Manassinakkare

Don't let the first 15-20 minutes of this film fool you. The first time I tried to watch this film, the first few minutes gave me the impression that this would be another boring, shoddy melodrama (which is unfortunately what most Malu movies are). I stopped watching Manasinakkare about 10 minutes into it.

Good thing I decided to give Manasinakkare a second chance. After sitting through the first half hour, I was hooked.

This film is not so much a melodrama as it is a thoughtfully written and unusually well made film. I believe the number one rule of film-making is to never insult the audience's intelligence. This cardinal rule is broken by the majority of Indian films I've seen (especially Bollywood), either because of glaring plot holes or overly sappy sentimentality. Manasinakkare, however, is an intelligent film that was clearly made for an intelligent and demanding audience. While the film obviously is sentimental, it never lays on the syrup too thickly.

While the pacing is unhurried, it never lags. All the scenes in this movie are there to drive forward the plot. Just as natural as the dialogues is the characterization. There are flawed characters in this story, but not one of them is portrayed as a villain. (Can you imagine-- an Indian film without villains!) Instead, both the "good" and "bad" guys in this film are well rounded characters who could easily be people you'd meet in your own life.

Manasinakkare is the simple story of a society coming to grips with the new wealth it has gained from India's rapid economic growth. Due to centuries of poverty, Indian society relied extensively on tight family bonds to survive. Now, with the explosion in wealth, India faces the problem of how to adapt traditional family values to the irresistible flow of modernization. This is the problem faced by Kochu Thresia (acting legend Sheela in a comeback performance), who raised her children through grinding poverty to great financial success.

Now that her sons are busy chasing after money, they neglect their lonely widowed mother. By chance, she meets Reji (Jayaram), who earns a small living raising poultry. Reji and Kochu Thresia slowly become friends as he gives her the attention and respect that her own sons deny her. Meanwhile, Reji has problems of his own as he keeps an eye on his father's (Innocent) drinking problem.

An actress who was one of the biggest stars in Malayalam cinema once returned to the big screen after 22 years. Malayalam cinema and Malayalis celebrated her comeback by giving her the best possible character and the best possible film, a comeback she truly deserved. No other actor in the history of Malayalam cinema may have had such a fantastic comeback.

In the very same movie, another actress began her acting career. She later went on to become one of the most bankable actresses in South India.

The actress who returned to cinema after 22 years is the great actress, 'Sheela', who can be called the 'Lady Superstar' of Malayalam cinema.

The young actress who began her acting career in this film is 'Nayanthara', who is called the Lady Superstar today.

A movie that makes you think more about life every time you watch it, a movie that gives you new lessons about life every time; I don't know how else to describe it, that's how beloved the film 'Manassinakkare' is.

Ranjan Pramod wrote this film by giving a distinct personality to each of its characters.

The beloved characters like Kochu Thresia, Reji, Chacko Mappila, Kunju Maria, Gauri, Kunjikhadar, the 'Sakhavu' (Comrade) and his wife, and even the characters of Siddique and Nedumudi Venu-who seem like negative characters-are written in such a way that they leave a deep imprint on our minds, with affection and sometimes with anger.

Even Mathukkuttichayan, who is not in the film but reminds us of Prem Nazir Sir every time we watch it, and the cow named Maalu with a clear backstory, have also strongly imprinted on the mind.

How beautifully the characters are interconnected! Reji, who is motherless, gets a mother through the cow bought to make his father more responsible. Reji gives Kochu Thresia more love than her own children, whom she raised with such affection, could provide.

The love and gratitude of Kochu Thresia towards Kunju Maria, who helped her build her life, is unending. The moment she speaks up for Kunju Maria when she is insulted by Kochu Thresia's daughter-in-law is what shows us her love for Kunju Maria. It shows that Kochu Thresia is someone who never forgets her past.

And when we look around us, we can see many Kunju Marias who have to go to America or other places in their old age to look after their grandchildren.

And those two emotional scenes of Kunju Maria made me cry when I watched it first as a kid, and that continues till now.

And there is a small difference between Kunju Maria and Kochu Thresia.

Kunju Maria is a typical village old woman who doesn't know how to analyze her own mistakes. But with Kochu Thresia, we don't see only her unfulfilled desires and her complaining about others for them; we also see her admitting her own mistakes and how her deeds affect others. She never wanted to be a burden for anyone. This is the brilliance of the writer, Ranjan Pramod.

Siddique's character, who loves only money; Nedumudi Venu's Kuriakose, who rushes in with money to win the house at the auction, despite claiming to be penniless; and Madhupal's politician character, who neglects his own mother but serves society, are all reflections of the people around us.

There are so many wonderful dialogues throughout the movie that bring tears to your eyes, and at the same time, open your eyes. The conversations spoken by Sheela, Innocent, Oduvil, and Jayaram become clearer and clearer as one grows older.

Thanks to Ranjan Pramod for gifting us these dear characters. Thanks to the actors who brought those characters to life.

Words cannot express enough gratitude to Sathyan Anthikad for giving us such beloved movies that one never gets tired of watching; thanks to Sathyan Sir for this film too.