Kaliveedu - The 1996 Malayalam movie which balances marriage

Sometimes reading comments on a movie video can tell you a lot about the sentiments of the generation. It makes you reflect back to the movie and its message and how relevant it is to the current generation.

A movie which I feel is misunderstood is Kaliveedu. This 1996 movie by one of my favourite directors Sibi Malayil is about marriage, its breakdown and the roles and responsibilities of husband and wife to make a marriage successful. Imagine a SWOT analysis of a product and finding its USP. The movie is somewhere on the lines of such a deep discussion. Malayil in his usual way made or attempted to make a movie which passes on a message. How that message is taken or received by the audience of then and now is up to the people.

Kaliveedu is a 1996 Malayalam family drama film directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Jayaram, Manju Warrier, Jagadish, Sunitha and Vani Viswanath. The film explores the marital relationship of Mahesh and Mridula and their lives following their divorce.



Personally, I loved the movie. Even if I wouldn't have seen Malayil’s name flashed on the screen before a cheery Jayaram ( love his smile, irrespective of the movie) and a grumpy Jagadeesh open the scene with a usual Malayali trademark banter of sarcasm, playful retorts and giving a possibility of a fun, light hearted movie ahead.


Jayaram plays Mahesh who is an architect/interior designer in his own company. Ulahannan played by Jagadeesh is his friend and neighbour. The characters are minimal and not a rambling household of elders, uncles, aunts and cousins. Malayil probably wanted to focus on just the man women relationship.


The movie starts with a very modern USA returned Yamini insisting on Mahesh’s work for her future house. As they get to know each other, Yamini’s father takes a liking to him. Mahesh is reluctant to move forward with the relationship. And then he narrates his story to Yamini. A past of a broken marriage, of misunderstandings and a house which for him resembled clay.


Mahesh married Mridula, a proposal which was liked and mutually agreed by all. As they start their new life, problems arise because of Mridula’s incompetence and immaturity. But not everything is her fault. Mahesh is strictler for discipline, order and a neat house. He also has specific taste preferences. He refuses to adjust and Mridula stubbornly messes up her role too.


Having known both the actors with an impressive and legendary movie list to their credit you know you would not get a lackadaisical performance. As a husband who loves his wife but also likes order and etiquette in his home, food and in his being, Jayaram portrayed the male semi-patriarchal character very well. But with a hint of mellowness and warmth. Manju as the perky and young wife shows the initial immaturity of Mridula,In the manner that Malayil must have desired.


The character of Yamini brings in the twist that is again a genius of Malayil. We wonder if Mahesh will go ahead with the live-in relationship with her (scandalous for 1996 Kerala) and become a more adjusting husband, Or will Yamini teach him a feminist lesson? Will Mridula find someone else and this becomes a triangle to square based love story?


Malayil though believes in traditional romance. The old fashioned kinds which endeared him to generations of Malayalies. And me too. Mahesh is thus pushed and pulled enough by Yamini’s antics at his sacred home, he rushes to Mridula’s house on hearing that she may get married again. Rest is a story of how they come together by the kindly intervention of several people.


I would have dismissed this movie as regressive and one of those wife-bashing movies which were popular in the 90s. But Vani’s mini speech at the climax and the viewpoint shared about both husbands and wives, the understanding nature of Mridula’s father (played by Innocent) and the quiet support of Ulahannan (Jagadeesh) a friend and neighbour, shows maturity of the director in forming a movie and showing a story of well balanced emotions. Here neither patriarchy nor feminism wins. Rather it is a message of maturity and balance, which applies to all ages and cultures where marriage is still respected. If that is the case, then this movie is a winner. It depends on your viewpoint.

Puthiya Karukkal

A Malayalam thriller movie starring Jayaram, Parvathy, Laloo Alex and M G Soman. Set in a hilly,picturesque Tamilnadu place, the movie right away plunges into suspense just like the actress running away from a man,plunges into a stream and then you know you gotta know the end.

 A story within a story, the movie moves back and forth from the past to the present. Jayaram and Parvathy were in love and planned to get married. But the local village goon gets killed by him when he tries to molest Parvathy. Or rather,supposedly killed. When Jayaram serves jail, Parvathy is married off to a rich, kind-hearted, handicapped Soman and now Jayaram is back to kill her.

You may think, the movie may end in tragedy or with a sacrifice on Soman's part to let the two lovers of the past to reunite. But the surprise comes when people are not what they seem to be and identities are tossed in the air for the viewer to catch and place in the puzzle in the right place.

A nice work of suspense but would have been even better with polished performances and strong script. Events seemed to just happen and story seemed to have been shakily written. Even then if I stayed till the end, I guess the 'who did it?' will keep you rooted.

Adwaytham 1992

A Malayalam political thriller starring Mohanlal ,Revathy and Jayaram and directed by Priyadarshan.

I felt the 2006 film Vaasthavam had very similar beats. Nevertheless ,Mohanlal and Prithviraj,respectively have done a fantastic job of portraying human nature when exposed to political storms.

Mohanlal's character is one of friendly,caring person but gets embroiled in local politics. The story is about memories of a love affair gone bad, a broken home and amidst all this his only bright hope being his friend, played by Jayaram and his own ambitions,lay hidden,unknown to him.

All the lead stars do a great job and makes for a dramatic movie experience. Watch it to know the ever - rolling wheel of Kerala politics and the pieces of everyday life it loops in.

Swagatham 1989

Imagine a Malayalam movie without Mohanlal or Mammootty.

Imagine a coastline with friends hanging out all the time.

Imagine a story about friendships and general fun without fights and villians.

That is Swagatham movie. A 1989 film with an extensive star cast. With Jagathi's histrionics not-withstanding, there is romance and hey! you can choose which one you want - the sweet and shy kind which Parvathy and Asokan share or the serious one which Urvashi feels later on.

A story about friends, young guns ,youth and their immature nature but true feelings, Swagatham takes you back to your college days and the time when chatting meant meeting for an icecream rather than feeling a 'ping' vibration in your pocket from your android phone.