Katha parayumbol...

"Balandemakkal" (Balan's children), says AshokRaj(Mammootty's character) as he hugs the children of Balan (Srinivasan). And then, with misty eyes, looks up at Balan.
This is one of the last scenes in this awesome movie called Katha Parayumbol which I chanced to see in a hall@Bangalore. This film was just one more of those things which makes me take even greater pride in being a Keralite.
I can bet that the same scene in any other language would have stretched much much longer with some flowery dialogues and melodramatic moments.
Hmm, what did I like about the movie? Plenty.
To start with, I was watching the movie with a cousin who I have begun to discover as an individual, only over the last 2-3 years in spite of knowing each other since the last 25 years. Second, watching a Malayalam movie in Bangalore was something I had not hoped for in this trip. Third, it came at a time when I was wondering if Malayalam films are taking the same familiar masala route taken by movies in other languages.
The movie is set in rural Kerala- the scenic beauty of Kerala has been beautifully captured- you know why it is God's own country. The settings are so natural- the local chaayakkada (tea shop) serving as the centre for village gossip and general banter (one amazing scene is when the local communist politician says why the prices for hair cuts have gone up coz of globalization). One has to have some experience of Kerala to appreciate these scenes. The different characters presented in the movie look like they've been plucked out of a story book.
The relationship between the father (played by Srinivasan) and his children (and with his wife) are beautifully depicted. In particular, 2 scenes come to my mind- one, when the father asks the daughter what she wants to become...and she says that she wants to be the daughter of a father who can pay her school fees. And second, when her dad does not fulfil her wish of getting her to meet the superstar, the royal ignore she gives him.
I liked the way in which some nice nigs have been taken on the politicians of Kerala- especially the union leaders. (have u heard this- 1 mallu is an innovator, 2 mallus= 2 political parties, 3= 1 trade union, 4= 2 trade unions). Something unique about the movies of Sreenivasan (and Sathyan Anthikkadu) is that the protagonist will make you smile and laugh- however, he is himself going through very troubled times. The protagonist, like the proverbial clown, can see the brighter side of things.
The film also highlights another aspect of human relationships- one of the beautiful aspects of friendship is that in spite of not having met a good friend in years, the relationship still can remain as beautiful, or even more beautiful; as strong or even stronger.
The blog will be incomplete without a mention of Mammootty- one of the greatest actors the country has ever seen, in an extended guest appearance. This will go down as one of his best roles ever.
This undoubtedly is amongst Srinivasan's best yet- I would place it almost on par with Sandesham. The experience of watching this movie reaffirmed my pride in being a Keralite- we Keralites still can laugh at ourselves better than anybody else; we still are much more "aware" than anybody else. Also, my respect for Malayalam films as opposed to films in other languages, stands, as strong as ever. I love sounding like a regional fanatic/ chauvnist.
This one is dedicated to my cousin, who I've begun to know and understand only recently. This process of trying to know him would remain extremely special to me.
This one is also a tribute to my dear friend- "neela bukkett", who stays across the office; someone who I see as the best Mallu in the making.
The one song whose lines have been playing in mind as I write all this is... Ende Keralam, Ethra Sundaram....