Thoovanathumbikal (1987) User Reviews

My first Malayalam movie and I hit a jackpot

[nbkaecian · 9/10 · 7 June 2014]

At the outset I would say that this is a profound film, a true classic and if it is not, Malayalam cinema is beyond me. The film proved what I have long heard, that Malayalam cinema from Kerala is idiosyncratically creative. Here, the director Padmarajan revisits a fascinating theme of cinema, adultery. Yet, it would be a simplistic and narrow-minded view of this film to say that it was simply about adultery because it is really far more complex than that, and essentially a film about all varieties of human nature and relationships, and one could even argue- the relationship between reality and what is accepted. Despite the complexities in the characters, and despite the outcast nature of the story itself, the screenplay never borders on the theatrical and is amazingly believable. I will remember this film for many reasons, none more than the character of Jaykrishnan. At the start of the film the first thing that strikes the viewer is his dual nature. But as the film progresses seamlessly, his character becomes a case study in itself. J is confused but principled and yet never an idealist. In fact he has a dark tint so apparent yet difficult to pin point (until of course he kidnapped that guy, which I thought was unnecessary and kind of gave away that part of him). Moreover, throughout the film, despite being portrayed as a popular and gregarious man, he never really opened up completely to the other characters (even to Clara) and to the audience. I would always remember those scenes when I expected him to say the obvious but he smiled away to my frustration. His restraint further made his character extremely intriguing. However, despite the multitude of shades in his character, J is extremely self re-assured (except in his love life) which seems contagious to the other characters. The character of Clara is equally interesting. She is a prostitute but is not typecast as one. She isn't weak, broken, grieving and craving for love. Having lived a life among bounds herself, she understandably never lets herself confine J's life either. For a prostitute to let her true lover go is a supreme sacrifice. In that she comes as the strongest character in the film. While Clara's love for J is transparent, J to me was ever trying to find himself even while loving her. Clara thus came out as the more likable character at the end. It is their amazing chemistry, made all the memorable by such beautiful background scores, that finally left behind a film which is not so much a rigorously interpretable body of work but a series of transcendental cinematic moments. The film is an important, intelligent work that explores the implications of whether or not this is indeed a moral universe.Despite its plot resolution, the film is 'rescued'from utter nihilism by its ritual more acceptable ending, which I found rather an anti- climax. Perhaps Padmarajan wanted an ending the way it is supposed to end in the real world. I am sure the debate on morality and infidelity has an epiphany on everyone who saw the film, which is a wonderful accomplishment for a film made 26 years ago.

A poignant masterpiece

[ann-film · 10/10 · 26 February 2007]

Padmarajan's brilliance shines through in this classic which tells you how love is necessarily not exclusive. Mohanlal plays a character Jayakrishnan who is torn between two worlds, two personalities and two women. Clara epitomizes the wild side while Radha brings out the coyness of the main character. He loves both of them, in very different manners. And without getting into overtly moralistic declamations, the director gives the viewer the freedom to enjoy the experiential narrative. The plot unfolds into a happy ending-with all knots untied and the right knots tied.

The acting is flawless across the cast. The music is overwhelming.

It is, however, Padmarajan's perceptive treatment of such a controversial topic in such a time and age of pseudo middle class conservatism that makes this one a timeless classic.

The classic

[nik-naren · 9/10 · 21 October 2005]

This is should be in fact the best movie by Padmarajan, ever. thats my opinion. It is a bold story of love versus lust..love doesn't win. lust doesn't loose the game also. The game of life is practically won by love, as lust takes a back door exit. Clara the prostitute unlike many others, enters her profession not because of her life problems, but because she wants to. Protagonist, Jayakrishnan played by Mohanlal is drawn quite masterfully. He is bold and daring, and in his town, the most popular. In his village, he is a humble landlord and a farmer, who is conservative.

Both faces of the character are safe with Mohan Lal. He again displays his genius as he eases through the role. The directors brilliance is shown in so many shots like the song sequences, and when he proposes Clara.

This will be boldest movies ever in Malayalam Cinema. I am sure none of the Directors of this age wouldn't dare to make a movie like this. And to add, this is different from Padmarajans Novel "Udakappola", though the characters are the same in both the movies and the Novel.

One of the top notch classic made in malayalam cinema

[luttapiu · 10/10 · 12 August 2008]

I just love this movie,cant resist watching it again and again. Padmarajan has crafted this master piece scene by scene. All the scenes in this movies are straight from the real world. I am sure that the "Naranga soda maker" and "butcher who sells head of goat" were doing the same in their real life. The crux of the movie is the portrayal of Jaikrishnan. Lal the genius has delivered a stellar performance as Jaikrishnan.He delivers in depth and breadth the emotions and feelings of a protagonist in a Padmarajan style.Clara as a prostitute who knows in what she is going to end up is superb . She shows the deep sorrow of being forced to be a prostitute in a neutral manner.Her dialogues reflects the feelings of a prostitute who knows clearly that a normal life is a dream for them.Jaikrishanan's ideologies are simple but his emotions are complex to understand. Parvathy has acted beautifully in her part so did ashokan.Overall this movie is a masterpiece in malayalam cinema.

everlasting movie

[jithutitty · 10/10 · 29 July 2012]

i cant actually explain in words what this movie means, but no matter how many times repeatedly i have watched this movie, i never get bored a bit. a beautiful love story and Mohanlal's performance was outstanding. i probably have seen this movie 1000 times already..... still fresh, each scene, dialog with a deep inner meaning. Padmarajan, Malayalam movies miss you... even though there is a touch of adult theme in the movie, we never get a vulgar feel. the whole movie revolve round the axis called love and no other movie can make you feel how love actually feels. all the movies try to explain love, but in this movie we can feel love. love between Clara and jayakrishnan also love between Jayakrishnan and Radha...... just pure love in a very natural situation and the dialogs are also very natural and a common man's words

Excellent Movie!!!!!

[soorajsm-1 · 10/10 · 19 February 2005]

I have seen this film many times and every time i am watching i am loving it more and more.This film can be considered as one of the best of Indian films. Mohanlal's jayakrishnan is superb. In this film he play's the role of a villager who shows dual personality. This film was the first malayalam film which focused on "split personality" of the hero and later many films were released with the same theme(Usthaad, Runway etc)but did not come upto the mark. The film was made from padmarajan's(Director) novel "udakappola" with slight differences. If you read this book and then watch it you can see the perfection of the picturisation.The film has no boring or low standard comedy scenes which is one of the plus points. don't miss this excellent movie......

A Classic film, far ahead of its Time

[surajadderameshan · 10/10 · 4 August 2015]

I had heard a lot about this film through my cousins, in fact, I had watched it when I was a kid, but I could not recall the movie, thus, I decided to watch it again recently.

After watching the movie, I understood why, I was not able to recall what the movie was about. It was because, this movie explains the complex nature of emotions which everyone goes through, but, are never comfortable discussing it, even with their closed ones. This movie is definitely not for kids, It's for a mature audience. This is a wonderful romantic movie, which hovers around love care and lust in a subtle way. Only people with patience will enjoy this movie.

This movie was released in 1987, and it was definitely far ahead of its time. Forthose who have not seen the movie yet, watch it in a rainy day and feel the mixed emotions that the main character goes through. PS: Amazing performance by all the actors, especially,MOHANLAL.

Excellent film portraying some strong characters

[sreejith_2005 · 10/10 · 29 January 2007]

A film about a man who have his own principles in life regarding all his deeds accidentally breaks one and changes brought by it to his life. Mohanlal plays a man who lives in village and having lot of friends in town.He likes a girl and when he tell her about that he got denied.After that he got involved in a relation with a virgin girl whom he never thought would be like that.He decides to marry that girl following some of his principles in life.By that time girl he really loved comes to him and he have to choose between the two.This man don't want to hide anything from his lover and tells her abt his old relationship.He cant stop himself seeing that old girl and finally he have to choose the right one.

Timeless

[krishuday · 10/10 · 11 May 2019]

This movie and the story is timeless, it will be relevant even after 100 years. Can't find the words to describe the marvelousness of the legendary Padmarajan. And Mohanlal, oof he wasn't acting, he lived as Jayakrishnan, speechless...

Excellent Movie

[dineshvasudevan2003 · 10/10 · 14 January 2007]

Anyone who is unsure why Padmarajan is haled as one of Malayalam's's best directors ever see this movie. The plot revolves around the relationship that a guy has with a prostitute. Mohanlal plays the role of the common villager in the first scene but he is not what he seems to be as Ashokan finds out after some time. He asks Parvathy to marry him but she declines making fun of him. He meets Sumalatha, whose mother wants to gain some money but making her a pro. Mohanlal feels guilty when he understands he has made her start the journey to destruction, being a prostitute. By this time Parvathy learns more about Mohanlal and falls in love with him but then Mohanlal could not give in because of his guilty feeling. He tells Parvathy about Sumalatha. She tells him never to meet Sumalatha again but Mohanlal replies by saying he doesn't know what will happen if he meets her again. What happens when she does come and meet ? Watch the movie ..

best movie ever

[gautamcool · 10/10 · 4 March 2017]

i think this is the best movie i have ever seen ..this is the movie with magical moments...mohanlal as jayakrishnan totally nailed it proving himself to be the best actor India has ever produced..sumalatha as clara is a dream..parvathi rocked it..no director can attain half of the achievement that padmarajan made..started off in a slower note ended with astronishment,,johnson music still lingering in my ears..classic personified

A puzzle of True Love and Marriage that somehow finds a way without using intellectual sentiments.

[SAMTHEBESTEST · 7/10 · 20 August 2021]

Thoovanathumbikal (1987) : Brief Review -

A puzzle of True Love and Marriage that somehow finds a way without using intellectual sentiments. Thoovanathumbikal is one of the highest rated Malayalam Film at IMDb and to be honest i am surprised to see such high ratings. Well, my opinion differs and so does other people's therefore i won't call it overrated and invite geniune mocking. I just feel that maybe malayalam audience haven't seen better films from world cinema so they found this one extraordinary. I would suggest them to watch films like 'J'accuse' (1919) and 'Sunrise' (1927) or little modern ones in talkies like 'Dodsworth' (1936) and 'Casablanca' (1942) if they really want to see top class Romance/Love Triangle with some unbeaten intellectual theories in human forms. Thoovanathumbikal is about Jayakrishnan who falls in love with two girls, Radha and Clara, and fights his confusion about whom he should marry and spend his life with. The main problem here is that not a single character has that generous nature and matured, subtle thinking while dealing with the mess. When Radha falls in love with Jaya it looked like we are heading for something extremely emotional but it doesn't go that way. She continues chasing Jaya even after knowing what he has done and is doing. That didn't make any sense to me. Secondly, Clara's character didn't show anything that would make me feel something for her. I mean she was cold, unexplored and unsettled. Jaya was no different, rather he was very spoiled then i don't understand why a genuine girl would fall for him so deep? I mean they didn't have any conversations or friendship for that, it was so indirect. I liked the performances and direction but the writing goes with lots of complaints for not using any intelligent and honest theories of love. This was so cold romance, even for hardcore lovers, I mean even platonic affairs shows more maturity than this so called 'Serious' affair.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Masterpiece of Padmarajan.

[arun_mr · 2 January 2018]

He is a masterpiece of Padmarajan ....

Padmarajan is a magical magic only.

The most beautiful film about the rainy season is the focus of the film. The presence of the heroine Clara is filled with rain.

Padmarajan has written a story based on the life of his friend Unnikrishnan. Padmarajan joined the character Clara in the film Unni Menon

Gem Of A Movie

[geoelparakadavil · 10/10 · 2 August 2021]

The best movie I have ever watched. And I think it will remain the same way for a long time. Depicts complex emotions like love so accurately. Its still fresher than current indian movies. One of the movies you should definitely watch before you die.

Very good

[skraoetl · 10/10 · 27 January 2024]

Had heard a lot about this film through my cousins, in fact, I had watched it when I was a kid, but I could not recall the movie, thus, I decided to watch it again recently.

After watching the movie, I understood why, I was not able to recall what the movie was about. It was because, this movie explains the complex nature of emotions which everyone goes through, but, are never comfortable discussing it, even with their closed ones. This movie is definitely not for kids, It's for a mature audience. This is a wonderful romantic movie, which hovers around love care and lust in a subtle way. Only people with patience will enjoy this movie.

This movie was released in 1987, and it was definitely far ahead of its time. Forthose who have not seen the movie yet, watch it in a rainy day and feel the mixed emotions that the main character goes through. PS: Amazing performance by all the actors, especially,MOHANLAL.

Nice movie to watch

[prakumail · 8/10 · 6 December 2023]

At the outset I would say that this is a profound film, a true classic and if it is not, Malayalam cinema is beyond me. The film proved what I have long heard, that Malayalam cinema from Kerala is idiosyncratically creative. Here, the director Padmarajan revisits a fascinating theme of cinema, adultery. Yet, it would be a simplistic and narrow-minded view of this film to say that it was simply about adultery because it is really far more complex than that, and essentially a film about all varieties of human nature and relationships, and one could even argue- the relationship between reality and what is accepted. Despite the complexities in the characters, and despite the outcast nature of the story itself, the screenplay never borders on the theatrical and is amazingly believable. I will remember this film for many reasons, none more than the character of Jaykrishnan. At the start of the film the first thing that strikes the viewer is his dual nature. But as the film progresses seamlessly, his character becomes a case study in itself. J is confused but principled and yet never an idealist. In fact he has a dark tint so apparent yet difficult to pin point (until of course he kidnapped that guy, which I thought was unnecessary and kind of gave away that part of him). Moreover, throughout the film, despite being portrayed as a popular and gregarious man, he never really opened up completely to the other characters (even to Clara) and to the audience. I would always remember those scenes when I expected him to say the obvious but he smiled away to my frustration. His restraint further made his character extremely intriguing. However, despite the multitude of shades in his character, J is extremely self re-assured (except in his love life) which seems contagious to the other characters. The character of Clara is equally interesting. She is a prostitute but is not typecast as one. She isn't weak, broken, grieving and craving for love. Having lived a life among bounds herself, she understandably never lets herself confine J's life either. For a prostitute to let her true lover go is a supreme sacrifice. In that she comes as the strongest character in the film. While Clara's love for J is transparent, J to me was ever trying to find himself even while loving her. Clara thus came out as the more likable character at the end. It is their amazing chemistry, made all the memorable by such beautiful background scores, that finally left behind a film which is not so much a rigorously interpretable body of work but a series of transcendental cinematic moments. The film is an important, intelligent work that explores the implications of whether or not this is indeed a moral universe. Despite its plot resolution, the film is 'rescued'from utter nihilism by its ritual more acceptable ending, which I found rather an anti- climax. Perhaps Padmarajan wanted an ending the way it is supposed to end in the real world. I am sure the debate on morality and infidelity has an epiphany on everyone who saw the film, which is a wonderful accomplishment for a film made 26 years ago.

Good movie

[trendingcultures · 10/10 · 27 January 2024]

In a thrilling cinematic journey, "Chronicles of Eternity" weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of fantasy and reality. The film, directed by visionary filmmaker Aria Lane, unfolds in a world where time is an enigmatic force. As the protagonist, played with intense charisma by Alex Mercer, discovers a mystical artifact, the line between past, present, and future blurs. The visual spectacle is heightened by Lane's masterful use of CGI, transporting audiences through breathtaking landscapes and surreal realms.

The narrative unfolds like an intricate puzzle, with each piece slowly falling into place. Mercer's compelling performance anchors the story, portraying the emotional complexities of a character navigating through the fabric of time. The supporting cast, including the enigmatic Emily Harper and the versatile James Bennett, adds layers to the intricate plot. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, adding a human touch to the fantastical elements.

The film's soundtrack, composed by the acclaimed Olivia Knight, complements the visual feast, enhancing the emotional beats and intensifying the suspense. The cinematography, led by the talented Adrian Turner, captures the essence of each era with breathtaking precision. From ancient landscapes to futuristic cityscapes, every frame is a work of art.

"Chronicles of Eternity" seamlessly blends genres, offering a unique cinematic experience that transcends conventional storytelling. Lane's direction infuses the narrative with a sense of urgency, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats. As the characters confront the consequences of manipulating time, moral dilemmas and existential questions come to the forefront, challenging viewers to ponder their own relationship with time.

This cinematic masterpiece leaves an indelible mark, inviting audiences to contemplate the boundaries of existence. "Chronicles of Eternity" is not just a movie; it's a journey through the ages, a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience wrapped in a visually stunning package. Prepare to be captivated, as time itself becomes a character in this unforgettable tale.

I just love this movie

[vishalbitvv · 10/10 · 18 January 2024]

I just love this movie,cant resist watching it again and again. Padmarajan has crafted this master piece scene by scene. All the scenes in this movies are straight from the real world. I am sure that the "Naranga soda maker" and "butcher who sells head of goat" were doing the same in their real life. The crux of the movie is the portrayal of Jaikrishnan. Lal the genius has delivered a stellar performance as Jaikrishnan. He delivers in depth and breadth the emotions and feelings of a protagonist in a Padmarajan style. Clara as a prostitute who knows in what she is going to end up is superb . She shows the deep sorrow of being forced to be a prostitute in a neutral manner. Her dialogues reflects the feelings of a prostitute who knows clearly that a normal life is a dream for them. Jaikrishanan's ideologies are simple but his emotions are complex to understand. Parvathy has acted beautifully in her part so did ashokan. Overall this movie is a masterpiece in malayalam cinema.