Ayali: Exploring the Oppression of Women through Socio-Religious Factors

 

Introduction:

In today's world, even religion and God are often used as tools to exert power and control over others. This is especially true for those who are marginalized based on their caste, creed, religion, or gender. In the web series Ayali, writer-director Muthu Kumar explores how such socio-religious factors are used to oppress women through a unique and compelling story.

Synopsis:

Ayali is an eight-episode series that begins with an animated sequence telling the fable of how the village of Veerapannai came to be. The story is centered around Thamizh, a young ninth-grader who questions the senseless practices of her village. The village has a tradition that all girls must get married immediately after attaining puberty, and they are barred from entering the Ayali temple or going to school. Protecting this tradition and controlling their women is of utmost priority to the men of the village. Thamizh, who dreams of becoming a doctor, hides her period from everyone so she can continue her studies.

Ayali Hindi Web Series Watch Online

Obstacles Ahead:

Thamizh faces several obstacles along the way, like when the children of the village are supposed to enter the Ayali temple during the full moon festival. However, as per the age-old belief, no girl who has attained puberty should enter the temple. If they do, the deity would take their life within the next full moon day, or the village-folk would cut off her hair and isolate her from the village. What would a 14-year-old girl hiding her period stains from even her mother do in such an instance? Every passing obstacle only becomes more and more dangerous for Thamizh, and we take part in celebrating both her small and big wins.

Emotional Beats:

Ayali is built through its emotional beats, and there is enough substance and thrill to keep you engrossed. The series is a beautiful story about a daughter and a mother, and how women are forced to come together when pushed to the extreme. Director Muthu uses the long format to write many such subplots with enough characters to accentuate the central theme. Barring a few poor comedy tracks aimed to provide some levity, everything else works in the favor of the story.

Ayali Hindi Web Series Watch All Episodes Online

Analysis:

The series needed a novel screenplay and better treatment. Even when we see what is awaiting us at a certain juncture, we are asked to wait a bit too long for the pay-offs. Many characters, like the one played by Lingaa, end up coming off as under-developed despite showing potential early on. The lukewarm ending, which should have been doubly impactful, is another minus.

Conclusion:

Despite its flaws, Ayali is a must-watch series that tells an important story. Director Muthu takes a strong stand against every silly patriarchal idea that makes no sense and yet is relevant even today. He questions why the dignity of the caste and creed are hidden between the legs of the women; why women are defined only by their body and their role in child-bearing; why all customs apply only to women and why boys don’t get punished for their crimes. 

Every time you see Thamizh or any other women in the series raise their voices and question the idiocy of the men, you imagine a crowded audience whistling their support. In the end, Ayali is a powerful reminder that we need to question and challenge traditions that are oppressive and harmful to women.