Anantaram
| Anantaram (Monologue) | |
|---|---|
 Poster designed by Gayathri Ashokan | |
| Directed by | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| Produced by | K. Ravindran Nair |
| Written by | Adoor Gopalakrishnan |
| Starring |
Ashokan Mammootty Shobhana |
| Music by | M. B. Sreenivasan |
| Cinematography | Mankada Ravi Varma |
| Edited by | M. Mani |
Production company |
General Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 125 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Anantaram (English: Monologue, Malayalam: അനന്തരം, meaning Thereafter) is a 1987 Malayalam feature film production written and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Ashokan, Mammootty and Shobhana star in the lead. The film is structured like a monologue. It develops through a commentary by the protagonist about himself in the first person. The attempt of the protagonist is to narrate how he became what he is now. The film was an experimental film for its time as it had a very linear narrative.[1]
The film won three National Film Awards. It was included in IBN Live's list of 100 greatest Indian films of all time.[1][2][3]
Plot
The film develops through a commentary by Ajayan (Ashokan) about himself in the first person. Later he tells another story about his life with the same background. Finally both these stories fuse together.
Ajayan is born an orphan. He is brought up by a doctor. A brilliant child, Ajayan grows up as an introvert and confused youth. The beautiful Suma (Shobhana) arrives at their house after marrying Balu (Mammootty), his foster-brother. Ajayan at the very first sight of his sister-in-law is sexually attracted to her. This creates internal conflict within him and ultimately he leaves the house.
In the second story Ajayan narrates his confused youth and about the beautiful girl, Nalini who enters his life. Ajayan's mind shifts often between reality and an imaginary romantic world. Finally both these stories converge to a point where both Nalini and Suma become a single entity.
Cast
- Mammootty as Balu
- Ashokan as Ajayan
- Shobhana as Sumangali and Nalini
- Sudheesh as teenage Ajayan
- Bahadoor as Driver Mathai
- Azeez (actor) as the gambler
- Kukku as the nurse
- Krishnankutty Nair as the ailing patient at the dispensary
- Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Yogini Amma
- Adoor Pankajam as Lakshmi Amma
Themes
In Anantaram, the theme of perception is dealt with through the protagonist, a youth who, like Adoor, is both an introvert and an extrovert at the same time. In an interview, Adoor said, "Anantaram is basically about perceptions. About a young, impressionable boy who is an introvert and an extrovert at the same time. You will say he's like me. My treatment was not very familiar, though I was searching for the familiar experience of growing up, struggling with life and relationships. What is in the frame and what is juxtaposed to it just outside the frame... or let us put it this way, it has to do with attuning to the reality just beyond perception. Actually this is part of daily experience though we don't analyse it."[4]
Critical reception
The film is considered Adoor's magnum opus by a few critics, however the overall reaction was mixed.[4]
Awards
The film has been nominated for and won the following awards since its release:
1987 FIPRESCI Prize (Karlovy Vary)
1987 National Film Awards (India)
- Won - Best Director - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
- Won - Best Screenplay - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
- Won - Best Audiography - P. Devadas, T. Krishnanunni, N. Harikumar
References
- 1 2 "100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time". IBN Live. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ↑ "'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll". IBN Live. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ↑ "IBNLive Poll: Vote for India's greatest film of all time". IBN Live. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- 1 2 Gowri Ramnarayan. "A constant process of discovery". Frontline.