Kathapurushan
Encyclopedia
Kathapurushan (1995) is an award-winning feature film directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
. The film is in Malayalam. It stars Vishwanathan, Mini Nair, Aranmula Ponnamma
, Narendra Prasad
and Urmila Unni. It won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Film
at the National Film Awards
in 1996. Kathapurushan is a journey exploring the recent history of the state of Kerala
in India
.
), who was initially a Gandhian, and eventually a Marxist, Kunjunni finds himself drawn to left-wing ideologies during his studies at college, believing that communism is the answer to healing all social hardships and inequalities. Eventually he joins an extremist Marxist group, and his affairs land him in trouble. After an attack at a police station, Kunjunni is arrested and taken to court, but later acquitted of all charges.
Kunjunni finds himself maturing with experience, yet he feels lonely and disillusioned. Kunjunni tries to turn his life around, and sets off on a quest to try to find his childhood friend Meenakshi and he do so and marry her.Later he sell all his propeties to a new rich man(Mukesh (actor)
),whose father was once a servant in kunjuni's house.Then he move to an ordinary house and try to live in a normal family life with his wife and son.One day one of his old day college junior(Jagadish
),a journalist,arrives to his home for an interview but kunjunni denies it.Later kujunni with help of his journalist friend publish his first story "karaksharangal" but due to its Marxist supporting content and revealing nature,government banned it.When kunjunni read this news in newspaper with his family,he began to laugh.Then he and his family laugh together at this dirty world,which reveals that the revolution had not yet happened completely.
1996 National Film Awards
(India
)
1997 Bombay International Film Festival (India
)
Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Moutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.. Adoor's first film Swayamvaram pioneered the new wave cinema...
. The film is in Malayalam. It stars Vishwanathan, Mini Nair, Aranmula Ponnamma
Aranmula Ponnamma
Aranmula Ponnamma was a National Award winning Malayalam film actress known for her roles as mother of the protagonist in numerous films. She was widely described as a mother figure in Malayalam cinema.-Early life:...
, Narendra Prasad
Narendra prasad
Narendra Prasad was a popular Indian movie actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikara, Alappuzha District, in the south Indian state of Kerala....
and Urmila Unni. It won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Film
National Film Award for Best Film
The National Award for Best Feature film is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, India, and was constituted in the year 1954. This is one of the Golden Lotus Awards given among National Film Awards...
at the National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
in 1996. Kathapurushan is a journey exploring the recent history of the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Plot
Kunjunni's (Vishwanathan) parents separate soon after his birth, and he's left to be cared by his mother, void of paternal care and affection. He is brought up by his mother with the help of his grandmother, an estimate manager and his friend Meenakshi (Mini Nair), the daughter of a maid servant working in Kunjunni's house. Inspired by his Uncle (Narendra PrasadNarendra prasad
Narendra Prasad was a popular Indian movie actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikara, Alappuzha District, in the south Indian state of Kerala....
), who was initially a Gandhian, and eventually a Marxist, Kunjunni finds himself drawn to left-wing ideologies during his studies at college, believing that communism is the answer to healing all social hardships and inequalities. Eventually he joins an extremist Marxist group, and his affairs land him in trouble. After an attack at a police station, Kunjunni is arrested and taken to court, but later acquitted of all charges.
Kunjunni finds himself maturing with experience, yet he feels lonely and disillusioned. Kunjunni tries to turn his life around, and sets off on a quest to try to find his childhood friend Meenakshi and he do so and marry her.Later he sell all his propeties to a new rich man(Mukesh (actor)
Mukesh (actor)
Mukesh , born Mukesh Babu, is an Indian film actor and producer known for his work in Malayalam cinema.- Personal Life :...
),whose father was once a servant in kunjuni's house.Then he move to an ordinary house and try to live in a normal family life with his wife and son.One day one of his old day college junior(Jagadish
Jagadish
P. V. Jagadish Kumar , popularly known as Jagadish, is a Malayalam film actor and script writer. He became popular through performances in films such as Mukhachitram, In Harihar Nagar, Godfather, Welcome to Kodaikanal, Thiruthalvaadi, Mantrikacheppu, and Hitler...
),a journalist,arrives to his home for an interview but kunjunni denies it.Later kujunni with help of his journalist friend publish his first story "karaksharangal" but due to its Marxist supporting content and revealing nature,government banned it.When kunjunni read this news in newspaper with his family,he began to laugh.Then he and his family laugh together at this dirty world,which reveals that the revolution had not yet happened completely.
Awards
The film has won the following awards since its release:1996 National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
(India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
)
- Won - Golden Lotus Award - National Film Award for Best FilmNational Film Award for Best FilmThe National Award for Best Feature film is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, India, and was constituted in the year 1954. This is one of the Golden Lotus Awards given among National Film Awards...
- Adoor GopalakrishnanAdoor GopalakrishnanMoutatthu "Adoor" Gopalakrishnan Unnithan is an Indian film director, script writer, and producer. Adoor Gopalakrishnan had a major role in revolutionizing Malayalam cinema and is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India.. Adoor's first film Swayamvaram pioneered the new wave cinema... - Won - Silver Lotus Award - National Film Award for Best Supporting ActressNational Film Award for Best Supporting ActressThe National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress winners:...
- Aranmula PonnammaAranmula PonnammaAranmula Ponnamma was a National Award winning Malayalam film actress known for her roles as mother of the protagonist in numerous films. She was widely described as a mother figure in Malayalam cinema.-Early life:...
1997 Bombay International Film Festival (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
)
- Won - FIPRESCI Prize - Adoor Gopalakrishnan