A Vitiated Social Cognition at The Threshold of Rejuvenating Feminine Stereotypes: An Analysis of Feminist Criminology in the Movie The Teacher

Name of Author : Ms. Reenu Roy, Dr. R Jeya Sundara Raj

Abstract: This research paper is based on a 2022 Malayalam- language drama thriller movie The Teacher, directed by Vivek Thomas Varghese. This film pivots around Devika, played by the actor Amala Paul, who is a physical education teacher at a government school. Devika gets drugged and sexually assaulted by some students after a four-day sports meet conducted at their school. Devika and her husband Sujith have been trying for a baby for a long time and after this incident she finds out that she is pregnant. When Sujith finds out about her pregnancy he wants her to abort it. When Devika decides to file a case against those students Sujith stops her from doing so saying that the family name will be ruined and they wont be able to lead a respectful life in this society. The social cognition that still exist here regarding such an incident is challenged in this movie. Devikas mother-in-law Kalyani, who is also a veteran comrade, encourages her to take revenge on the students with the help of a police informant, who is also a follower of Kalyanis ideologies. Devika fights for the justice which was denied to her by this society and her own family members by adopting the path of violence. This ideology of gaining justice which is reflected in the concept of Feminist Criminology and consequently analysed in this research paper based on the theory of Feminism.

Keywords : Feminist Criminology, Revenge, Feminist Theory, Social Cognition, Justice.

DOI :