CinemaNot unlike in real life, mothers in cinema had to either don the cape of an angel or prepare themselves to be demonised, while the wives, daughters, and sisters had to live within the confines of one-dimensional images.For the longest time, Malayalam cinema has put mothers on a pedestal. One of the most iconic scenes in Malayalam celluloid continues to be the climactic shot in Sibi Malayil’s Thaniyavarthanam (1987), featuring a traumatised mother (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) feeding rice laced with poison to her adult son (Mammootty) with a mental illness. These images are juxtaposed with those of a much younger mother feeding her baby, essentially manipulating the audience, and leaving anyone with an iota of compassion struggling to hold back their tears. Not unlike in real life, mothers in cinema simply had no way out — either they don the cape of an angel or prepare themselves to be demonised. Not surprisingly,...
- 7/19/2023
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
MollywoodWe list some, sadly rather few in number, well-written women characters in grey in Malayalam cinema who stuck to their guns till the end.Neelima MenonBindu Panicker as Seetha in RorschachKanchana’s eyes darken with desire as she stares at her sister-in-law’s karimani (black beads) chain. She hungrily tugs at the chain, describing its artistry at length to her awkward sister-in-law. When she is gifted a sari by her sister-in-law, she is torn between greed and jealousy, eventually succumbing to the latter emotion. Kanchana is an ordinary homemaker with lofty ambitions for material things, which her husband isn’t able to fulfil. At a time when the leading women in cinema were always divided into binaries, i.e., good or bad, Kanchana in Sathyan Anthikad’s Thalayanamanthram (1990) is a startling revelation. At least to begin with, more so because of the sublime nuances actor Urvashi lends to Kanchana. What...
- 10/24/2022
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
Flix Flashback‘Nandanam’, directed and written by Ranjith and loosely adapted from Mt Vasudevan Nair’s ‘Neelathamara’, gives a fantastical spin to a love story between a domestic worker and the scion of the family.Neelima MenonYouTube/apimalayalamsongsThough he has made films across a variety of genres, as a writer/director Ranjith’s most noted works have given Malayalam cinema the ‘alpha male’ hero – for example, Devasuram and Aaram Thampuran. His oeuvre includes unlikely satirical comedies such as Pranchiyettan & the Saint, award-winning dramas such as Thirakkatha, and thrillers such as Paleri Manikyam. But Nandanam (2002) stands out for its (decidedly understated yet) divine treatment of a tried-and-tested romantic trope. Balamani’s days always begin at the crack of dawn. Though she occupies only a corner of that large ancient tharavadu, fenced by greenery, with an elaborate front yard and backyard and a rectangular in-house pond, it’s this pint-sized girl who literally runs the show.
- 12/1/2021
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
TributeOne of the most respected actors of Malayalam cinema, Sathyan was once a teacher, a soldier in World War II and a policeman.CrisSathyan on Cinemamasika, July 1971 edition / Courtesy - Bipin ChandranIt was a summer of the 1960s. Rajani was a young girl shopping at the Rangoon Textiles shop (which no longer exists) in Thiruvananthapuram. Someone said that actor Sathyan was standing outside the Cannemora Café (which also no longer exists) nearby. Little Rajani ran to have a look at the star. White shirt, black pants, sunglasses and a cigarette on his lips, she noticed him leaning against a car. He saw the little girl and smiled at her, she recalled. Years later, when a friend rang up to tell her about his death, she could not believe it. Only that day – June 15, 1971 – she had read in the morning paper that he was seriously ill. “Until then, we had no idea he was so unwell.
- 6/16/2021
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Mollywood ‘Aanum Pennum’ features Parvathy, Darshana Rajendran and Samyuktha Menon in the lead, with Asif Ali, Roshan Mathew and Joju George starring opposite them.Tnm StaffScreengrab/ YouTubeThe makers of the Malayalam anthology film Aanum Pennum released the trailer of the movie on Sunday. The movie has three segments directed by filmmakers Aashiq Abu, Jay K, and Venu. With the plot of each segment focusing on the relationship between a man and a woman, the movie features Parvathy Thiruvothu, Darshana Rajendran and Samyuktha Menon in the lead with Asif Ali, Roshan Mathew and Joju George starring opposite them, respectively. The film is scheduled to hit the big screens on March 26. The movie revolves around three stories about three women set in the backdrop of three different eras. In the trailer, we see an elderly woman narrating these stories. The plot of all three segments covers broader themes such as romance, love,...
- 3/22/2021
- by SaradhaU
- The News Minute
Flix FlashbackWith elections nearing, we revisit Sathyan Anthikad's 1991 comedy about a home that's split over politics, way before family WhatsApp groups did it.Sowmya RajendranScreenshot/YouTubeDiscussing politics is a favourite activity with Malayalis. From tea shops to educational institutions, office spaces and the drawing room, political debate is a way of life in the state. And with Assembly elections just weeks away in Kerala, now is as good a time as any to revisit Sandesham, Sathyan Anthikad's 1991 comedy about a home that's split over politics, way before family WhatsApp groups entered the scene and accomplished it. The film is centered on Raghavan Nair (Thilakan) and his five children — three boys and two girls. While the two sisters (Kpac Lalitha and Maathu), the youngest brother Prashanthan (Rahul Laxman) and mother Bhanu (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) add to the plot, the story is mostly about the neverending quarrel between the two older brothers...
- 3/19/2021
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe 1988 film is placed in an old Namboothiri tharavadu that has seen better days, but its inhabitants still live in their own superficial world of kingship and glory.Aradhya KurupYouTube screenshotHe has just been beckoned by his elder brother, offered a chair even, in a rare show of deference. It’s to sign a document required to sell a joint property. Yet Aniyan Thampuran looks unusually pleased – he feels wanted. Someone needs him. It’s this long held desire to feel wanted that has been satisfied. That moment signifies Aniyan Thampuran’s whole life. Directed by Bharath Gopi and written by John Paul, Ulsavapittennu (1988) is placed in an old Namboothiri tharavadu in central Kerala that has seen better days, but its inhabitants still live in their own superficial world of kingship and glory. The elder brother, who is squandering his wealth to restore their past grandeur. His wife, who is...
- 3/8/2020
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
MollywoodFrom Srividya in ‘Kattathey Kilikoodu’ to Mohanlal in ‘Thenmavin Kombathu’, these subtle performances are some of their best acts.Aradhya KurupMohanlal (left) with Kaviyoor Ponnamma and Nedumudi Venu in 'Thenmavin Kombathu'They are all famous. They all have their niche. The hero, the heroine, the goofy friend, the villain, the learned dramatist. But even they have been forgotten for some of their best acts. Here we try to highlight some of the least talked about performances of our favourite stars. Srividya (Kattathey Kilikoodu) Bharath Gopi’s stiff, unsmiling Professor ‘Shakespeare’ Krishna Pillai, who is always buried inside his books, is counted as one of his finest acts. So, it’s hardly surprising that another actor, who stood head and shoulders with the titan in every frame, was overlooked. Srividya plays his quiet, domesticated and lovable wife, Sharada. Kattathey Kilikoodu is really her story—her silent, resilient battle to hold the family together amidst all odds.
- 12/29/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
MollywoodFilmmaker Lohithadas made an art out of gritty dramas that spoke to a particular class of Malayali family audiences.Neelima MenonA still from ‘Kireedam’ | YouTubeFor a Mother’s Day special edition of a regional daily, Lohithadas had spoken at length about his mother. “I always found it baffling that my mother verbally abused us. She was always tired and irritable, too busy working round the clock to shower us with love and affection. I always longed for her affection. Years later, I realised that she was struggling to make ends meet, to put food on the table, and that at heart she adored us.” For someone who made an art out of gritty dramas that spoke to a particular class of Malayali family audiences, parenting and parent-child bonds often became the central peg, or even the entire narrative. Here we tease out some archetypes from the Lohithadas stable of cinema.
- 12/1/2019
- by Vidya
- The News Minute
MollywoodThe film is based on a festival celebrated during 17th century Kerala, in which warriors from different parts of the country would arrive to fight against each other.Tnm StaffIf Mammootty barely appeared in the teaser of his upcoming period film Mamangam, the trailer, released on Saturday, begins with the star's voice. The familiar lit up night from the teaser presents the background for Mamangam, which was a medieval time trade festival for warriors. Mammootty's character says, "If even one person still goes for Mamangam from Valluvanadu, it's because the women prepare a pyre of revenge in their minds. You and I were born in the womb of such women." You see the women's faces flash -- Kaniha, Anu Sithara, veterans like Valsala Menon and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. The slow music with which the trailer begins swiftly changes to a fast one, when fights begin and men kill men. A...
- 11/2/2019
- by Cris
- The News Minute
Flix Flashback'Kireedam' became such a huge favourite with viewers mainly because at its heart, it is also a beautiful father-son tale.Fahir Maithutty"Ninte achanaada parayunne. Kathi thaazhe ideda.." (It’s your father who is saying this. Put the knife down) – says a helpless Achuthan Nair (Thilakan) to his son, Sethumadhavan (Mohanlal) in the closing scene of Kireedam. Sethumadhavan has just stabbed and killed the rowdy who'd ruined his life. He is still furious, pointing the knife vigorously at his father. After a few seconds, he comes to his senses, drops the knife and cries out loud to the sky. The entire movie is shaped as a build-up to this finish. An ambitious young man has now turned a murderer and a father’s dreams of seeing his son as a police inspector has been shattered. The market and crowd scene is staged perfectly. Anyone else in the place of...
- 7/9/2019
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
Mollywood Four senior artistes wrote to minister Ak Balan expressing their worries over Kamal's words that said they were in Amma for alms.Tnm StaffMerely hours after senior actors of the Malayalam film industry expressed their worries over a statement made by filmmaker Kamal, he has apologised. Senior actors Madhu, Janardanan, Kaviyoor Ponnamma and Kpac Lalitha wrote to film minister Ak Balan, about their shock in reading Kamal’s statement regarding Amma. Kamal, also the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, had reportedly said that a lot of senior artistes were staying in Amma as they were waiting for “favours” from the film body. Reacting to the letter, the filmmaker said that his words were misunderstood, and if they had hurt the senior actors in any way, he was sad about it. “I respect, admire and love them a lot. I express my regret if my words have caused them pain,” he told the media. In their letter to the minister, also posted on the Facebook page of Amma (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes), the senior artistes say that they do not see the amount they get every month from Amma as a ‘kaineetam’ (alms), but a touch of love. “More than the amount of money, it is the love and concern behind it that gives us strength and shade. Only a narrow mind can see it as a favour. It shocks us that a person who sees one’s rights as favours is the head of the Chalachitra Academy,” they write. They add that it is up to the minister to take any action reagarding this. Kamal had a day before said that Amma is an anti-democratic association and people were stupid to expect democracy from it. He also appreciated the four women who resigned from the association in light of actor Dileep, a rape accused, being reinstated in the film body, when the survivor is also an actor. Kamal added that he was saying all this from his 35 years of experience in the film industry. Also read: Video: Actor Urmila Unni's insensitive comments on reinstating Dileep are a new low...
- 7/2/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
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