Murappennu
Encyclopedia
Murappennu is a 1965 Malayalam film written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
, directed by A. Vincent
and produced by Shobhana Parameswaran Nair in the banner of Roopavani. It marked the entry of M. T. Vasudevan Nair, the noted Malayalam novelist to Malayalam cinema. The film's story is based on Snehathinte Mukhangal, a short story by M. T. himself. The film features an ensemble cast
including Prem Nazir
, K. P. Ummer
, Madhu
, P. J. Antony
, Jyothilakshmi, Sharada
and Adoor Bhasi
playing the pivotal roles.
The film was met with critical praise and good reviews. M. T. Vasudevan Nair's script, which made use of Valluvanadan dialect, was well appreciated and is accepted to be one of the finest ever. Later, M. T. and A. Vincent went on to create some of the memorable films in Malayalam film history. The film is also known for the powerful performance of Prem Nazir as Balan, the lead character of the film. It was a box office superhit. It received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards
.
Major indoor parts of the film was shot from Satya Studios in Madras and outdoor parts from the premises of Bharathapuzha.
Menon wants his daughter to marry Aniyan and Balan sacrifices his love for the sake of his brother and to keep the family intact. But the family is divided following a dispute between Menon and his brother (Kunhandi). Kesavankutty betrays Kochammini. Balan decides to conduct Kochammini’s marriage with his friend Chandran (Murali). He struggles to mobilise the huge dowry claimed by Chandran’s parents. But the marriage does not take place due to a misunderstanding that springs up. This disgrace brought about on the family results in the suicide of Kochammini.
with lyrics by P. Bhaskaran
. The songs became popular and is regarded as one of the best works by Chidambaranath. Two of its songs, "Karayunno Puzha Chirikkunno" (by K. J. Yesudas
), "Kaliyaakki Enne Kaliyaakki" (by S. Janaki
) and "Kadavathu Thoniyadukkumbol" (by S. Janaki and Santha P. Nair became evergreen hits. "Kadavathu Thoniyadukkumbol" was inspired by "Janoo Janoo Ri Kaahe Khanke Tora Kangana" (composer:S D Burman, singers: Geeta Dutt
& Asha Bhonsle, film: Insan Jaag Utha), which itself was based on a "chhed chhaad" style folk song.
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...
, directed by A. Vincent
A. Vincent
Aloysius Vincent born June 14, 1928 in Calicut, Kerala, India is an Indian cinematographer of Hindi movies and director of Malayalam movies. Since the mid 1960s he has directed some 30 movies...
and produced by Shobhana Parameswaran Nair in the banner of Roopavani. It marked the entry of M. T. Vasudevan Nair, the noted Malayalam novelist to Malayalam cinema. The film's story is based on Snehathinte Mukhangal, a short story by M. T. himself. The film features an ensemble cast
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
including Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...
, K. P. Ummer
K. P. Ummer
K. P. Ummer was a Malayalam cinema actor from Thekkepuram quarter of Kozhikode, Kerala, India. He was active in cinema from early sixties until late nineties. He was the most successful villains of his time. He played opposite Prem Nazir, who was the hero in many films, which the audience liked to...
, Madhu
Madhu (actor)
Madhavan Nair , commonly known by his stage name Madhu is an actor in Malayalam cinema. He was a prominent lead actor during the 60s and 70s. He has also directed and produced films, and at one time he owned Uma film studio.-Early life:...
, P. J. Antony
P. J. Antony
P. J. Antony was a Malayalam film actor. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Nirmalyam in 1974. He was also the first actor working in Malayalam cinema to receive the award...
, Jyothilakshmi, Sharada
Sharada (actress)
Sharada is a three time national award winning South Indian actress and Indian Parliament member. She originally hails from Andhra Pradesh. She has achieved success through Malayalam movies. Initially she did many supporting roles in Telugu films and later on moved to Malayalam film industry and...
and Adoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
playing the pivotal roles.
The film was met with critical praise and good reviews. M. T. Vasudevan Nair's script, which made use of Valluvanadan dialect, was well appreciated and is accepted to be one of the finest ever. Later, M. T. and A. Vincent went on to create some of the memorable films in Malayalam film history. The film is also known for the powerful performance of Prem Nazir as Balan, the lead character of the film. It was a box office superhit. It received a certificate of merit 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...
.
Major indoor parts of the film was shot from Satya Studios in Madras and outdoor parts from the premises of Bharathapuzha.
Plot
The film revolves around a joint family headed by Kunjikrishna Menon (P. J. Antony). His sister Madhavi Amma (Shanta Devi) and her children, Balan (Prem Nazir), Aniyan (K. P. Ummer) and Kochammini (Jyothilakshmi) stay with him. Balan is in love with Bhagi (Sharada), Menon’s daughter, and his ‘murappennu.’ Menon’s son Kesavankutty (Madhu) is in love with Kochammini, his ‘murappennu.’ The story revolves around these two love affairs.Menon wants his daughter to marry Aniyan and Balan sacrifices his love for the sake of his brother and to keep the family intact. But the family is divided following a dispute between Menon and his brother (Kunhandi). Kesavankutty betrays Kochammini. Balan decides to conduct Kochammini’s marriage with his friend Chandran (Murali). He struggles to mobilise the huge dowry claimed by Chandran’s parents. But the marriage does not take place due to a misunderstanding that springs up. This disgrace brought about on the family results in the suicide of Kochammini.
Cast
- Prem NazirPrem NazirAbdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...
as Balan - K. P. UmmerK. P. UmmerK. P. Ummer was a Malayalam cinema actor from Thekkepuram quarter of Kozhikode, Kerala, India. He was active in cinema from early sixties until late nineties. He was the most successful villains of his time. He played opposite Prem Nazir, who was the hero in many films, which the audience liked to...
as Aniyan - MadhuMadhu (actor)Madhavan Nair , commonly known by his stage name Madhu is an actor in Malayalam cinema. He was a prominent lead actor during the 60s and 70s. He has also directed and produced films, and at one time he owned Uma film studio.-Early life:...
as Kesavankutty - SharadaSharada (actress)Sharada is a three time national award winning South Indian actress and Indian Parliament member. She originally hails from Andhra Pradesh. She has achieved success through Malayalam movies. Initially she did many supporting roles in Telugu films and later on moved to Malayalam film industry and...
as Bhagi - Jyothi Lakshmi as Kochammini
- P. J. AntonyP. J. AntonyP. J. Antony was a Malayalam film actor. He received the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in Nirmalyam in 1974. He was also the first actor working in Malayalam cinema to receive the award...
as Kunjikrishna Menon - Shanta DeviSantha DeviSantha Devi , better known by her stage name Kozhikode Santha Devi, was an Indian Malayalam film and stage actress...
as Madhavi Amma - Adoor BhasiAdoor BhasiAdoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
as - Murali as Chandran
- S. P. Pillai
- Nellikode BhaskaranNellikode BhaskaranNellikode Bhaskaran was an Indian actor of Malayalam movies. He mostly played character roles and supporting roles.-Selected Filmogrpahy:-External links:...
as Veerankutty - Nilambur Balan as Chathan
- Baby Vrinda as Minikkutty, Menon’s grand daughter
Soundtrack
The songs are composed by B. A. ChidambaranathB. A. Chidambaranath
Bhoothapandi Annavi Chidambaranath was an Indian film score composer and musician who worked mainly in Malayalam films.-Biography:Hailing from a family of reputed musicians from Bhoothapandi, Nagercoil district, Chidambaranath took early lessons in mridangam and Carnatic vocal from his father, B....
with lyrics by P. Bhaskaran
P. Bhaskaran
Pulloottupadathu Bhaskara Menon , better known as P. Bhaskaran, was a famous Malayalam poet and lyricist of Malayalam film songs. He penned more than 3000 songs for about 250 films. He also directed 44 Malayalam feature films and 3 documentaries, produced 6 feature films and acted in several movies...
. The songs became popular and is regarded as one of the best works by Chidambaranath. Two of its songs, "Karayunno Puzha Chirikkunno" (by K. J. Yesudas
K. J. Yesudas
Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,...
), "Kaliyaakki Enne Kaliyaakki" (by S. Janaki
S. Janaki
S. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35...
) and "Kadavathu Thoniyadukkumbol" (by S. Janaki and Santha P. Nair became evergreen hits. "Kadavathu Thoniyadukkumbol" was inspired by "Janoo Janoo Ri Kaahe Khanke Tora Kangana" (composer:S D Burman, singers: Geeta Dutt
Geeta Dutt
Geetā Dutt was a prominent singer in India. She found particular prominence as a playback singer in Hindi cinema...
& Asha Bhonsle, film: Insan Jaag Utha), which itself was based on a "chhed chhaad" style folk song.