Jeevitha Nouka

Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar, Thikkurissi, S. P. Pillai, Nanukuttan, Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai, Adhimoolam, B. S. Saroja, Pankajavalli

'Jeevithan Nauka' is considered the first Malayalam 'mega hit' film. It was simultaneously shot in Tamil and Telugu. The success of the different versions prompted the producers to dub the film in Hindi as 'Jeevan Nauka' (1952). The Hindi version also did well.

The film portrayed the life of simple folk in a small village in Kerala. The treatment is simple, straightforward and objective. At a time when most south Indian films told stories of kings and gods, 'Jeevitha Nauka' spoke of human sufferings. This was a new experience.

Soman (Thikkurissi) is brought up by his elder brother Raju (Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavthar) and his shrewish wife Janu (Pankajavalli). Soman is in love with Lakshmi (B. S. Saroja), the daughter of a poor village performer Kaniyan (Adhimoolam) who belongs to a lower caste. Raju, employed by the Minda (Nanukuttan) and Janu resent the inter- caste marriage between Soman and Lakshmi.

Lakshmi gives birth to a son and in the meanwhile Soman goes to the city in search of job. Lakshmi who is left behind in the village faces harassment at the hands of the villagers. In the city, Soman is hit by a car driven by a rich young woman who takes him home and also employs him as the manager of her estate. Janu starts receiving Soman's letters and remittances which start arriving. Janu does this by impersonating Lakshmi with the connivance of her brother Shanku (S.P.Pillai).

Meanwhile Lakshmi leaves the village in search of Soman. During her wanderings Lakshmi sees her husband with a woman and suspects him of being disloyal. The young woman is none other than his employer. Lakshmi tries to kill her child and commit suicide but what saves her is the instinct of motherhood. Lakshmi gets together a band of beggars and organizes a home for them. She uses her talent as an actress and collects funds for the home by staging plays. Back in the village life turns its tables on Raju and Janu, while her brother Shanku is killed. The real culprits, the Minda's advocate and his group of people mislead the police implicating Soman in the murder. During one her plays, Lakshmi recognizes her husband who is about to be arrested on the trumped up charge. Explanations follow and Soman is absolved of the false charge and the couple are reunited. Raju is helped out by Soman. Janu who has now become a beggar is recognized by Lakshmi. Regardless of what has happened in the past, Lakshmi takes Janu home. And all ends well.

There were 14 songs in the film. Music by Dakshinamoorthy followed the then prevailing trend of imitating popular Hindi tunes. Mehboob entered the cinema world by singing for this film. Though an imitation of the Mohammed Rafi song from the Hindi film 'Dulari' (1949) 'Suhani rat Dal chuki…' (Naushad), the soulful rendering by Mehboob made the song 'Akaale aarum kaividum…..' memorable. Other songs like, 'Aaanandamiyalum bale….' (P. Leela) , 'Thoraathasru dhaara….' (Revamma), imitations of tunes from 'Barsaat' (1949, Shanker- Jaikishen) failed to impress. A duet, 'Aanathalayolam venna tharameda…' sung by Sebastian Kunjukunju Bhagavathar and Alappuzha Pushpam, father and daughter, in real life, became a super hit.

Will be remembered: Noted singer Mehboob made his film debut in this film. It will also be remembered for the songs, 'Aanathalayolam venna tharameda…' (Bhagavathar, Pushpam) and 'Vana gayike vinnil varoo nayike...' (P. Leela, Mehboob).