Shantham | |
---|---|
Directed by | Jayaraj |
Written by | P. Suresh Kumar Madampu Kunjukuttan |
Produced by | P. V. Gangadharan |
Starring | Seema Biswas K. P. A. C. Lalitha I. M. Vijayan M G Shashi Kalamandalam Gopi Madambu Kunjukuttan |
Cinematography | Ravi Varman |
Edited by | N P Sathish |
Music by | Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri Rajamani (score) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Malayalam |
Shantham (English: Calmness) is a Malayalam feature film directed by Jayaraj. It stars I M Vijayan, a leading Indian football player of modern times, M G Shashi, Seema Biswas and K P A C Lalitha. The renowned Kathakali artiste Kalamandalam Gopi and the Malayalam writer Madambu Kunjukuttan have also starred in the film. It was released in 2001 and won the Swarna Kamal Award for the Best Feature Film in the 48th National Film Awards, 2001. [1] The film was produced by P V Gangadharan. According to the citation of the Award Jury: 'Shantham addresses the very contemporary issue of political rivalry and violence in our society in an unusually imaginative way. The language of the film goes beyond the conventional narrative for appeal to calmness and good sense'. [2] The film is the first installment in director Jayaraj's "Navarasa Series".
The film also received the National Best Supporting Actress Award for K P A C Lalitha.
This is Jayaraj's third National Award. In 1996, his film 'Desadanam', won the award for the Best Malayalam Film and in the next year he was named the Best Director.
Persons on both sides of a bloody political struggle search for grace and forgiveness in this emotional drama.
Velayudhan (I M Vijayan) is a young man living in a place torn apart by civil strife. In the midst of a raging street war, he kills his best friend. He was overcome by guilt and remorse for his actions as Narayani (K P A C Lalitha), his friend's mother, tries to hold herself together while she arranges for her son's funeral. Velayudhan's mother Karthiyayani (Seema Biswas) goes to a temple and prays for her son's forgiveness despite his violence and wrongdoing. There she meets Narayani who is stricken with her own feelings of grief over the death of her child. She orders a pleading Kathiyayani to move out of her sight. in the meantime, Narayani learns more about life from the people around her. Also, the political enemies plot revenge on Velayudhan. Karthiyayani is often told that Narayani's inner turmoil and rage would boil initially and will ultimately recede into a state of calmness. Narayani barely leaves her raging mindset to curse Karthiyayani. In the due course of time, Narayani and Kartiyayani reconcile leaving behind their troubled minds. As Narayani performs spiritual homage to her son, she realizes of her other son's plan to avenge Velayudhan by killing him. A horrorstruck Narayani rushes to Velayudhan's exile and pleads him to run for his life, but he takes a knife to protect himself from any danger that may befall him. He escapes through the widespread riverbed of Bharathapuzha and sees the men approach him with weapons. Karthiyayani and Narayani run towards them and begs them to do no wrong. But they simply push them aside and move towards Velayudhan who stands ready to accept his fate. The final scene shows a group of grief-stricken mothers running towards the armed men, shouting at them to retract from the sin they are about to do. The final shot shows a gentle dragonfly resting on the very sword that is about to draw blood, emphasizing the very theme of the plot.
The film had musical score composed by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. Rajamani composed the background music for the film.
Mathilukal is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam. Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love each other passionately. Despite being imprisoned and separated by a huge wall that divides their prisons, the two romance each other.
Seema Biswas is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films and the theatre. She gained prominence after playing the role of Phoolan Devi in Shekhar Kapur's film Bandit Queen (1994), for which she won the National Film Award for Best Actress. She won the 2000 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the 2006 Best Actress Genie Award for her role as Shakuntala in Deepa Mehta's Water (2005). Her other mainstream films include Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), for which she won the Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress, Bhoot (2003), Vivah (2006) and Half Girlfriend (2017). In addition to films, Biswas has appeared in many television shows.
Sukumari Amma was an Indian actress best known for her works in Malayalam and Tamil films. In a career spanning more than five decades, She has appeared in more than 2500 films predominantly in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, along with few Hindi and one each in Sinhala, French, Bengali, Tulu, English and Kannada films. Sukumari began acting at the age of 10. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her contributions toward the arts. She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Tamil film Namma Gramam (2010). Sukumari died on 26 March 2013 in Chennai, following a heart attack.
Amaram (transl. Stern) is a 1991 Indian Malayalam drama film directed by Bharathan and written by A. K. Lohithadas. It stars Mammootty, Maathu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Ashokan, Murali, Chitra, and Kuthiravattam Pappu in the main roles. The film's score is composed by Johnson while the songs are by Raveendran.
Jayarajan Rajasekharan Nair, professionally credited as Jayaraj, is an Indian filmmaker, who predominantly works in the Malayalam film industry.
Maheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K. P. A. C. Lalitha, was an Indian film and stage actress who worked primarily in the Malayalam film industry. She started her acting career with Kerala People's Arts Club, a theatre collective in Kayamkulam, Kerala. In a career spanning five decades, she starred in over 550 films.
Sadayam (transl. 'Mercifully') is a 1992 Indian Malayalam-language psychological drama written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mohanlal, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Murali, Sreenivasan, Maathu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, and T. G. Ravi. The film was produced and distributed by G. P. Vijayakumar of Seven Arts Films. The film score was composed by Johnson.
Vartha (transl. News) is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by P. V. Gangadharan. The film stars Mammootty, Mohanlal, Rahman, Seema, Venu Nagavally, K. P. A. C. Lalitha and Prathapachandran. The film has musical score by A. T. Ummer. The film was successful at the box office. The film was remade in Tamil as Palaivana Rojakkal (1986), and in Hindi as Jai Shiv Shankar, which never released.
Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha is a 2009 Indian Malayalam-language mystery film written and directed by Ranjith, starring Mammootty, Shwetha Menon and Mythili. It is based on the novel of the same name by T. P. Rajeevan, which said the true story of the first recorded murder case in Kerala. Mammooty plays three characters in the film. The film was Mythili's debut in cinema. Ranjith also introduced about thirty Malayalam stage artists through this film. The film tells the story of a private detective, who returns to his birthplace, a village called Paleri, to solve a murder mystery that occurred on the same night he was born. Upon the release of the movie, it got an 'A' certificate due to its violent and adult content.
Nandanam is a 2002 Indian Malayalam-language romantic film written, co-produced, and directed by Ranjith. Starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Revathi, Navya Nair, Aravind Akash, Siddique, and Sai Kumar in main roles. K. J. Yesudas and Sudheesh makes Cameo Appearance. The film won four Kerala State Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards South. The film also marks the debut for Prithiviraj Sukumaran.
Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by A. K. Lohithadas. The film was produced by P. V. Gangadharan and was distributed by Kalpaka Films. Starring Jayaram, Thilakan and Samyuktha Varma. It was the debut film of Samyuktha Varma. Malayalam film Director Lohithadas, makes a cameo appearance. For her performance as 'Bhavana', Samyuktha Varma won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress.
Desadanam is a 1996 Indian Malayalam language feature film directed by Jayaraj. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam.
Makalkku is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language film by Jayaraj, and starring Suresh Gopi and Shobana in lead roles.
Madhuranombarakattu is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Kamal and written by Raghunath Paleri, starring Biju Menon and Samyuktha Varma. The music was composed by Vidyasagar. The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Film.
Swayamvara Panthal is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Hari Kumar and written by Sreenivasan. It stars Jayaram and Samyuktha Varma. The music was composed by Johnson.
Akashadoothu is a 1993 Indian Malayalam family drama film directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Dennis Joseph, with Madhavi and Murali in the lead roles. The film tells the tale of a woman suffering from leukemia. The plot of the film was inspired from the 1983 American film Who Will Love My Children?.
Naayika is a 2011 Indian Malayalam drama film directed by Jayaraj. The film stars Urvasi Sharada, Jayaram, Padmapriya and Mamta Mohandas in the lead roles.
Mathilukal (transl. Walls) is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language film written, directed and produced by Adoor Gopalakrishnan based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The film focuses on the prison life of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and the love between him and Narayani, a female inmate of the prison, who remains unseen throughout the film. Mammootty plays the role of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer while K. P. A. C. Lalitha gives voice to Narayani. The film was screened at the Venice Film Festival.
Utopiayile Rajavu is a 2015 Malayalam satirical comedy film directed by Kamal and penned by PS Rafeeque. It stars Mammootty, Sethulakshmi, Jewel Mary, KPAC Lalitha, Janardhanan, TG Ravi, Joy Mathew, Sudheer Karamana, Nandu and Indrans. Ouseppachan composed the soundtrack. The film released on 27 August 2015.
Bhayanakam is a 2018 Indian Malayalam–language period drama war film directed by Jayaraj, produced by Sureshkumar Muttath, and stars writer-turned-actor Renji Panicker and Asha Sarath. The film is an adaptation of two chapters from Takazhy Sivasankara Pillai's epic Malayalam novel Coir (1978). The production design for the film was carried out by artist K. M. V. Namboothiri. The film is the sixth movie in director Jayaraj's "Navarasa Series".