Kidappadam

I have seen Kidappaadam many times ( at least five ) but never had a chance to write a review. Every time I see this movie I put my hats off to Mr. M.R.S Mani as the director of this masterpiece. I have read comments about having the idea from a different film ( Bimal Roy's Dho Beega Zameen ) But I can challenge a lot of director to copy any film they want and produce something like Kidappaadam. The scenes of a village in Eranakulam and the streets of Cochin ( now Cochi ) in early fifties are so real - it just sends shivers through my body. The poverty of the villagers and as well as the bustee dwellers were very realistic and the characters were portrayed and played extremely well. Some of the scenes like when Kalyani went to Kumari Thankam to get a letter written, the short scene where Miss.Kumari complaining to Prem Nazir that he does not love her are very touching scenes. One of the other wonders are the Achan kid Boban Kunchakko. I don,t know whether he is an actor or real orphan in real life , but he displayed a wonderful piece of acting as the friendly companion to Kanhaiya ( Jose Prakash ). Miss.Kumari as the wife of the peasant Prem Nazir, Prem Nazir himself and Jose Prakash all played their parts very well. I should also mention the role played by Adoor Pankajam as the Bustee owner - what can be more realistic than that. Though the economic scene in Kerala has changed over the last fifty years still there are a lot of poverty in Kerala and peasants like Shankaran can be found all over Kerala. I appreciate the director's last scene where it shows the family is still intact with hope for the future at the same time the struggle for survival goes on as they lost their land to the greedy landlord. I have the DVD and will watch it many more times.