Vanaprastham query

If anyone has seen the malayalam movie Vanaprastham, I have a question: Why was Kunhikuttan treating his wife so terribly? I don't mean by loving Subhadra. He basically never showed any affection towards her :-? He dotes on his daughter, loves his mother, but ignores his wife, although she loved him :-? Did I miss something?

Opinion on movie: Shaashtanga namaskaram to Mohanlal for his acting! But story was way too melodramatic and fairy-tale-istic I thought. And Suhasini's acting was terrible! Ugh. Poor thing couldn't emote well at all. They should've cast Shobana.