Khaddama means 'a maid in an Arab's home'.

It is the relevance of the plot that makes director Kamal's Malayalam filck really special. The travails that a hapless young woman goes through in her life are shown in the film, which released last week.

"The film talks about a genuine social issue and that attracted me to the role. It is easily one of the finest characters that I have done ever in my career," says Kavya Madhavan, who plays the protagonist in the film.

She plays Aswathy in the film who goes to the Gulf to work as a Khaddama, after her husband's tragic death in a sleepy village in Kerala.

Horror awaits her at the sponsor's home. After her ordeal becomes unbearable, she decides to run away.

Khaddama is based on Gulf-based journalist K U Iqbal's article which tells of a true story.

Sreenivasan plays Razak Kottekkad, a social activist who actually finds the true facts after Aswathy was sent to jail under false charges of theft.

Biju Menon appears in a brief role as her husband.

"We have heard a few stories based on Malayalis living in the Gulf, but all of them have been on the men who work there. This is perhaps the first time that we are narrating the plight of a woman," says Kamal, who has directed quite a number of hits like Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal, Unnikale Oru Katha Parayaam, Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal, Ulladakkam, Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, Niram, Megha Malhar and Perumazhakkalam.

"There are hundreds of women whose sad lives may never be known to the world, but we have tried to focus on a highly genuine issue," he adds.

"I had narrated another relevant story in Perumazhakkalam earlier with two women in the lead. But here, we are zooming on a different story which needs the attention of all," says Kamal.

He agrees that it was never easy to shoot in the Gulf due to the nature of the story, which shows the cruelties that a poor woman has to go through, at the hands of an Arab sponsor.

According to scenarist K Gireesh Kumar, who has written films like Veruthe Oru Bharya earlier, his career "will be divided into two from now on -- before and after Khaddama. This story is that important to me and the closest to my heart."

"When we were thinking about whom to cast in Aswathy's role, Kavya was the first choice. I think this one is her best role ever," says Kamal, who had launched Kavya as a child artiste in Pookkalam Varavayi in 1991.

"The reaction to my role in Khaddama has been truly overwhelming. After the preview show, a few people came up to me and congratulated me on my performance. But others were so affected by the film that they speechless. I really enjoyed performing this role," says Kavya.