Arappatta Kettiya Graamathil

I didn't plan to watch this movie today and was pleasantly surprised that it was actually set pretty timely during Vishu too.

I was actually expecting maybe a deconstruction of 80s nanma village Malayalam film cliche just from the name of the film but instead got a brave attempt at calling out the hypocrisies of the Kerala society through a limited amount of characters with events happening under 24 hours. It's no surprise that it was a box office failure at the time because of how it approached the themes, setting and characters. Padmarajan will go ahead and create more characters and films that talk about sex workers and how their abnormal lives are normal as well as breaking a lot more taboos in Malayalam movies. But the way it is approached here is quite different from the complex characters that are seen in his later films and even in its simplicity it manages to capture all the nuances. Ultimately it is the patriarchal male ego that creates all kinds of conflicts at all points in this film. Even Mammootty's peculiar character in this film seems to realize that is the only thing he has left in him and chooses to use it at the times when he can't drown himself in alcohol and all that is established in limited time despite the screentime being almost equally distributed among the handful of characters. There are a few issues that are common for a lot of Malayalam films of that time but it was the actress Gomathi who played one of the main characters Gaurikutty who was really miscast here. She really can't act.

Overall, this was a great experience of something very different from that era of Malayalam cinema that still has its soul very rooted in Kerala.

If you want to feel the boldness of an unusual story telling or the chill of an unknown fear inching it's way up the spine, which you may not have experienced before..then go for this movie. A strong story line with limited characters, filmed mostly throughout a single location, building a subtle atmospheric terror without a doubt will haunt you for days. Character development at its best. Mammootty, Nedumudi Venu and Ashokan scoring in with outstanding performances. Giving the pleasure of reading a thrilling short story, the plot never losing it's tempo, keeping it all the way up to the chilling climax. Realistically and masterfully done by Director Padmarajan with a fine camera work by Shaji.

One thing about the 80s is that directors were not afraid to experiment with different types of stories, even if it ended up being a success or not. National recognition would be good enough even if it didn't translate into s commercial success. Today's legends of malyalam cinema were just starting off so they didn't have to worry about their star image either. This kind of movie would be unthinkable in today's time and even if it was released it would be considered an art film. Sukumari was in a non typical role as a brothel madam and did well in it. Mammotty unlike today, did not have lion share of the on screen time; it was equally shared by all the supporting actors. Basically a one dimensional book story surrounding a brothel and rescue of a girl from forced prostitution, stretched to 1 hr 45 minutes of movie time. Fight scenes were awkward like two drunks trying to wrestle with each other. The end was anti climatic. Though the movie won a few state awards it did not do well commercially as it did not have a mass appeal to it.

If you are a lover of good movies. if you admire padmarajan style of filmmaking then watch this movie right now .you are going to experience one of the best piece of art.