Ponthan Mada

Ponthan Mada (1994) : Brief Review -

TV Chandran affiliates Sreeraman's two short stories in this Classic tale of friendship, love and compassion. One of the greatest performance of Mammootty. Pontham Mada is a slow poison. It tastes bitter, astringent, sometimes spicy but by the time you finish it, you feel blessed to have digested it. It is based on two short stories, Ponthan Mada and Sheema Thampuran by C. V. Sreeraman. Set in the 1940s British India, the film is about the extraordinary, uncanny and touching relationship between the so-called low-caste Ponthan Mada and his colonial landlord Sheema Thampuran, who was expelled to British India from England during his youth for supporting the Irish Republican Army. Crossing the class boundaries, the two communicate through Thampuran's window with Mada hanging from an areca palm tree. There is a lot more in the film which cannot be spoiled here or should i say cannot be explained in words. You have to experience it and understand it. There are slow moments that means something, that makes you feel something and if you get it then your time is worth. Mammootty plays the titular character and believe me he is completely unrecognisable half the time. He has worked so accurately on his accents and expressions for different periods that i wonder how one actor can be so perfect and so versatile at the same time. Naseeruddin Shah adds his experience and he is fantastic. This writing of these two character deserves more credit because the story actually had less space and then these characters provides it enough values. I would say the characters complete it. Chandran sir delivers a realistic cinema with sheer brilliance. Not a single frame, nor any scene looked out of the context and even though few of them looked absurd, they still had reliability because such absurd things has happened in pre-independence era. Overall, a Classic!

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

One of the best stories ever to be told through a Malayalam cinema! i was moved equally by the acting performance.

Mammootty easily as always turned into the character, flawless acting with unbeatable naturality. Nasurudheen shah, pulled off the character with his usual charisma and ease! Best part of the movie is the story and narration, kudos to the great director, TV Chandra. cheers to some elements of surrealism in it. There might be minor flaws in the editing, but that's all because the movie belongs to an old era and it is definitely understandable!! The feel of having read an amazing novel persists after watching the movie. Loved it and I totally respect the movie!

Charectors is very good Village beauty Village life All good.

Awsome story.... Well made.... Good acting by mammootty....great performance of megastar... And all characters done their work in excellent.

It's a film with no real ending and no sense of resolution for any of the characters. But the performances from the 3 main actors were great especially mamooka, who won a national award for his portrayal of the meek and obedient ponthan mada. He completely blends into the role with flawless efficiency. It's hard to believe he played this role the same year he also got a national award for Vidheyan, where his character is the complete opposite. Shah is also great in his role and handles the emotions so well. The actress that plays Mada's friend also does a great job. But the film is slow, dragged out, and has no real ending or meaning. The characters don't progress as people and the film ends pretty much at the point it started at. The only I give it a 7 is because of the great performances, but the film is not that worth watching unfortunately.