Adayallangal
It has been a saying in Malayalam filmi trade that if a film fetches any of the awards in the state level, then it is like branding the film as a no scope commercial venture. The movie will never get a decent release and if it gets released, the viewers are sure to abstain from seeing the movie. It has been the effect that many of the films had in the recent past, even certified with regret by the national award winners like Priyanandhanan.
To prove the trade wrong about the running of offbeat ventures is a movie `Adayalangal' (The imprints), a 100-minute long feature film, directed by M G Sasi which was honored with five important awards including best film, best director and best cinematographer in the recently announced State film awards. The makers is presenting `Adayalangal' as a strong competitor in this heavy Onam season - a lackluster season which was virtually deserted by every big films and superstars.
'Adayalangal' is based on the life and works of well known Malayalam writer Nandanar, who always had a lust for life but decided to kill him later on. Through the film, director M G Sasi is narrating a struggle that happened in the sixties, when most of the Malayali families found it tough to keep hunger at bay. This hunger, physical and mental, .and its associated helplessness was acute in upper class households which were left without a breadwinner. The film has the protagonist, Gopi, a 36-year old soldier who is forced to kill his enemy to save his own life. The home returned soldier then develops a socio-political attitude about the futility of war and life, a syndrome which was a reality experienced by young men all over the world, who had to fight in the Second World War.
`Adayalangal' will also try to find reasons and judgments on the kaleidoscopic world which Nandanar created through his works. Majority of his works were children's literature, which re-created rural life and even some of his stories were autobiographical with smell of blood and gun powder.
Debutant Govind Padmasurya and Jyothirmayi are the lead characters of the cast which also includes Sathi Premji, T G Ravi, Manikandan, T V Chandran and V K Sreeraman. M J Radhakrishnan is said to have created marvels with his frames while Vidhyadharan master gives music to the few songs. Produced by Aravind Venugopal under the banner of Valluvanadan Talkies, the movie is planned to grace the theatres as an Onam release.