Ariyippu, also titled Declaration, is a drama written and directed by Mahesh Narayanan, starring Kunchacko Boban and Divya Prabha in the lead roles. The movie which premiered at the 75th Locarno Film Festival was released worldwide on Netflix today. Set in Delhi during the COVID-19 lockdown, the movie follows a Malayali couple who are working in a glove factory.

It’s a battle between survival and doing the right thing

The movie starts with a video recording of Reshmi (Divya Prabha) inspecting latex gloves in a factory. This sets the tone for what is to come for the rest of the movie. Reshmi and her husband Hareesh (Kunchacko Boban) work at NRF Gloves, the former in the production team and the latter as a driver at the factory. The couple came to Delhi from Kerala because they thought migrating to a foreign country would be easier to do from Delhi. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic-induced lockdown, all their plans went for a toss. Soon after Hareesh has an altercation with a truck driver, a scandalous video of his wife is circulated. This video unleashes complexities not only in their professional lives but also in their personal lives.

At the onset, Hareesh is rightfully irate at the behest of his wife. However, soon, his anger is not at the injustice his wife is facing but at how it has affected his ego. Hareesh so masterfully makes himself into a victim through the process, when the real victim is Reshmi. Unlike Hareesh, Reshmi is brave even if she is scared. While Hareesh is hot-headed and impulsive, Reshmi is morally upright and composed. The former only cares about his desires and getting what he wants in life, even if it means he is morally wrong. Reshmi, on the other hand, is a principled woman who is unwilling to compromise her principles to fulfil her dreams.

Divya Prabha is the star of the show

Director Mahesh Narayanan tries to put the spotlight on Kunchacko Boban, but Divya Prabha steals the show. Boban is a damn good actor, no doubt, and he proves his mettle here as well. But Divya Prabha takes it up a notch higher. From the first frame, Reshmi’s vulnerability, fear, and struggles due to the language barrier come across brilliantly. When her video is released, Reshmi struggles to prove herself innocent. Even though she has her husband in her corner initially, he too starts doubting her eventually. Her strength comes across in the moments when she firmly takes a stand for herself but never really raises her voice. Reshmi sticks to her morals through the end and never regrets it and that’s what makes her a true hero.

Ariyippu is not the kind of entertaining movie that everyone will fall in love with. It is the kind of movie that will need to breathe, like a glass of red wine. You need to inhale it before you take a sip. Watch it with an open mind and it’ll surprise you.

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