Gaddama Malayalam

[Magdalena Liendo]

Gadhama Malayalam Movie Review

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Star Cast and Crew of Gaddama

Movie Name: Gadhama

Director: Kamal

Producer: P.V. Pradeep

Banner:Anitha productions

Lyrics: Rafeeq Ahmed

Music: Bennet Veethrag

Story: K U Iqbaal

Dialogue: K Gireesh Kumar

Screenplay: K Gireesh Kumar, Kamal

Starring: Kavya Madhavan,Sreenivasan, Biju Menon,

Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jaffer Idukki, Murali Krishna, Sukumari,Shine Tom.

Gaddama Is True from Heart-Review

The year 2011 is seeing very good for the Malayalam Film industry since the movies released so far like Traffic,Arjunan Sakshi, Ithu Nammude Kadha etc comes with good stories and relevant social messages. Gadhama, the new movie directed by Kamal and produced by P.V. Pradeep under the banner of Anitha Productions, offered a totally different experience to the malayalam film viewers. The film has Kavya Madhavan in the title role of Gadhama with her amazing performance till date. The movie has Sreenivasan, Kavya Madhavan, Biju Menon, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Jaffer Idukki, Murali Krishna, Sukumari, Niyas and Lena as the other supporting cast.

Story of Gadhama Malayalam Movie

The malayalam film Gadhama has Kavya Madhavan in the role of Ashathy, a beautiful girl from a poor family from Pattambi. She had a job in a pickle factory for the wealth of her family which consists of her mother and younger sister. Then ashwathy married to Radhakrishnan (Biju Menon), a JCB operator. Although her husband's character was not good in past, he changed with the marriage. But the things were not as they expected. The fate played in the life of Ashwathy and she forced to go to Saudi Arabia as a servant for eight hundred riyals a month. Ashwathy have to face so many hurdles and turmoils in her new job. She has to work day and night in the houses of local chiefs just like slaves. She is emotionally tormented and physically abused as well. The situation leads Aswathy to take a decision that she escaped from there at night without passport, money or security.

What awaits her outside is the hot land which is getting hot during the day and searing cold during the night. She encounters many persons during her journey each struggles to their own life. Basheer (played by new comer Shine Tom) is a helpless boy who has a pathetic life with his all attempt to escape from there failed. Bharathan ( Muralikrishnan) is also there who really wants a good life even after his 15 years' job of a truck driver there. The life of Ashwathy changed with the entry of Rasaque(Sreenivasan)- a social worker who investigates about the disappearance of Ashwathy. Can Ashwathy continue her normal life? The film ends with a noteworthy message to the society which must follow each women who have a plan to go for a job in Gulf countries.

Gadhaama clearly deals with the pathetic life situations of plenty of domestic workers in the middle east. The film's most part shot entirely in Gulf Countries. The film has Arabic, Iranian, Indonesian and Egyptian artists playing some important characters. It is sure that Kavya Madhavan will get honors and accolades for her role in Gaddama.

Perfomances in Gadhaama

Every one knows Kavya Madhavan who consistently delivering good characters in her impressive career of 17 years. In this career, she honoured with State Award for her performance in Perumazhakalam. It is her comeback to Mollywood after her divorce and Kavya came with one of her career best role in Gadhama. The title role is safe and secure in hands of Kavya and the film totally belongs to her. After seeing the movie, we felt that she is the most appropriate actress to do the role. She is totally dedicated to the character for its perfection and goes through totally believable. In an Interview Kavya says that she even didn't take food for ten to 15 days. Upon seeing Ashwathy who goes through many sufferings, we felt the same. The terror and panic of a girl who hopelessly lost in the hot sand dunes is efficiently captured by the actress.

Direction of Kamal in Gaddama

Kamal is an asset to the Malayalam film industry with some memorable movies like Perumazhakaalam, Mazhayethum Mumbe etc. Although the latest film Aagathan didn't well at the box office, he is back with his trademark in the new movie Gadhama. He is joined with her favorite actress Kavya Madhavan for telling the story of Malayali Gadhamas in Arabian countries. The director succeeded to an extent that he can deliver a good movie to the viewers with some memorable performances from the lead actors. Gadhaama is not Kamal's masterpiece, but can be judged as one of his best movies.

Script of Gadhama

The film had given credits to true story written by Saudi-based journalist K.U.Iqbal. The director himself writes the screen play along with K.Gireesh Kumar. The film is rich with heart-touching dialogs penned by K.Gireesh Kumar. The film has couple of good songs written by Rafeeq Ahmed and tuned by Bennet Veetrag duo. Shreya Goshal mesmerizes us with her voice in the song 'Vidhuramee Yathra'. The songs are suits with the mood of the film. The background score of the film is also excellent with some melancholic scores by M.Jayachandran. After Shikkar, Manoj pillai here too comes with good visuals. The editing by K Rajagopal is OK while Suresh Kollam needs a special mention with some execellent sets in the art department.

In the acting department, Sreenivasan excelled in his role of social activist who risks his life to help others. Biju Menon has appeared as a cameo in the movie which has Suraj Venjaramood in a serious role with no comedy. The performance of Muralikrishnan (who is the son of late Bharath Gopi) is good. Even though the role is small, he has done it with much care. The every character in the film has its own importance and no characters mis casted here.

Rating and verdict of Gaddama

All in all, most part of the film Gadhama retains a sharp adherence to reality and shows the lives of Indian workers in foreign soil. As the theme of Gadhama is such, the chances are high to fall it under melodrama. The film succeeded to an extent to avoid this. The film sustains the mood of its theme throughout the film. If you want to see the career best performance from Kavya or to see the pathetic life of malayali workers in Gulf countries, I highly recommend Gaddama for you.

Rating : 3/5

Verdict: Must Watch

Gaddama - Movie Review

Genre: Family thriller

Duration: 2-1/2 hrs

Cast: Kavya Madhavan, Sreenivasan, Biju Menon, Suraaj Venjaarammood, Muralikrishna, Sukumari, Lena, Jaffar Idukki

Director: Kamal

Producer: P V Pradeep

Banner: Anitha Productions

Story: K.U. Iqbal

Script: Kamal, Girish Kumar

Cinematography: Manoj Pilla

Music: Bennet Veetrag

Gaddama is a Kavya Madhavan movie in every respect. It is a perfect comeback vehicle for Kavya. She is not just acting, but living out the character, bringing out in the process, the true picture of a Gaddama employed in an arab household. This character has a universal appeal in the sense that it is not just the story of a malayali woman, but the story of a class of hapless human beings from different parts of the world, who are destined to live out their lives in some arab households braving all the insults and torture they are subjected to, just to eke out a livelihood for their folks at home. Like a candle, gaddamas burn themselves out in desert lands to light up the lives of their beloved at home.

Storyline

Aswathy played by Kavya Madhavan arrives in Saudi Arabia with a lot of dreams. She is an average malayali girl from Pattambi. Following the premature death of her husband Radhakrishnan, played by Biju Menon, she had to find a way to support her family. Driver Usman promises her a job at the same household where he works.

At the airport itself, Aswathy is warned by another Gaddama while waiting for the sponsor. First few days were without any incidents. She had also the company of driver Usman, and an Indonesian girl Fathima. But before long, life changes for the worse. Harassments and tortures wilt her physically and mentally.

One day Aswathy vanishes from the house. She is wandering about in the desert, without even a drop of water to drink. A social worker, Razack Kottekkad, played by Sreenivasan is on her trail. His findings are truly shocking. More into the story will spoil the suspense.

Relevance of the Story

Story is credited to journalist K.U. Iqbal. Screen play is written by director Kamal and K. Girish Kumar. The subject is of great contemporary relevance as a lot of women from Kerala work as gaddamas or housemaids in the Arabian Gulf, suffering harassments and insults at the hands of their employers. Director Kamal's attempt to bring this issue into focus is a commendable initiative. Gaddamas are relegated to the lowest layer of social life, and their lives are often ignored by the mainstream society. This movie brings out their hardships and the appalling condition in which they live. Hope the authorities will take good note of the message that movie delivers.

Performance

As mentioned earlier, Kavya came out with sterling performance. Only that because she is playing a tragic character, audiences miss her sweet smiling face. Sreenivasan in the role of the social worker is also impressive. Suraj Venjarammood did justice to his role as are other artistes.

Cinematography by Manoj Pilla is excellent. Camera creates an excellent mood conducive for the story telling. Music by Benny Veetrag goes well with the ethos of the movie.

It is indeed a matter of great pleasure that Malayalam cinema is making good progress with movies like Traffic and Gaddama. Hope this trend will be continued.

Rating

*** out of *****

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