Katha Parayumbhol Malayalam Movie

Dec 26, 2007 By Unni Nair

When Sreenivasan is in charge of the script, we expect something special in a film. And he has never disappointed us expect perhaps in Bhargavacharitham Moonnaam Khandam. When we see the first half of Katha Parayumbol, for which Sreenivasan has penned the script and which has been directed by debutante M. Mohanan, we begin to be apprehensive whether the film is going to be another big disappointment. But the climax, well-written and well-executed, not only sets our apprehensions aside, but also touches our hearts and impresses us beyond expectation.

The film takes us to a quiet little hamlet called Melukavu where lives barber Balan with his family comprising of wife Sreedevi and three kids. He runs an old-fashioned salon, but is in a crisis when a modern salon opens up right opposite to his own. Balan tries hard to get a loan to buy a revolving chair and new equipment to upgrade his salon. But the idealist that he is, Balan doesn't like to bribe authorities or go out of the way, and hence he doesn't get the loan. Things become even more critical for Balan and his family. He cannot find the means to meet domestic expenses or to pay his children's school fees.

In the meantime the shooting of a film starts in the neighborhood. The hero of the film is Ashok Raj, a very popular super-star. Word spreads around that Ashok Raj and Balan are friends. Things begin to change for Balan. People start approaching him seeking favors relating to Ashok Raj. The Principal of the school where Balan's children study wants Ashok Raj to be the chief guest during the school's anniversary celebrations and wants Balan to arrange this. Venu, who runs a tuition centre, wants Balan to help him take the students on a visit to the shooting location.

There is a poet Das Vadakkemuri, who wants to write songs for films and who wants Balan to help him in that. Das even writes and sings a song "Vyathyasthanaamoru barbaraam..." praising Balan. There is the rich and greedy moneylender Eappachan who wants to meet Ashok Raj and invite him to dinner, and wants Balan to help him out. Eappachan even gifts Balan with a revolving chair. But Balan doesn't want to go and meet Ahsok Raj. He tells his wife that though he is an old-time acquaintance, he is not sure whether Ashok Raj would recognize him at all. Thus while all others put pressure on him to meet the super-star, he tries to avoid it. What follows forms the rest of the plot, which moves towards a very touching climax.

Sreenivasan has essayed the role of Balan in his usual, trademark style, which has always endeared him to the audience. Mammootty, though he appears in very few scenes, lends credibility to the role of Ashok Raj. And both these actors simply mesmerize us in the climax, which, as mentioned before, is the highlight of the film. Meena as Sreedevi, Jagadeesh as Sarasan of the modern salon, Salim Kumar as Das Vadakkemuri, Innocent as Eapachchan, Mukesh as Venu, KPAC Lalitha as the school Principal and all others in the cast have done their respective roles perfectly well.

Sivaji Guruvayoor, who got noted while playing Karunan in Arabikatha, does the role of the school PTA president admirably. Some of the scenes involving Mukesh's Venu, especially those where he devises new ways to get pending fees from his students, look rather artificial, but since Mukesh does the character in his typical style, it appeals to us and doesn't seem boring.

Sreenivasan, who has done the script and debutante director M. Mohanan deserve to be appreciated for having come up with a film that touches certain chords in our hearts. A simple story narrated in a simple style. Though there is a lag in the first half, the climax saves it all. The film could have been made a bit crisper, but this flaw could be overlooked considering the director is a debutante.

Of the songs, "Vyathyasthanaamoru barbaraam..." penned and rendered by Anil Panachooran, is good while the other song,