Rathi Nirvedam
Encyclopedia
Rathinirvedam is a 1978 Malayalam coming-of-age film
directed by Bharathan
based on the novel of the same name
written by Padmarajan
who also wrote the script.
The film's story revolves around a teenager (played by Krishnachandran) who falls in love with a woman older than he is (played by Jayabharathi
). The storyline of the film miffed many for its sensitive portrayal of the lead as well as garnered appreciation for its narrative. It is said to have redefined the art of movie making in South India, and hence regarded as a landmark in Indian film history
. The film was also one of the biggest box office hits in Kerala
's history. It inspires similar productions all over South India, even decades after its release.
, but neither his mother nor his aunt can diagnose his affiction. Everything round him excites and stimulates his sexual curiosity. Eighteen-year-old Rathi, the girl next door, has been chechi (sister) to him since he was a child. Unaware of the stirrings of his desire, she dismisses his first overtures to her as boyish pranks. But soon her feelings change. She is sympathetic to the boy's confusion and goes to the sarppakkavu (cobra-shrine) to keep a midnight assignation with Pappu. It storms and thunders while Pappu makes love to Rathi. Only then does the storm within and without subside. Aghast at what has happened, Rathi stumbles to her feet but is bitten by a cobra and dies. Next morning Pappu leaves home for college and his new life.
. Steamy scenes restrict the movie to mature audiences. In typical Bharathan style, an unexpected climax leaves the audience in tears. Jayabharathi
gives a commendable performance as the titular character in this movie.
, Palakkad
, Kerala
. Director Bharathan had proposed to actress K.P.A.C. Lalitha after the shooting of this film. They remained together till the death of the former.
. It is one of the most sensuous movies of all time, and is said to have redefined the art of movie making in South India. The extremely erotic scenes performed by Jayabharathi
sent heat waves across Kerala. Even when some of the intelligentsia predicted the beginning of a new era of parallel cinema, a major section of Malayalis were on the warpath saying that mainstream Malayalam cinema had degenerated to porn. But in spite of the criticism and the pseudo moral mindsets of the people, Rathinirvedam became one of the biggest box office hits in Kerala's history. It inspires similar productions all over South India, even decades after its release.
. Shwetha Menon played the female lead, and Sreejith
played the young male lead. Padmarajan himself was credited as the writer.
Coming-of-age film
Coming-of-age film is a film genre which focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood. Personal growth and change is an important characteristic of this genre, which relies on dialogue and emotional responses, rather than action. The main character is...
directed by Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...
based on the novel of the same name
Rathinirvedam (novel)
Rathinirvedam is a Malayalam language short novel written by P. Padmarajan and published in 1970. The story revolves around a teenager who falls in love with a woman older than he is. The title translates as "venereal disenchantment" in English....
written by Padmarajan
Padmarajan
P. Padmarajan was an Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who contributed in Malayalam language. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed...
who also wrote the script.
The film's story revolves around a teenager (played by Krishnachandran) who falls in love with a woman older than he is (played by Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....
). The storyline of the film miffed many for its sensitive portrayal of the lead as well as garnered appreciation for its narrative. It is said to have redefined the art of movie making in South India, and hence regarded as a landmark in Indian film history
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
. The film was also one of the biggest box office hits in 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....
's history. It inspires similar productions all over South India, even decades after its release.
Plot
The story takes place in a small village surrounded by hills and valleys. Young Pappu, awaiting school results and then college, has plenty of time on hand. His trouble is adolescenceAdolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
, but neither his mother nor his aunt can diagnose his affiction. Everything round him excites and stimulates his sexual curiosity. Eighteen-year-old Rathi, the girl next door, has been chechi (sister) to him since he was a child. Unaware of the stirrings of his desire, she dismisses his first overtures to her as boyish pranks. But soon her feelings change. She is sympathetic to the boy's confusion and goes to the sarppakkavu (cobra-shrine) to keep a midnight assignation with Pappu. It storms and thunders while Pappu makes love to Rathi. Only then does the storm within and without subside. Aghast at what has happened, Rathi stumbles to her feet but is bitten by a cobra and dies. Next morning Pappu leaves home for college and his new life.
Cast
- JayabharathiJayabharathiJayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....
as Rathi - Krishnachandran as Pappu
- Kaviyoor PonnammaKaviyoor PonnammaKaviyoor Ponnamma is a Malayalam film actress. She won the Kerala State Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1994.Ponnamma was born in Kaviyoor village, near Tiruvalla to a conservative upper-class family...
as Saraswathi - K.P.A.C. Lalitha as Bharathi
- Meena as Narayaniyamma
- SomanM. G. SomanM. G. Soman was an actor in Malayalam film. He was considered to be one of the superstars in Malayalam cinema along with Sukumaran and Jayan during the 1970s. He was born in Tiruvalla, Travancore...
as Krishnan Nair - 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...
- Master Manohar
- Baby SumathiSumathiSumati or Sumathi may refer to:* Sumathi , a popular Tamil actress.* Sumathi Satakam, a type of Telugu poetry written by Baddena.* Sumathi, 1942 Telugu film....
as Shanthi - BahadoorBahadoorBahadoor , born P. K. Kunjalu, was a Malayalam film comedian who, along with Adoor Bhasi, redefined the way in which comedy and funny scenes were perceived in Malayalam cinema. They made a significant contribution toward establishing comedy as the predominant genre of Malayalam cinema...
as Kochammani - T. R. Omana
Analysis
A teenage mind caught in the flux of sexual adolescence is captured beautifully through the lens by the director BharathanBharathan
Bharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...
. Steamy scenes restrict the movie to mature audiences. In typical Bharathan style, an unexpected climax leaves the audience in tears. Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....
gives a commendable performance as the titular character in this movie.
Production
The film was produced by Hari Pothan under the banner of Supriya Films. It was mostly shot in NelliampathiNelliampathi
Nelliampathi is a popular hill station 60 km away from Palakkad in Kerala, a small state in south India. It is surrounded by tea and coffee plantations and has excellent weather conditions. The journey to Nelliampathi itself is an experience. The only route is from Nemmara, from where the...
, Palakkad
Palakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
, 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....
. Director Bharathan had proposed to actress K.P.A.C. Lalitha after the shooting of this film. They remained together till the death of the former.
Legacy and criticism
Rathinirvedam is regarded as a landmark in Indian film historyCinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
. It is one of the most sensuous movies of all time, and is said to have redefined the art of movie making in South India. The extremely erotic scenes performed by Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....
sent heat waves across Kerala. Even when some of the intelligentsia predicted the beginning of a new era of parallel cinema, a major section of Malayalis were on the warpath saying that mainstream Malayalam cinema had degenerated to porn. But in spite of the criticism and the pseudo moral mindsets of the people, Rathinirvedam became one of the biggest box office hits in Kerala's history. It inspires similar productions all over South India, even decades after its release.
Remake
A remake of the film was made in 2011. It was directed by T. K. Rajeev KumarT. K. Rajeev Kumar
T. K. Rajeev Kumar is an award winning director of Malayalam films.He is settled in Trivandrum, Kerala. Rajeev Kumar served as the Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy from 2003 to 2006...
. Shwetha Menon played the female lead, and Sreejith
Sreejith Vijay
Sreejith Vijay , from Thripunithura, Kerala, India credited mononymously as Sreejith , is an Indian film actor, and model.He made his debut in 2011 through the Malayalam film Living Together.- Early life :...
played the young male lead. Padmarajan himself was credited as the writer.