Sky is the limit of expectations when a super hit writer teams up with a director who almost had a dream debut. 'Ozhimuri', the movie directed by Madhupal after 'Thalappav', and written by Jeyamohan after runaway hits in Tamil, like 'Nan Kadavul' and 'Angaditheru', is all set to become a landmark in the Malayalam for its form and content as it tells a fresh story set in a fresh milieu.
"Though there have been films made in locations in Kanyakumari, none of them told the life of the land. This is certainly an entertainer, but surely a film which will remain with the viewers for long, as it narrates the multi-layered life of the milieu through many characters," said Madhupal who is coming with a movie after a four-year break.
Though Madhupal had browsed through many stories for his second movie, none of them worked out.
'Ozhimuri' which means a 'document of separation', came from his long time association with Jeyamohan who is a well-known writer in Tamil as well as Malayalam.
"The story has an unusual beauty and strength as it is adapted from 'Uravidangal', a life sketch by Jeyamohan whom I have known for years through his writing. The story tells the multiple dimensions of a separation -the economic, social, political and psychological effect it has on people involved in it. I am after this project for the last one-and- a-half years", said Madhupal.
The Nair community of Kanyakumari district, once part of erstwhile Travancore, had enjoyed a privileged status as they had the land and the power within their call. However, it became a fairy tale after the state reunification based on language.
The community lost the cultural link when the land was attached to Tamil Nadu after separating from Kerala. Though united in language, the land beyond Tirunelveli remained alien to the main land of Tamil Nadu for the peculiar culture and tradition deep rooted in its soil. Hence, it was like the broken tail of a lizard.
Meanwhile,there were changes happening inside the family arena as the women were gradually losing their domination as the matrilineal system was falling apart. All this is portrayed through the life of Thanu Pillai (Lal), his mother Kali Pillai (Shwetha Menon), wife Meeenakshi Pillai (Mallika) and son Sivan Pillai alias Saratchandran (Asif Ali).
The period of the film is stretched over the 71 years in the life of Thanu Pillai.
According to the director, the 125-minute film will be unique for its visual craft. "All the actors have taken a lot of pain for perfecting the characters. Especially Lal, who is in the lead role, has spent many days for dubbing to get the perfect slang and voice modulation peculiar to the dialect,” said Madhupal.
Cameraman Alagappan has captured some exotic locations in Thuckalay, Marthandam, Thiruvattar, Thengapattanam and Colachel in his home district. 'Ozhimuri' has two songs, one written by Jeyamohan and other by Vayalar Sharatchandra Varma. Bijibal has composed the music and the background score.
The film, produced by PN Venugopal for P N V Associates, is slated for release on September 7.
Comments
0 comment