Cinema is a mass medium that has a powerful effect on society – both positive and negative. While instances of people drawing inspiration from films to commit crimes in real life have been often reported, there are some films that motivate and bring about positive changes too. Jyotika’s Ponmagal Vandhal (2020) belongs to the latter category.
Jyotika had resolved to choose scripts in her second innings that speak up for various causes. PV, a crime thriller and a courtroom drama in which she plays a feisty lawyer, is based on the theme of child abuse and rape.
The actress, who joined social media recently, has shared an uplifting post about a minor girl from Chennai, who, after watching Ponmagal Vandhal, opened up to her mother and exposed her uncle who had been sexually abusing her.
Reportedly, the girl who had remained silent till then, was inspired by a moving scene in Ponmagal Vandhal which conveys the important message that children should not hide anything from their parents, and disclosed what she was being subjected to.
After the girl’s parents lodged a police complaint, the Madras High Court sentenced the 48-year-old man to five years of imprisonment.
Jyotika, who wrote a motivational message urging women to speak up, captioned her post “Shatter that silence! Each time a woman stands up for herself, unknowingly she stands up for all women.”
