Bias Form Perception

It has been quite some time since I expressed my thoughts on a movie that left me with a sense of contentment. Therefore, I have decided to share my reflections after watching two Malayalam movies recently: "Sulaikha Manzil" and "Ayisha." What compelled me to write about them is the fact that both films possess unpredictable storylines. Furthermore, they both revolve around Muslim families hailing from the Malabar region of Kerala.

"Sulikha Manzil" narrates the tale of Sulikha, a teenager residing in a Muslim household. She finds herself unable to marry the person she loves due to his unsettled circumstances. Determined to meet him before he embarks on a job in the Gulf, Sulikha secretly arranges a rendezvous. Tragically, fate deals a cruel blow, as her lover meets with a fatal accident shortly after their meeting. Fast forward a few years, Sulikha's elder brother, who is working in the Gulf, receives news that she is ready to marry Ameen, a man of his choosing. The wedding is arranged hastily, leaving no time for Ameen and Sulikha to familiarize themselves with one another. Ameen's repeated attempts to communicate with her prove fruitless, and her failure to save his number adds to his discomfort. On the day preceding the wedding, when they plan to meet, Sulikha fails to make it, and Ameen, consumed by anger, confronts her. Once the dust settles, he reaches out to her, apologizing for his outburst. He decides to make one final attempt to meet her, this time at Sulikha's house on the eve of the wedding. However, when they finally come face to face, Ameen loses his temper once again, prompting him to call off the marriage after conferring with her brother. As he is about to leave, he coincidentally encounters her cousins, and upon witnessing Sulikha's brother genuine affection, Ameen decides to proceed with the marriage.

The twist in the story arises when Sulikha willingly agrees to the marriage. In the typical narrative, one would anticipate her rebellion against her family's refusal to allow her to marry the person she desires, thereby bringing shame upon them or seeking vengeance. When the confrontation between Ameen and Sulikha transpires, one might expect a climactic altercation followed by a surprising turn of events to resolve the situation. However, the actual ending deviates from these predictable patterns.

"Ayisha" is a film based on the true story of Nillumbur Ayisha, the first Muslim actress in Malayalam cinema. Ayisha opts to leave the film industry due to a difference of opinion and finds herself compelled to work as a maid in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to support her family.

Given the countless horrifying tales we often hear about the plight of maids in the Gulf, one might anticipate the movie to depict Ayisha's struggle against injustice and her efforts to liberate her fellow colleagues. Astonishingly, the employers portrayed in the film prove to be kind-hearted individuals, and Ayisha manages to impress the head of the household. Another twist arises when she goes shopping, only to be recognized by Malayalees who remember her as the actress with leftist leanings. These NRIs, who hold great admiration for her and share her communist ideology, rally together to assist in paying off her debts and implore her to return to acting and contribute to the people's movement. Just as she is about to settle into her newfound stability, Ayisha receives a request to return as the caretaker for a family as Head Of Family is ailing. She dutifully goes back to serve her until the very end, driven by a sense of obligation to the head of the family who demonstrated respect for her in a country where her own profession remained relatively unacknowledged. While it remains uncertain which fictional elements were incorporated to captivate the general audience, the film ultimately left me with a heartwarming sensation.

The purpose of sharing these stories is to underscore the manner in which our biases shape our perceptions. When we think of an ordinary Muslim family, we often associate it with conservatism and a lack of respect for women. Similarly, we frequently come across news stories of maids being exploited by their Arab employers in the Gulf. Conversely, these films present narratives that defy our expectations. The unexpected twists hold our attention and provide a refreshing form of entertainment.

Whenever I watch movies, I always seek to glean a few key insights. If a film fails to offer any substantial takeaways, I find myself questioning the value of the time I invested in it. From these two movies, I learned the importance of avoiding preconceived notions. Our perceptions are often shaped by exceptional cases that we encounter through reading or other sources, yet we tend to extrapolate these exceptions and form biased judgments.