KERALA--"DESHADANAM" -A REVIEW
Drpkjohn
DESHADANAM -THE AWARD WINNING MOVIE OF 1996
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A Review
Dr.P.K.John
Toronto
Ontario
Canada
January 4, 1998
'DESHADANAM' was one of the handful of Malayalam films that drew national
attention. The film was directed by Jayaraj and the songs by Kathapram
Namputhiri became well known in North America well before the video appeared.
The songs by Kaithapuram brought new life to dying Malayalam film music. Here
is one:-(Yesudas Manju)
KALIVEEDURANGIYALLO KALIVAKKURANGIYALLO
ORU NOKKU KANUVANAN EN ATHMAVU THENGUNNALLO
THAZUKUNNA THIRAMALAKALE CHIRIKKUNNA POOKKALE
THAZUKUNNA THIRA MALAKALE CHIRIKKUNNA POOKALE
ARIYILLA NINGALKENTE ADANGATHA JANMA DUKHAM
KALIVEEDRANGIYALLO KALIVAKKURANGIYALLO
AAAAA AAAAA
THARATTU PADIYALE URANGARULLU NJAN PONNUMMA NALKIYALE
UNARARULLU THARATTU PADIYALE URANGARULLU NJAN PONNUMMA NALKIYALE UNARARULLU
KATHA ONNU KETTALE UNNARULLU ENTE KAIVIRAL THUMPU PIDICHE NADAKKARULLU
AVAN NADAKKARULLU
KALIVEEDURANGIYALLO KALIVAKKURANGIYALLO
INIYENNU KANUMENORTHU (?) PIDANJU POYI
ENTE IDANENCHIL ORMAKAL THULUMPI POYI
INIYENNU KANUMENORTHU(?) PIDANJU POYI
ENTE IDANENCHIL ORMAKAL THULUMPI POYI
ETHRA AYALUM EN UNNI ALLE
AVAN VILA PIDIYATHOREN NIDHI ALLE
ENTE PUNYAMALLE
KALIVEEDURANGIYALLO KALIVAKKURANGIYALLO
ORU NOKKU KANUVAN EN ATHMAVU THENGUNNALLO
THAZUKUNNA THIRA MALAKALE CHIRIKKUNNA POOKKALE
THAZUKUNNA THIRA MALAKALE CHIRIKKUNNA POOKALE
ARIYILLA NINGALKENTE ADANGATHA JANMA DUKHAM
KALIVEEDURANGIYALLO KALIVAKKURANGIYALLO
The essential theme of the movie is the conflicts around the conscription of a
pre-pubertal Namputhiri Brahmin boy (who is the only heir to a declining
'illam') in to Sanyasa by a conspiracy in the name of "greater good of
mankind"(lokathinte muzuvan sukhathina naam sanysikkunnathu"). The boy himself
has absolutely no say in his career choice. So much for child rights in the
milieu that this movie so eloquently portrays. The grand father who is cleverly
manipulated by the aging head of a near by 'mut' offers the boy-his only
grandson without even a second thought. He comes home to announce the great
honor bestowed on the family. Astrology, greater good to the society at large
are all brought in as pro arguments.
The boy's father is caught between the loyalty to his aging father and love for
his son. Women who have very little say in anything initially makes some
protest gestures but gives in, in the face of enormous pressures viz grand
father's honor, risk of family curse.
The young fellow who has the least say in the matter is marched of much like a
new found child Dalailama. He goes through elaborate rituals which proclaim
that he is denying his past existence. By making riceballs (pindams) he
declares his living father and mother dead.
The anguish of the parents after they rail roaded the little boy in to Sanysa
and the boy's own turmoil are well portrayed.
On his birth day the parents arrive at the 'mut' to greet him. The mother is
not allowed in. The father is allowed in minus the food parcel. The scene where
the mother uses the food to make 'pindam' for her lost son is heart renting.
The conclusion of the movie leaves a lot possibilities for us to ponder. He
runs away from the 'mut' and comes home. One by one his parents and grandfather
act shocked and urges him to go back. The movie ends with the young boy running
towards the river. It is not clear if he ever went back to the 'mut'.The
movie's title seem to suggest that he became a wanderer ?
The essence of the movie is the clash between divine calling instinctual urges.
The movie also portrays the tremendous strangle hold religion and religious
figures had on the ordinary people. In, in this milieu no one is spared the
conflict and the agony that arises from the conflict..The grandfather is caught
up in it even though he was the first person manipulated by the system. The
father is caught between his loyalty to his father and his affection for his
son. The mother vainly tries to defy the tremendous forces but caves in the
end.
The role of the grand father was portrayed by Payannur Korothu Unnikrishnan
Namputhiri. A new face in Malayalam movies no one could have done it any
better. Kathapurushan's Mini Nair has done a tremendous job as Uni's mother.
It is remarkable that this low budget film made at a cost of only Rs.22 lakhs
leave lasting images long after one has seen it while I can not say that about
mega budget movies like 'Kalapani'
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Biju Basheer
Thanks for the excellent review on the movie. I obtained the movie at a
local video rental, but could not watch it, as the camera print was very
bad. I wish there was a source from which good movies' prints were
available to us in Dallas. Are you aware of any in the US that would
mail them to other cities in the US?
I am indeed gratefult to you, for writing topics like these rather than
wasting intelligence on other mundane subjects.
Keep up the good work.
Biju
----
Drpkjohn wrote:
>
> DESHADANAM -THE AWARD WINNING MOVIE OF 1996
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
--
I'd like to help you out....which way did you come in?
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Biju Basheer
EUS/RD/L
Ericsson Inc.
Richardson TX 75081.
(972) 583-8220.
biju.b...@ericsson.com
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Drpkjohn
Deshadanam authentic copy is now available from Videoraffa in middle east.
Please contact them or their agent in USA.
P.K.John