The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Of ambition and greed

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Friday, Jul 01, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Of ambition and greed

Rappakkal

We go in herds to the U.S., West Asia and Europe to mint money.

We put everything on sale, including our ancestral houses, even if it is against the wishes of our neglected parents.

Kamal has depicted in the film the whole process of the breaking up of `tharavads' and the pathetic downfall of a new generation that is bereft of any concern for age, gender and kinship.

The story is set in rural Kerala. Grown-up sons with their wives and children get together at the huge `Eeshwara Mangalam tharavad' to finalise the plan to dispose of the structure and other properties in order to make quick money.

The move is resisted by their mother Saraswathi Thampuratti (Sarada), son Balachandra Menon) and, of course, the faithful but son-like Mammootty.

Their opposition is of no avail against the greed of the other sons and their wives. The end is sad, but there is a silver lining — the Thampuratti finally acts according to her feelings.

Good performance

Mammooty has given one of his best performances ever as the servant with an `over-my-dead-body' attitude when it comes to anything concerning the Thampuratti.

Audiences will remember long the expression on his face when he is asked to move off when a family photograph is being taken.

Sarada has played with grace a helpless widow. Gauri (Nayantara) revels in the role of a companion to Mammootty in the kitchen. Malavika (Geethu Mohandas) shines as a failed lover.

Malayattoor Ramakrishnan wrote in his immensely popular and realistic novel, `Verukal' (Roots) that even if we attain the peak of success or power anywhere in the world, we can finally find solace only in our birth-place. The characters portrayed by Sarada and Mammootty drive home the truth of this point.

The story by T.A. Razzak and screenplay by T. Suresh Kumar form the backbone of the film. A must-see for all age groups.

Rishi Raj Singh

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