Appuni - 1984 Malayalam movie - Mohanlal as an anti-hero and Nedumudi Venu as the innocent man.

If you are a fan of a movie director and love his or her work, then it is great to start watching / analysing and immersing yourself in their creative work, from one of their first pieces. I'm a huge huge fan of Sathyan Anthikkad. It is a ritual at my home to watch Sandesham, Achuvinte Amma , Thooval Kottaram and many such gems visualised and created through his simple outlook towards a Malayali life. Almost every movie of his is a gem. So I decided to use my movie-freak-homemaker life to a better good and researched his filmography. And why should one miss even the lesser known movies from such an acclaimed director?




I decided to start with the very first of his movies which established the fantastic friendship between Anthikkad and probably one of the blessings to Kerala - Mohanlal.

Appunni is a 1984 Indian Malayalam romantic comedy film directed by Anthikad and penned by the then popular satirical writer Vadakkke Koottala Narayanankutty Nair, commonly known as V.K.N. It is based on V. K. N.'s story Premavum Vivahavum and is known as the only screenplay he has written. The film stars Nedumudi Venu in the title role, while Mohanlal, Menaka, Bharath Gopi, and Sukumari play other lead roles.

  
                                                                                   

Let me first say head on that Lalettan is not the hero here, it is Venu sir. Yes. And Lal plays a slick, conniving anti-hero, not a villain, but a guy set to outsmart an innocent man. He doesn't use weapons, doesn't jump off old Mahindra jeeps and fencing guys in head-to-toe white uniforms. Nope that isn’t Anthikkad style ( and I am thankful for that because I am not a fan of action movies ! )

The film explores the love triangle between the characters. Appunni ( Nedumudi Venu ) and Ammukutty (Menaka) are lovers from childhood. While Appuni is a serious, brooding and grumpy man, he is kind hearted to one and all. And even more secretive is his love for Ammu. She is a vivacious and fun loving girl who craves attention and expression of love from him. Ammukutty's father Ayyappan Nair ( Bharat Gopy ) and his wife (Sukumari ) are aware of the love and the relationship between the two young people and have confirmed it long ago. So it is a well settled fact even in the entire village.


 

                                                

Things take a twist when a handsome,rich, slick-talker man from a higher caste arrives in the village. His wealth, status in the society and smart antics sit well with all including Ayyappan Nair and Ammu. Much to Appuni’s dismay, Nair arranges her marriage with a rich school teacher, Menon Maashu. Ammukutty is distracted and perhaps in her childishness, she ends her relationship with Appunni and decides to marry the Maashu.

However, Maashu fails to arrive on time for the marriage ceremony. Ayyappan Nair, who is embarrassed in front of his guests and the village folk is now in tears and hollowed out. He assumes that Maashu might have cheated his daughter. Now he can only turn to the ever-dependant Appuni for saving his honour.

In haste, he conducts Ammukkutty's marriage with Appunni. Much to everyone's amazement, Maashu arrives late at night. Once again he manages to cleverly trap the harassed and confused Nair in his excuses and lies of why he couldn't arrive in time for the ceremony.

Once again the bizarre night takes a new turn and now Nair wants Ammukutty to marry Menon Maashu.

Angry at the baseless thinking of her parents and the lack of sanctity shown towards an innocent man like Appuni as well as disrespect towards her marriage vows, Ammukutty takes a decision.

 



Appuni movie was Bharat Gopy’s first collaboration with Sathyan Anthikkadand was also the only movie where Bharat Gopy was paired opposite the legendary Sukumari as an onscreen couple. Sathyan Anthikkad pulled off the seemingly impossible task of adapting VKN’s multi-layered, contextual humour with just the right tinge of sarcasm and self-deprecation fairly well for the big screen, as his characters came to life in the able hands of some of the finest minds on the Malayalam screen. And as Perattupadaveettil Ayyappan Nair, Bharat Gopy was a treat to watch onscreen.

 

Director Sathyan Anthikkad with Gopy

Vainglorious, conceited and self-important – Perattupadaveettil Ayyappan Nair cannot think of an instance of existence where his purportedly militant, glorious ancestry is unattached to his personality. If not in character, at least by name, that is. If you are someone who has read the literary work and watched the movie, you would be surprised at how uncannily close both the creations are. Bharat Gopy effortlessly ensured that. Echoing director Sathyan Anthikkad recalling the “making of the character image”,


In half an hour he stood before me as Ayyappan Nair, the version you see in the film. “This moustache is a sign of pseudo-valour, for belonging to the ancient, militant, Perattupada lineage,” as he twirled it. “Ayyappan Nair is a devotee of the Devi, and hence the vermillion tikka on the forehead. This scant hair combed flat and across my bald patch shows his naivette and vanity to appear young and virile, a sort of ‘matching up to his warrior clan lineage.’ I was ecstatic. This was brilliant.

It was brilliant not just one time. It was, with every film he associated himself with. Every time.

Author VKN with Film Director Sathyan Anthikkad and Cartoonist Yesudasan.

Credits -
https://bharatgopy.com/filmography/appunni-1984/
https://ommst.weebly.com/appunni.html
 http://yesudasan.info/photos.html

Aalkkoottathil Thaniye

Aalkkoottathil Thaniye is 1984 movie about lost love,betrayal, sacrifice and moral questioning.

Rajan (Mammotty) is a village man who loves his cousin Ammukutty (Seema) but his stubborn father  Madhavan (Balan Nair) forces him to marry Nalini (Unni Mary). Nalini is an ambitious woman who wants to study further and achieve an educated status. Rajan on the other hand believes in simple living. They have come to a indifferent attitude to their marriage and live separate lives under one roof.

Years later when Rajan's father is bed ridden,the only person who makes time to look after him is Ammukutty. Inspite of his children only she is available and does so selflessly and without past grudges. In the midst of the ill father,property disputes and jealousies are shown as the norm of a middle class Malayali family. The old love of the two people and happier times are shown in glimpses.

I felt this movie also had a unique feature in Mohanlal's portrayal as a friend of Rajan. Not a friend who bird-watches with him or plans revenge plots. A character who expresses his love for a friend and of life. A friend who later chides him on leaving Ammukutty and questions on his morality.

Overall the movie is a drama which shows the state of thinking in a family. As it is with most, the husband expects a wife to perform and live in a certain way. Whether she is a good wife or a good mother is without meaning, if she is too ambitious. That she should be sacrificing and selfless is a norm to be accepted by most women is the message of the movie. How acceptable is the story in today's changing world maybe debatable. Nevertheless, Aalkkoottathil Thaniye was one of the few movies of that time where a woman protagonist is essayed in a strong, independent way rather than a crying, hollering, helpless waif.

10 things I like about Ennum Eppozhum

1. Mohanlal not acting like a one-man-show. I'm happy also that two women also get meaty roles in this movie. Ok Reenu Mathews doesn't get as much beef,but still plays the snazzy boss to Lal well. (hey, we Keralites love beef ok so quit judging me on the cholesterol levels of this sentence)

2. Manju Warrier's down-to-earth acting. No tears (they must have given all the glycerin to the Asianet serial ladies), no preaching, no silliness and no Oh-my-gawd-its-Lalettan looks.

3. Actor Innocent. Director Anthikad's pillar or man Friday I guess. There's no movie of his where Innocent hasnt acted in.

4. Actor Lena. The spunk her character brings to the movie and the cute schoolboy-schoolgirl fights which she and Lal has.

5. Lack of focus on the past of both the lead characters and concentrating on the present. No flashbacks. Simple straightforward story.


6. Jacob Gregory :) The Akkara Kazhachgal and ABCD actor. Has his own brand of comic sense.

7. The cinematography.


8. The housing colony where she lives. Simple,small,cozy but spacious homes. Far cry from the Gelf-returned money's circus palaces which are usually shown in Malayalam movies. I hate big houses and I cannot lie.

9. This is for the ladies. Manju's costumes. The vibrant designs, the ease with which she wears westerns and the trimmed figure showcases subtlety and grace. Also note, NO sari with jasmine flowers and gold exhibition. (that's national award winning point!) Everytime I saw her in those fresh colorful kurtas, I almost had a complex about my wardrobe,even though I was miles away from my Lifestyle and Westside Rs.499 sale ones(shhhh!) and in a dark theatre.

10. The hope that corporate India will also someday have facility of bath and towel-drying for employees just like Lal had in his office!

Athirathram 1984

The blockbuster of 1984,directed by I.V.Sasi which is claimed as one of the best crime thriller of it times.

Starring Mammootty, Mammootty and Mammootty.

No typo there. That's all the movie is about. So much panache and style by the dude that you will forget Mohanlal is in it.

Yeah we want to see more ;)

Though a super hit in that era, I'm sure we have better storylines in crime genre in Malayalam cinema now. Events and situation are just jumbled up in the movie together as if the 2 hrs just had to finish.

Nevertheless a nice watch if you don't mind the script. Great styling for the dude and lot of 007 type cinematography.

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.

T.P. Balagopalan M.A - 1986

Look at the pic below. How many of us do that everyday? Looking upto God and loading him with wishes and needs. Promising him and other accessible Gods all the offerings money can buy once he gives us the money.

Balagopalan, the character played by Lal has no less desires. His wishes are many, but, like many of the young men today and esp in the troublesome 80s when unemployment was high, his wishes are more for his family than himself.

Another Sathyan Anthikad movie about hardships, middle class family, values and human nature in the best and worst of times. I would have categorized this too as another 'movie of masses' but Lal once again doesn't let you stereotype his movies! :)

Kunjattakkilikal 1986

' You are checking children's composition but I have written an imposition 1000 times and you have not seen it yet '
- ' What have you written? '
- ' I love you '

Simple maybe a childish way of romancing. Capable of only 1986 malayalam movies.

Kunjattakkilikal is also one of them. The above lines are said by Mohanlal to Shobhana, a tuition and home teacher who arrives to change children and changes the lives of not just Lal but also Soman.
A simple movie which you can watch on lazy afternoons, midweek holidays or just about anytime.

Watch it also for a wonderful twist to the story.

Director - Sasikumar. Known as 'Hitmaker', he was a very successful commercial film director.

Kireedam 1989

A predominantly serious movie with temperings of mellow moments.

Kireedam is about father son relationship and about an innocent middle class boy becoming a criminal totally against his wishes and to the viewers' shock. Once again MohanLal proves why he is a superstar with such performances. I could never finish seeign the ending coz I knew the story and I was never for sad endings. But today I saw the entire movie and in a quite moment even I can hear Sethu's cry and helplessness when his father tells him to 'drop the knife' !

The father son angle is mainly through Thilankan and Lal, but I couldnt help noticing 2 others i.e of Oduvil Unnikrishnan and his son played by Jagadeesh  and Mamukkoya and his son as Maniyan Pillai Raju (which maybe a subtle way  ) of showing unemployment which was the main problems then in Kerala. Its also a movie which shows yet again how difficult it is to get a decent well paying job in Kerala Youth are either driven abroad or have to settle for Govt jobs. Thankfully no gelf  bling is shown here.

At the end of the movie you are left wondering who is a bigger star , Lal with his innocent portrayal or Thilakan with one of his amazing control of emotions and never ever an atom of overacting.

Watch it for :

- Pure passionate fight scene without any filtered stunts just the way you would punch someone in raw anger.

- Lal without the brawn or brain but just eyes. You will cry with him, smile at his uncontrollable hunger when he is supposed to be fit for the police test and wish he had never picked up that knife from the garden.

Director - Sibi Malayil

Cast : Mohanlal, Thilakan, Parvathi, Sankaradi, Kaviyoor ponamma, Mamukkoya

Thenum Vayambum 1981

' Education is not just to teach good children but make bad children good' A dialogue by the great Sankaradi in the movie Thenum Vayambum.

 Sankaradi

With such dialogues and lovely acting comes the movie which has a three storylines entwined. A man's love for a woman, child's love for a motherly figure and a father's love for his son. All three has a woman actor as the pivot so basically Thenum Vayambum is carried by a lady ! A movie on a woman's shoulders?.and that also in 1981, a still unknown era for woman's lib.

The movie has many other firsts, according to me, and probably why it makes a good watch :

- One of the earliest movies of MohanLal where he isn't the main lead and where you will see the shy ,unsure acting bit he had before he ruled the cinema hearts of mallus. :)

- Where Nedumudi Venu is the main lead or hero!

 - A lot of English being said by the actors Prem Nazir, Sumalatha and even the children. 'Oh Shuvarr!' :)

 - Thenum Vayambum focuses more on emotions and the story rather than star material of Prem Nazir and overtly drama of women. You know women can do a whole lot of other things than crying,breaking bangles,cooking and stripping!

- Also catch Prem Nazir playing golf! :D

- And watch rather than hear the heart rending song 'thenum vayambum' against the backdrop of Ooty.

Director - Ashok Kumar
Cast - Prem Nazir, Sumalatha , Nedumudi venu, Mohanlal, Sankaradi