Have you wondered about how Ganga developed the disorder in Manichitrathazhu? Dr. Sunny reveals that Ganga suffers from a rare psychiatric condition known as Multiple Personality Disorder or Split Personality.
In clinical terms, this disorder is referred to as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) because of the dissociation or splitting of one’s “identity” or “self”. A person with this condition will have a different identity or personality feature within them. Problematic attachment styles, lack of proper parenting figures, childhood sexual abuse, etc., can be the causal factors for this disorder.
When Ganga was a child, her parents abandoned her and left for Kolkata. Though she was cared for by her grandparents, the lack of a father and mother would have affected her. This might lead to an inferiority complex of an “abandoned child”.
According to Alfred Adler‘s theories, people try to overcome their inferiority complex by striving for superiority. Ganga did so by excelling in her academics. You might remember that Dr. Sunny spoke of how she was a studious child till her 10th grade.
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But, the news that her parents were returning to take her with them affected her badly as she was very close to her grandparents. She couldn’t study properly and spent most of her time ruminating without sleep. This acted as a triggering point in her and she acted out by throwing her books and running out of her examination hall like an abnormal person.
There is an interesting scene where Dr. Sunny narrates about Ganga’s parent’s arrival. Her parents are shown as silhouettes. In this scene, her reaction is the strangest part. She initially smiles at them and then displays an aversion.
Mary Ainsworth, in her famous Strange Situation study, explains children displaying such a reaction to parents as having Anxious-Avoidant Attachment style. People with this attachment style, instead of communicating their needs, avoid the situations as Ganga does.
As per the Diathesis-Stress Model, mental illness occurs only when there is an interaction between “diathesis” and “stress”. “Diathesis” means predisposition or vulnerability to illness, in Ganga’s case absence of parents in childhood is a vulnerability. But, what is the “stressor” in her life? This might be the most confusing part of this film, as Ganga was leading a happy life with Nakulan.
But was she?
There is a scene, right after the song Varuvanillarumee, where Nakulan is working late into the night and Ganga lying on the bed. At that point, Ganga initiates a conversation. This was Ganga inviting Nakulan to the bed. But, Nakulan continues working.
In response to that Ganga asks him to wake her up when he is done with his work but he doesn’t. This scene hints that the “stressor” in Ganga’s life was a lack of sexual intimacy with her husband.
So, why does Nakulan deny sexual intimacy when he loves and cares for Ganga? The answer is that Nakulan might be suffering from a psychological condition called Hypoactive sexual desire disorder!
People with this condition have a lack or reduced desire for sexual intimacy of any form. It should also be noted that he may not be actually denying sex, but the frequency of the sexual encounter with Ganga may be very rare. Rare to an extent where Ganga was left unsatisfied and longing for love as depicted in the song “Varuvanillarumee” by the makers.
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But what if Nakulan was not actually denying sex but postponing it because of work?
Remember the scene where Dr. Sunny asks Nakulan to come watch Kathakali? In that scene, Nakulan who was working, stopped his work abruptly and did what his friend asked him to do.
Now, go back to the scene where Ganga invited Nakulan to bed, there he denied her request without any hesitation. This shows what he prioritises.
And since Ganga had an Anxious-avoidant attachment style in the past, ignored the need for confrontation which led to the “stressor” in her life. This stressor along with the diathesis developed into a mental disorder. Now, the next question is why did Ganga develop “dual personality” and why not any other mental disorder?
Psychiatrist Ross suggested four pathways by which someone can develop this disorder. One of those is the Childhood Neglect Pathway which means that a person who has been neglected in childhood has a higher chance of developing this disorder, as is the case with Ganga. Also, she was fascinated by myths and superstitions, which may have helped her forget her unsatisfied life with Nakulan.
Bhasura tells Ganga that women who were married into their family from outside the family are often the victims of the supernatural events that transpire in the tharavaad. Ganga who has a fragile mind, gets fantasised and not scared, thereby neutralizing the anxiety that could otherwise occur. This shows that “fantasy” was a defence mechanism that she often used to deal with reality.
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Sigmund Freud states that defences are the strategies people use to deal with anxiety. But when it fails it leads to mental disorders. Ganga, who was too much into “fantasy”, reached a point where she couldn’t separate it from reality leading to psychosis. Also, she engaged in another defence mechanism of “splitting” where she split herself into “good” and “bad”. Here, Ganga, who stayed loyal to her husband despite lacking sexual satisfaction was seen as “good” and Nagavalli who secretly loved her boyfriend against all norms was seen as “bad”.
The identity of Nagavalli unconsciously tries to satisfy Ganga’s needs through Mahadevan whom she associated with the Tamil dancer. Here, Ganga cannot approach him directly through her real identity as it is against her values. So, the alter ego helps her without compromising her morality.
The other factor that Ganga connects with Nagavalli is her plight. Nagavalli longed for her lover but it was thwarted by the Karanavar. Similarly, Ganga’s longing for an emotional attachment was discarded by Nakulan.
Both of their needs were left unsatisfied. The similarity of their plight made the connection for Ganga.
The scene where Nakulan asks Ganga to not leave the house is a strong revelation scene. Here, Ganga would have accepted whatever Nakulan said. But her alter ego Nagavalli reacted as Ganga’s identity cannot say “No” to her husband. So, in a way, Nagavalli was taking control of Ganga when she was in a submissive state.
A similar thing happens when Sunny has an argument with Ganga regarding the old chilanka. There, Ganga would have easily accepted what Sunny said, but the Nagavalli in her didn’t let that happen. The dual identity tries to protect Ganga when necessary.
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We know why Nagavalli tries to kill the Kaaranavar. But, why did Nagavalli perceive Nakulan as Kaaranavar? One reason is that Nakulan was born in the Kaaranavar’s family. But there is one more thing – Nagavalli’s was reflecting the Ganga’s emotions.
For Nagavalli, Nakulan denies sexual intimacy and freedom for Ganga. This was the same thing that the Kaaranavar did to Nagavalli. Therefore, getting rid of Nakulan will help Ganga live the life that she longed for. But thanks to Dr. Sunny, Nakulan is saved!
But, unless Dr.Sunny sorts out the sexual intimacy part between Ganga and Nakulan, there is a high chance that Nagavalli will make a comeback!
