The climax scene

Kochi: After several false alarms that had the media and the public flocking to the courts to catch a glimpse of the estranged couple reportedly filing for divorce, this time the wolf has appeared for real. Dileep has initiated divorce proceedings against Manju Warrier in the Ernakulam Family Court seeking to end his marriage of 16 years.

This move was not unexpected since the couple has been living separate lives for the past two years but what is crucial here is the timing. Manju is on a high after her comeback film has turned out to be a success and this move could have a negative fallout on her image since the grounds cited are cruelty and mental harassment.

Keen movie buffs would surely notice that the couple has been indulging in shadow boxing through their respective films and taking on-screen swipes at each other. Dileep’s Ringmaster shows the rise of a girl from a small time village, who forsakes her relationships and her love for the sake of pursuing her dream of becoming an actress who ultimately ends up sharing the Best Actor Award with a dog and ultimately losing her family and love in the bargain.

The character played by Honey Rose has been likened to Manju’s decision to give more importance to career than family. In turn Manju’s comeback film How Old Are You is a film about women’s liberation and a woman rediscovering herself after 14 years  of being a dedicated wife and Manju has herself revealed that the film reflects shades of her life.
 
A source close to Manju reveals that things are going according to plan as far as Manju is concerned and says that Manju was adamant that she would never make the first move in initiating a divorce taking into consideration the amount of bad will generated if a woman makes the first move in Kerala’s orthodox society.

The reason for not agreeing to a mutual divorce is also to safeguard her interests, since she has not been working for 14 years of her married life. While many would be of the opinion that her daughter’s obvious fondness for her father stems from Manju’s neglect, there could be nothing farther than the truth. The source says, “Manju has been a dutiful, loyal wife and an exemplary mother who had been regularly visiting Meenakshi’s school and looking after her needs. Ask any of the teachers at her school and one can gauge Manju’s love to her child!”

Sources also indicate that the actress may not be keen on a long drawn out custody battle.