The long and short of it: Anjani Yalamanchili

Disgusted with watching soap operas on TV channels most of which depict women as villains if not weaklings, Producer and Director Anjani Yalamanchili wants to project women as strong persons with commitment who dare to question the age-old beliefs and customs in the society. Anjani delivers a clear message to women--“Don’t budge to the demands of men and never compromise on your values.”

Hailing from Vijayawada, Anjani has been annoyed by the poor projection of women both on the silver screen and the small screen. She wants to prove that women are not inferior to men and they too are strong in character and ready to take bold decisions regarding their lives. She started producing a series of short films with the brand name of ‘Varada Gudi’, which literally means rainbow in colloquial Telugu. In spite of having little knowledge in film making let alone direction, Anjani produced and directed two short films on women empowerment. Five more short films are in the pipeline, which will be completed in one year, she says.

“Feminism is not hatred towards men but it’s a struggle to find one’s own identity,” she avers. Anjani said that one of her films is based on the story by Patibandla Rajani and the other was written by Nakka Vijaya Ramaraju—on women empowerment with the titles ‘Rohini’ and ‘Arundhati’ respectively. The protagonists in both the films question the male domination in the society and etch their own path to decide their destiny.

Enacted by Telugu actress Archana Sastri, the protagonist in the short film, ‘Rohini’, married to a Brahmin who conducts marriages as Purohit, is shocked to learn the selfish character of her husband. She tries to bring to his notice what she has observed but the male chauvinist in him would not relent to admit his mistakes. Moreover, he staunchly defends his behaviour. After delivering a long lecture on how the religion is reduced to rituals for the benefit of a few, Rohini walks out of her husband with her son to lead an independent life.

In the second short film, Telugu actress Madhavi Lata in the role of the protagonist Arundhati, a poor agriculture labourer, is brought to the village elders, who announce that her husband would divorce her since she could not conceive a child even three years after marriage. Arundhati vehemently protests that it was the fault of her husband (TV actor Nanda Kishore) and refuses for the divorce. However, the village elders unanimously decide that she was ostracised and should leave the village within a week. After her dying father bequeaths five acres of land to her leaving his son outside of the will, her greedy husband tries to take her back, but she flatly refuses.

Surprisingly, the doctor (Maharshi Raghava) announces that Arundhati is now pregnant. She proudly declares Kotesu, her helping hand in tilling the land, is responsible for her pregnancy. Now brother of Arundhati attacks and injures her and Kotesu. Vexed with the incidents, Arundhati decides to leave the village. She returns after 25 years to the village to inform the doctor that her son became an IAS officer. “The family is the weakness of women. Once she breaks those shackles, she would emerge winner but that is the toughest part,” says Anjani.

Referring to how the women holding the highest positions in corporate sector are turning captives of their families, Anjani highlights the case of former ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar. “Chanda Kochhar held the highest position and was acclaimed as the harbinger in the growth of the premier bank,” she recalls. From that top position, there was a sudden fall due to the machinations of her husband, Anjani avers and adds, “Had Chanda said a strong NO to her husband’s demands she would have remained in the top position.”