It was late at night, yet the theatre was packed. The last time this movie was screened was in 1993, a year before I was born. No one came here by accident. If you had to turn up for the re-release of a 30-year classic on opening day, you probably love it already. When the opening credits finished and displayed Fazil’s name as director, the entire theatre clapped making their appreciation known even before the movie started. There were more cheers to come. The first few minutes were an absolute laugh riot as Innocent, KPAC Lalitha took center stage and performed some of the most organic comedy sequences ever seen in a Malayalam movie. The audience myself included were laughing like anything at scenes we had seen a hundred times before.
While the cheers for Suresh Gopi, Shobhana, and Mohanlal upon entry were expected, I was surprised by the loud applause for Kuthiravattom Pappu’s entry. And, that’s the beauty of Manichithrathazhu. While the three main characters did a splendid job, it’s the performance of the second line of actors: Pappu, Ganesh, Nedumudi Venu, Thilakan, Sudheesh, Innocent, and KPAC Lalitha that sets this movie apart. People were reciting lines as they came on the screen, be it the iconic “Thampi aliyoo.. “, “Sunny Kuttaa… “, “Kindi”, “Ganga ippo pokanda..” etc.. It’s also worth noting that these lines became popular in a world without reels and shorts. They became famous because people ‘actually’ used them in their conversations.
I had always appreciated the music in this one but I had completely forgotten how much the music helped in the story progression. Every track comes with a purpose. They aid in story progression, redirecting our emotions in the intended path. Every time some portion of Varuvanilla came I couldn’t help but hum along and if I listened carefully I could hear others in the audience doing the same. When “Our Murai” started playing the entire theatre went silent watching with utmost concentration to see Ganga transform completely into Nagavalli. And, from there on Shobhana steals the show creating some of the most intense scenes I have ever watched on a big screen.
Once all the blood was cleared and ‘Palavattom Pookalam’ played for one final time, I couldn’t help but smile. The movie stood the test of time. Even 30 years after its release, even in a hall full of people who already knew the story, even with the old videography which comes across as pixelated at places, this movie could still pack a punch. It could leave me on a high. Not because of star power, not because of popular songs, not because of mass masala. But purely because this was ‘art’ at its finest. This was CINEMA. This begs the question, Is ‘Manichithrathazhu’ the best Malayalam movie ever made?
Read.Reflect.Repeat 