The film is beautifully taken and provides glimpses of life in the old days during the Maharaja's rule in Travancore. But more than that, it shows how a man struggles because he takes everything extremely personally.
It is evident from the language used that the hangman and his family are originally from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. From a sociological perspective I thought it interesting that the Maharaja had to hire someone from a neighbouring state for this dreadful job. Everyone involved, right from the Maharaja to the hangman, are aware that at some level it is a sin and they try to absolve themselves of this sin in their own ways - the Maharaja by granting pardons and the hangman by performing numerous rituals.
The crux of the story however is the attitude towards duty. The hangman cannot separate the professional from the personal. He is always troubled by his past executions. On the night before the execution when an official is narrating a story, in his mind he pictures his own family. So personally does he take it, that he cannot go ahead with the execution knowing that he is going to kill an innocent boy. Contrary to this, the son - the non-violent Gandhian - calmly goes ahead with the execution.
Great film.
It is evident from the language used that the hangman and his family are originally from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. From a sociological perspective I thought it interesting that the Maharaja had to hire someone from a neighbouring state for this dreadful job. Everyone involved, right from the Maharaja to the hangman, are aware that at some level it is a sin and they try to absolve themselves of this sin in their own ways - the Maharaja by granting pardons and the hangman by performing numerous rituals.
The crux of the story however is the attitude towards duty. The hangman cannot separate the professional from the personal. He is always troubled by his past executions. On the night before the execution when an official is narrating a story, in his mind he pictures his own family. So personally does he take it, that he cannot go ahead with the execution knowing that he is going to kill an innocent boy. Contrary to this, the son - the non-violent Gandhian - calmly goes ahead with the execution.
Great film.