Classics Revisited

Gems of Indian Cinema.

Indian cinema, has its share of classics ranging from Ray's Pather Panchali to Adoor Gopalakrishnan's Nizhalkuthu. Starting from today I will be reviewing such movies which may have been failures at the box-office but represent the theme of sensible cinema.

I will start the series with my all time favourite movie-Chemmeen(Prawns). It is based on a novel written by Thakazhi Sivasankaran Pillai. The movie became the first South-Indian movie to win the President's Gold Medal for the best movie of 1965.

Cast-Sathyan, Madhu, Sheela, Kottarakara.
Direction-Ramu Kariat.
Screenplay-S.L. Puram Sadanandam.
Music-Salil Chowdhury.
Editing-Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
Cinematography-Marcus Bartley.

The movie's music was an unprecedented hit, and the song-"Maanasa Maine Varu..," is considered to be the most popular Malayalam movie song of all time. The stunning cinematography captured the various moods of the sea and the triangular love story of Madhu, Sheela and Sathyan.

The story has its roots in a legend that the fishing community believes in, a fisherman's safe return depends on the fidelity of his wife. The story shows how a breach of trust leads to misunderstanding and sorrow. Kottarakara promises to sell his catch of fish to Madhu on credit and Madhu helps him in buying a boat. Kottarakara nets in a big catch of fish, and lured by greed, he ditches his pact with Madhu and sells his catch for ready cash to other traders. Sheela, Kottarakara's daughter falls in love with Madhu, but her father forcibly marries her off to Sathyan a fisherman from another village.

What happens to Madhu and Sheela? Does Sathyan sacrifice his wife for her true love? Is Kottarakara punished for his sins? Watch the movie to get answers for all your questions.

My Rating-4/5.