2004 Ek Haseena Thi 2004-hindi movie Written by Pooja Ladha Surti & Sriram Raghavan -known for his excellent directorial ventures like Ek Haseena thi, Johnny Gaddar (2007)& Agent Vinod (2012). Ek haseena Thi has traces of "If tomorrow comes" by Sidney Sheldon (1985)

Fine performance by leading stars and characterization which is finely etched director task becomes easy when you have based the story on a tested and proved successful script.

Goof ups: To revenge her rape, Reema Kalingal's character takes help to kill Prathap Pothan who plays the rapist by making it appear thru natural as snake bit. Hand bound Prathap Pothan is bound at his wrist and he is bit by snake. Idea was that the death doesn't look like murder but bound wrist will be easily noticed in autopsy.

Plus points The twist at the end which explains the many mention of medical procedures is what I found interesting as very often there is never an effort to develop the characterization. The medical professionals are mere white coat draped stethoscope bearing person saying"now the patient is out of danger" - how movies in India portrayed them so far.