Parvathy: Fighting for change from within and without

Actor Parvathy Thiruvothu takes on the role of a police officer for the first time in the Malayalam film "Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar." She expresses satisfaction in portraying a character embedded within a state institution, highlighting the difficulty of reforming a flawed system from within.

Thiruvothu has navigated a two-decade career often playing characters who challenge societal structures. Her current film, set within a police station, explores themes of guilt, duty, and justice, questioning rapid judgments based on limited evidence. The film notably reveals its central crime early, shifting focus to the officers' actions.

Beyond her acting roles, Thiruvothu has been a prominent voice against misogyny in Malayalam cinema since 2017. She has actively participated in the Women in Cinema Collective and supported the Justice Hema Committee's findings, which detailed systemic harassment and discrimination. Thiruvothu notes that public scrutiny has been a constant since her outspokenness began.

She views the mandated implementation of Internal Complaints Committees on film sets as a significant achievement for workplace safety in the industry. However, she observes that the Malayalam film sector still lags behind Hindi cinema in gender diversity for leadership roles like cinematographers and editors. Thiruvothu also expresses skepticism about institutional promises of justice for women.

Thiruvothu is committed to her acting career, with multiple projects in development, including "Storm" and the second season of "Dhootha." She aspires to explore comedy and romantic comedy genres, for which she has yet to receive opportunities. She views her continued presence in the film industry as an act of defiance and a commitment to being a persistent advocate for change.