Oru Pennum Randaanum
Encyclopedia
Oru Pennum Randaanum is a 2008 Malayalam feature film
written and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
.
The film has four separate chapters, each based on independent short stories written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
. The film is about four crimes of different nature that happen in different contexts and situations. The setting is the Princely State
of Travancore
, South India
in the 1940s. The Second World War being fought in Europe
at that time had terrible impact on the colonial British India with increasing scarcity of basic commodities and rising unemployment. The stories in this film span from crimes committed by the deprived to the comparatively privileged landed gentry.
Kallante Makan (The Thief)
Kunjunni is the school going son of the thief, Neelantan. He enters into a fight with his classmate, Kurien, over the profession of his father. Neelantan approaches Kurien's father, Mathai, and urges him to leave the children alone from such prejudices. Mathai is offended by this and in retaliation prepares a petition to the police chief demanding preventive custody of Neelantan. Upon Neelantan's arrest, Kunjunni persuades his mother to talk him out of his profession. Two years later, Kunjunni comes home with the news that Kurien's house has been burgled. A heartbroken Kunjunni realizes the truth about the burglary when he sees the full meal and new clothes at his home.
Niyamavum Neethiyum (The Police)
The new police Inspector is upright and decides to probe the 'unsolved' case of a theft in a merchant's shop. It is rumoured that the Head Constable Pillai had a liaison with the culprit and they shared the loot. Upon the Inspector's order, Pillai and his fellow-constable Mathu set out to solve the case. Though Mathu suggests to re-arrest the culprit, Pillai vacillates. While discussing this issue in a local bar, Mathu spots a moment of opportunity when he notices a rickshaw-puller opening an envelope of currency notes. Before the innocent victim comes to terms with the situation, he is arrested for the burglary. He is threatened that if he proceeds to defend himself or appeal, he will lose all his savings. The poor victim has hardly a choice.
Oru Koottukaran (Two Men and a Woman)
Krishnankutty is a college student nurturing an infatuation for the servant girl at the lodge. The relationship takes a turn when the girl starts showing symptoms of pregnancy. Krishnan Kutty is heartbroken by this new development, as he is under obligation to marry the daughter of his uncle. Pushed to make a choice between suicide and abortion, he seeks help from his friend, a lawyer. Together they seek out a quack who performs abortions. But the meeting with the quack stirs new feelings in Krishnan Kutty and he gets prepared to face the challenge in his life.
Pankiyamma (One Woman and Two Men)
Panki is the village beauty. Rama Kurup, a middle aged man, forsakes everything to marry her. One night, his suspicion is confirmed when he finds her with a paramour. In the scuffle that follows, Kurup stabs his younger adversary. He goes into hiding as a case is registered against him for attempted murder. As time passes after an intense police investigation, a humiliated Kurup returns home on bail. As the case proceeds in the court of law, supporters of the two sides clash on the streets. Panki, remains non-committal even after being urged by both men to take their side. Both the men are sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment for inciting murder and violence among their followers. In prison, the two men end their enemity and decide to confront Panki together, on their release.
Niyamavum Neethiyum (The Police)
Oru Koottukaran (Two Men and a Woman)
Pankiyamma (One Woman, Two Men)
's stories came when Doordarshan
in their Timeless Classics series wanted to compile works of writers in different languages who have produced classic literature. This movie was filmed just after the previous film of Adoor- Naalu Pennungal
, which was the first film to be part of the project. Both the films have a four-chapter-structure based on independent short stories by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
. Both the films also share the same geographical and temporal setting.
The director made the following statement about the movie in his official website - "The four chapters of the film tell stories independent of each other. What connects them is the recurring theme of crime. Starting from simple, parable like tales about ordinary people, the narrative slowly takes on questions of love, loyalty and morality leading to complex issues of life. It culminates in the story of the contemporary legend of Panki, the irresistible village beauty who lives naturally. Unlike in my earlier films, here I have used dialogue predominantly to comment, endorse or simply report on the course of the plot to lend the story a narrative form akin to that of the epics where reportage plays a major role in making the experience larger- than- life."
, Goa
, 2008.
The film has also been exhibited so far in
The official website for the International Film Festival Rotterdam
lauded the movie saying that "[e]ach story echoes the burden of time and place, yet is universal." It also adds that "[a]lthough this never-ending search for a better life, human dignity and love is seriously rendered, it still radiates the romantic idea of human endurance, hope, guilt and a sense of justice. That makes this rather calm and lyrical film, which is obviously deeply culturally rooted, universal."
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
written and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
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 has four separate chapters, each based on independent short stories written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai was a novelist and short story writer of Malayalam language, spoken in Kerala state, South India. He is popularly known as Thakazhi, after his place of birth. He focused on the oppressed classes as the subject of his works, which are known for their attention to...
. The film is about four crimes of different nature that happen in different contexts and situations. The setting is the Princely State
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
in the 1940s. The Second World War being fought in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
at that time had terrible impact on the colonial British India with increasing scarcity of basic commodities and rising unemployment. The stories in this film span from crimes committed by the deprived to the comparatively privileged landed gentry.
Plot
The four chapters of the film tell stories, which are independent of each other. The only connection between them is the recurring theme of crime. With the flow of the movie, there is an increase in the complexity of the crimes.Kallante Makan (The Thief)
Kunjunni is the school going son of the thief, Neelantan. He enters into a fight with his classmate, Kurien, over the profession of his father. Neelantan approaches Kurien's father, Mathai, and urges him to leave the children alone from such prejudices. Mathai is offended by this and in retaliation prepares a petition to the police chief demanding preventive custody of Neelantan. Upon Neelantan's arrest, Kunjunni persuades his mother to talk him out of his profession. Two years later, Kunjunni comes home with the news that Kurien's house has been burgled. A heartbroken Kunjunni realizes the truth about the burglary when he sees the full meal and new clothes at his home.
Niyamavum Neethiyum (The Police)
The new police Inspector is upright and decides to probe the 'unsolved' case of a theft in a merchant's shop. It is rumoured that the Head Constable Pillai had a liaison with the culprit and they shared the loot. Upon the Inspector's order, Pillai and his fellow-constable Mathu set out to solve the case. Though Mathu suggests to re-arrest the culprit, Pillai vacillates. While discussing this issue in a local bar, Mathu spots a moment of opportunity when he notices a rickshaw-puller opening an envelope of currency notes. Before the innocent victim comes to terms with the situation, he is arrested for the burglary. He is threatened that if he proceeds to defend himself or appeal, he will lose all his savings. The poor victim has hardly a choice.
Oru Koottukaran (Two Men and a Woman)
Krishnankutty is a college student nurturing an infatuation for the servant girl at the lodge. The relationship takes a turn when the girl starts showing symptoms of pregnancy. Krishnan Kutty is heartbroken by this new development, as he is under obligation to marry the daughter of his uncle. Pushed to make a choice between suicide and abortion, he seeks help from his friend, a lawyer. Together they seek out a quack who performs abortions. But the meeting with the quack stirs new feelings in Krishnan Kutty and he gets prepared to face the challenge in his life.
Pankiyamma (One Woman and Two Men)
Panki is the village beauty. Rama Kurup, a middle aged man, forsakes everything to marry her. One night, his suspicion is confirmed when he finds her with a paramour. In the scuffle that follows, Kurup stabs his younger adversary. He goes into hiding as a case is registered against him for attempted murder. As time passes after an intense police investigation, a humiliated Kurup returns home on bail. As the case proceeds in the court of law, supporters of the two sides clash on the streets. Panki, remains non-committal even after being urged by both men to take their side. Both the men are sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment for inciting murder and violence among their followers. In prison, the two men end their enemity and decide to confront Panki together, on their release.
Cast
Kallante Makan (The Thief)- M.R.Gopakumar as Neelantan, the thief
- Seema G. Nair as Neelantan’s wife
- Master Amal Jose as Neelantan’s son
- IndransIndransIndrans is a Malayalam film actor and costume designer. He acts mainly in comedy roles. He has acted in over 200 films.Indrans, a Tailor by profession, debuted in the film Choothattam as a costume designer. It was producer Charlie who offered him a chance to assist in costume designing...
as Mathai, the neighbour - KPAC Leela as Maria, Mathai’s wife
- Master Brolin Thomas as Mathai’s son
- Mukkottu Gopalakrishnan as Head master
- Arya Alphonse as School teacher
- Gopan as Police Constable
- Padmanabha Panikkar as Police Constable
Niyamavum Neethiyum (The Police)
- Nedumudi VenuNedumudi VenuNedumudi Venu is a popular Malayalam film actor from Kerala, India. He has also written screenplays and has directed one film.- Early life :...
as Maathu – Police constable - Jagannathan as Kuttan Pillai – the head constable
- VijayaraghavanVijayaraghavanVijayaraghavan is an Indian actor who mainly acts in Malayalam cinema. He is popular for his character roles. He is the son of popular drama and cinema artist N. N. Pillai.-Biography:...
as Police Inspector - Krishnakumar as The rikshaw- puller
- James Mukalel as Bar-tender
- P.Sreekumar as The Magistrate
- Prof. Aliyar as Bench-clerk
- PriyankaPriyankaPriyanka is a common female given name in India and Sri Lanka. It is a name derived from the Sanskrit word priya for "dear, beloved" or "beautiful or lovable act".The name is derived from the goddess named 'priyankari'....
as Witness - Anup as Witness
- Padmanabha Panikkar as Witness
- Ambootty as Lock-up mate
- Vakkom Mohan as Pleader
Oru Koottukaran (Two Men and a Woman)
- SudheeshSudheeshSudheesh is an Indian actor who mainly works in Malayalam cinema.-Filmography:-External links:****...
as Krishnankutty – the student - Jagadeesh as Advocate – his senior friend
- P.C. Soman as The Quack
- Anup as Boat-man
- Nandan as Advocate’s relative
Pankiyamma (One Woman, Two Men)
- PraveenaPraveenaPraveena is a Malayalam film & Serial actress. She starred in numerous Malayalam movies & Serial. She Started her acting career in the year 1992 as a Child Artist. Her debut film was "Gowri" as a Child Artist. Her Debut film as a heroine was "Kaliyoonjal" in the year 1997...
as Pankiyamma - Ravi Vallthol as Her husband
- Manoj.K.Jayan as Her paramour
- SukumariSukumariSukumari is an Indian film actress who has primarily acted in Malayalam and Tamil films. She has been acting since she was 10 years old and has acted in various roles. The total number of her films is presumed to be about two-thousand. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of...
as The narrator - Babu Namboodiri as Her husband
- G.K.Pillai as Old Prison inmate
- SubairSubairSubair was an Indian film actor in Malayalam cinema industry. He was part of Malayalam films for nearly two decades and has acted in around 200 films.-Personal life:...
as Police Constable - Sasthanthala Sahadeven as Jailer
- Krishna Prasad as Father of Pankiyamma's baby
Production
The project to make films on Thakazhi Sivasankara PillaiThakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai was a novelist and short story writer of Malayalam language, spoken in Kerala state, South India. He is popularly known as Thakazhi, after his place of birth. He focused on the oppressed classes as the subject of his works, which are known for their attention to...
's stories came when Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
in their Timeless Classics series wanted to compile works of writers in different languages who have produced classic literature. This movie was filmed just after the previous film of Adoor- Naalu Pennungal
Naalu Pennungal
Naalu Pennungal is a 2007 Malayalam film produced and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan based on four short stories written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. The film stars Padmapriya, Geethu Mohandas, Manju Pillai, and Nandita Das in the major roles, and KPAC Lalitha, Mukesh, Manoj K...
, which was the first film to be part of the project. Both the films have a four-chapter-structure based on independent short stories by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai was a novelist and short story writer of Malayalam language, spoken in Kerala state, South India. He is popularly known as Thakazhi, after his place of birth. He focused on the oppressed classes as the subject of his works, which are known for their attention to...
. Both the films also share the same geographical and temporal setting.
The director made the following statement about the movie in his official website - "The four chapters of the film tell stories independent of each other. What connects them is the recurring theme of crime. Starting from simple, parable like tales about ordinary people, the narrative slowly takes on questions of love, loyalty and morality leading to complex issues of life. It culminates in the story of the contemporary legend of Panki, the irresistible village beauty who lives naturally. Unlike in my earlier films, here I have used dialogue predominantly to comment, endorse or simply report on the course of the plot to lend the story a narrative form akin to that of the epics where reportage plays a major role in making the experience larger- than- life."
Reception
The films was premiered in the International Film Festival of IndiaInternational Film Festival of India
The International Film Festival of India , founded in 1952, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. Held annually in the beach town of Goa, in the Western Coast of the country, the festival aims at providing a common platform for the cinemas of the world to project the excellence of...
, Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, 2008.
The film has also been exhibited so far in
- Dubai International Film FestivalDubai International Film FestivalThe Dubai International Film Festival is an international film festival based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Launched in 2004, it aims to foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world.-Overview:...
, 2008 . - The 38th edition of the International Film Festival RotterdamInternational Film Festival RotterdamThe International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...
, 2009. - The 23rd edition of the Fribourg International Film FestivalFribourg International Film FestivalThe Fribourg International Film Festival is an annual film festival in Fribourg, Switzerland. It is focused on selected cultural films from Asia, Africa and Latin America....
, 2009
The official website for the International Film Festival Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...
lauded the movie saying that "[e]ach story echoes the burden of time and place, yet is universal." It also adds that "[a]lthough this never-ending search for a better life, human dignity and love is seriously rendered, it still radiates the romantic idea of human endurance, hope, guilt and a sense of justice. That makes this rather calm and lyrical film, which is obviously deeply culturally rooted, universal."
Awards
The film won the Kerala State Film Awards for 2008 for best feature film, director, scenarist, second best female actor (Praveena) and sound recording (T. Krishnanunni and Harikumar).External links
- http://www.adoorgopalakrishnan.in/climate.htmA Climate for Crime, Official website of 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...
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