Jayasurya shines in his role as a man struggling to rebuild his identity as a new transwoman,in the generally patriarchal and regressive minded society of Idukki in Kerala. The opening scene itself displays the uneasiness of church goers in his presence. Marykutty (Jayasurya) quits his job as an IT professional and wishes to be a Superintendent of Police, but faces a lot of humiliation and harassment along the way. The most disturbing scene is when Marykutty is humiliated by his sister,who warns him not to attend her wedding as he will embarrass her. It just reinforces the foolishness of the old adage "Blood is thicker than water". Family is just a part of society that happens to share genetic ties with a person,and it is good that the director made an effort to educate people about the fallacy of familial bonds. The character of the villainous police officer who tries extra hard to humiliate Marykutty was perhaps a little overplayed, but without him, Marykutty's struggles would not have stood out that much. Innocent's role as the sympathetic and supportive priest was soothing. So was the radio jockey and the lady who plays the role of Marykutty's friend. Many scenes in this movie are emotional but not excessive. Jayasurya portrayed his character with tenacity and should be applauded for his willingness to do so.
Review of Njan Marykutty
