Debutant Sharan Venugopal’s film ‘Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal’ has become a subject of heated discussion due to its portrayal of a romantic relationship between cousins. While the film has been praised for its storytelling and performances, it has also drawn criticism for its exploration of familial relationships, particularly in the context of Kerala’s cultural norms. Actress Garggi Ananthan, who plays one of the lead roles, has spoken out about her take on the debate.

Addressing the criticism, Garggi emphasised that the film does not glorify cousin relationships but instead portrays them as an existing reality in society. Talking to she explained that her responsibility as an actor was to do justice to the character rather than pass judgment on the narrative.

"As an actor, my only responsibility was to do the character I took on well. It’s a very interesting character with many layers. All I thought about was how to do it."

placeholder

She further clarified that within the story, the protagonists Athira and Nikhil do not grow up together and are unaware of each other's existence until later in life.

"From the perspective of the character, Athira and Nikhil don’t know each other at all. They are strangers—people who have never spoken to each other even once in their lives. Even their parents may never have told them about the other person. In such a situation, how can there be a sibling relationship between people who have never met before?"

Garggi also spoke about Kerala’s traditional views on cousin marriages, noting that the acceptance of such relationships varies based on family lineage.

"In Kerala, there was this system of murappennu and muracherukan, and it still exists in many places. If they are the children of a sister and a brother, everyone will accept it. But if they are the children of two brothers, then it is not considered possible—even though in both cases, the blood relationship is the same."

She acknowledged that these social constructs shape how people perceive familial relationships and pointed out that different cultures and communities have varied perspectives on cousin marriages.

placeholder

"In our country, there is a belief that men continue the blood relationship. If it is the children of brothers, it is believed that they are of the same blood, whereas if it is the children of sisters, it is believed that it is the blood of their husbands. If it were the latter, maybe there wouldn’t be so much criticism."

Garggi also remarked that cousin relationships are a reality for many people, both in consensual and problematic ways.

"I know many people who had relationships like that with cousins. There are also people who experience adolescence together, and many things can happen during this time. Similarly, there are people who face harassment from cousins. All of this exists in our society."

Despite the controversy, the film acknowledges the complexity of these relationships rather than endorsing them. Garggi pointed out that the story includes a character warning the protagonists about the importance of boundaries, reinforcing the idea that such relationships need to be approached with caution.

A trained theatre artist, Garggi transitioned into films after winning the Best Actress award at the New York Indian Film Festival. She has worked in seven films, including acclaimed projects like ‘Run Kalyani’, ‘Vadakkan’, and the yet-to-be-released ‘Chera’.

While Narayaneente Moonnaanmakkal continues to spark debate over its subject matter, it has also been appreciated for its technical execution, character depth, and performances. As discussions unfold, the film challenges audiences to interpret its message through their own perspectives, ensuring its place as one of the most talked-about Malayalam films of the year.