Finally – “THANMATRA”
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GEORGE K ANTONEY (India)
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Finally – “THANMATRA”
I can see the light; the stream is faint but will get stronger. My hope is “blessy” !!!
Malayalam film industry is being forced into a third world situation with their markets being invaded by other regional language movies (tamil, telugu & hindi). Known for its realistic cinema of the 70 ies and 80 ies, Malayalam movies were forced to ape their neighbors but in vain. When I think about good Malayalam movies I always have to date back atleast 10 – 15 years, always mentioning names like “manichitra taal” “T P balagopalan M A” “chenkol” “chitram” “No: 20 madras mail” “spadigham” … its amazing I am not able to think of any good movie without Mohan lal !!! (Of course there were) and guess what?? My light of hope also stars “mohan lal” and HOW!!!
After I saw movies like “C I D moosa” “friends” “nammal” … I thought “doomsday isn’t that far for Malayalam film industry” especially when mohan lal starrers like “Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu” “Mr brahmachari” turned out to be C grade stuff and worst of all the so called return of the “old Malayalam cinema” – “BALETTAN” disappointed me the most.
After watching Blessy’s “Kaazhcha” last year starring Mamooty, I knew Blessy had something in his way of capturing emotions on celluloid esp when it comes to the core flavours of “kuttanaadu” and the people there, but the movie gave me nothing, it had something missing some ingredient that could have turned the “pulav” into a “biryani”. But my hope was solid; I knew he would find the ingredient soon.
I bought the VCD of THANMATRA Blessy’s second movie after KAAZHCHA starring our very own Lalettan (mohanlal). I was hoping that “my hope” wouldn’t be failed and guess what … I had my biryani. !!!
Blessy introduces us to a typical middle class family in thiruvananthapuram with his protagonist Ramesan Nair (Mohanlal) a Kerala government secretariat employee, his wife Lekha (Meera Vasudev), son Manu (Arjun Lal) who is a class 12 student, and daughter Manju (Baby Niranjana), a primary school student. The family is living on “hope”, a hope for a lot of better things to come and a hope for IAS, A dream unfulfilled for Ramesan and now who is in a desperate attempt to realize the same through his son Manu. We realize the “hope cycle” going on here as Ramesan’s father Krishnan Nair (Nedumudi venu) also hoped for similar dreams with his son.
Ramesan and his son are working quite systematically towards their goal of realizing the dream, which has now lasted three generations. Just 20 minutes into the film and you are part of the Nair family and also partly involved in their hopes and dreams, credit to Blessy the writer and Blessy the director and Sethu Sriram the DOP- who shot well the scenes in restricted spaces of middle class colony flat in Thiruvananthapuram and in the latter half the “tharavadu” in a village of Kerala to bring in the exact flavour and aroma of the land and the people there and there by making me feel as if I was watching the life of my neighbors from Kerala.
After having set up and introduced all the vital characters in a series of very natural and yet interesting sequences, Blessy has the viewer in his command and slowly starts introducing complex elements. The viewer by now has accepted “The super star” MohanLal as a perfect middle class man probably a middle class hero (in very “human” ways). The witty, smart, honest, systematic and intelligent Ramesan starts developing problems with his memory, which starts with absentmindedness and slowly grows into being more serious than what the viewer could easily comprehend … “Alzheimer’s”. A state of losing your memory, progressive cognitive deterioration, state of going back to childishness almost as if erasing pages from the book of moments in life. The person becomes “void”.
The scene where Mohanlal forgets the way to his office and starts behaving as if at home in his office is the onset of the seriousness of his state. I was amazed as to how a star who has this “super hero” image among most Malayalam movie fans because of his rather successful avatar as one in the “wanna be dappangoothu” kinda movies of kerala could strip his stature to a lesser than human figure by literally striping in his office. We see the weakness creeping into Ramesan’s fearless and strong eyes and the need for desperate measures as Mohanlal performs with such finesse.
The devastated Family is well supported by Ramesan’s colleague Joseph (Jagathy Sreekumar… always dependable in such cameos). These guys can act even when they are half asleep!!!
From then on Blessy takes us through the agony, pain and the lighter moments of the family as they try to counter and struggle through their lives with Ramesan’s plight that you also end up struggling, empathizing and even silently praying for the family so that they can realize their hopes and dreams.
“Alzheimer’s Disease”, I believe is a road trod quite a few times in cinema and a recent one reminded me, that of Amithab Bachan’s performance in Black which released after “Thanmatra”. I felt that Sanjay leela bansali in his attempt to create a world of his own with his characters being part of it wasn’t able to portray the danger, the menace and the fear of Alzheimer’s, esp the last scene where amitab bachan with his synthetic looking white hair, clad in black clothes in an “all white” treatment center appeared really plastic to me though the performance of A B was there for Bansali to use. On the contrary I would like to mention a scene from Thanmatra where the severity of the illness in mohan lal would almost match the severity of the illness that A B has in the last scene of “black”. In this scene Manu is returning home at night to inform his father (Ramesan Nair) about the interview call that he gets after his civil service examination. Wanting to share with his father this happy moment he walks towards the house & he observes his father slowly peeking out of window towards the front gate, he is filled with more hope that his father would recognize him and at least realize their achievement but just as he walks towards Ramesan, Ramesan starts moving towards the corners of the room, walking along the edges almost dragging and stooping with fear and in a slow faint voice he cries “kallan …kallan … kallan” (thief thief thief). This scene got me sinking into my couch, I felt my heart getting heavier and realized that my vision was blurring, I turned left to spot my amma with glistened eyes. Well this was it!!! …. a scene that could move many or probably most . I recalled that there were hardly few movies that had such scenes that would have moved me like this … hmm may be last scene from “schindler’s list”, pre climax from “thalapathi” !!
I know there are many “mind fucking “ films which would cause us to have an over night hangover but I would any day prefer the hangover caused by movies like “thanmatra”.
Thanmatra had me viewing it as any other person would have viewed it, being guided by the director through and through from start to end. The land which has “Thilagan” “Nedumudivenu” “Jagathy” “mohan lal” “mamooty” deserve more Blessys!!! Cant wait for his next!!!
A “BURP” for sure, for this beautiful movie.
Its been a looong journey for Mr Blessy from 1987 (thoovanathumbigal – assist director), I have a lesson here …
“It may take decades but gotto keep rolling and gotto keep taping !!! I will also have my “thanmatra” and I will also have my “georges”.”
Tags: Malayalam
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@George: Fantastic writeup on a great movie, and a superlative performance by Mohanlal. Wholly agree with you on most aspects – the pitiful movies being churned out by the Malayalam industry, Lal’s deterioration in stereotyped roles (it was not that long ago that he used to revel in them as well), and Blessy’s undeniable talent – but not on ‘Kazhcha’ (Sight), which was a great piece of work too.
My favorite scene in ‘Thanmatra’ (Molecule) is not an Alzheimer’s scene, rather its a simple scene where Mohanlal is watching his son perform on stage. He’s trained his son to perfection, and as the boy comes to the most difficult portion of the song, Lal mouths the syllables at perfect picth, anxiety in his eyes that slowly turn to pride as the boy successfully negotiates the portion. Subtle, but just fantastic – I can’t think of many other actors who could make such a simple scene a thing of beauty.
Bhansali’s ‘Black’ is another animal entirely, with its color-coordinated sets, hyperbole, shouts and over-acting. Lal’s nuanced performance here was far superior to Bachchan’s loud act there, IMO.
A very well dissected review..I sincerely mirror ur hope that may more such movies be made to lift the malayalam movies from its abyss.
Some people have just the right name:
Blessy is really a blessing for Malayalam movies… Kazhcha was a wholesome Malabar Biriyani of an experience for me. I wouldnt call that movie a biriyani if you hadnt ‘dished’ out such a ranking platter.
I watched Kazhcha 7 times. I never get bored and the cinematography is marvellous. But where Blessy really scores is in his writing. He is such a natural when it comes to establishing his characters. Like you said, he will get you involved deep into the characters in no time…
All accepted Thanmatra is a wonderful movie, but I just couldnt make myself watch it (threw away, not literally, a Rs150 PVR ticket), coz I am a coward inside and Mohanlal I know for bloody-darned-sure will tear me apart from inside with his performance. The main reason for this is I guess subtlety again. When an actor is subtle, you lose the divide between reel and real; and Mohanlal is amazing in it. This might sound like a very mallu brigade, but am very open to watching all kind of movies and ready to appreciate (and appreciates) the talents of any actor. But apart from the immunity garnered by living in Kerala and watching Malayalam movies, to his rather hefty physique, I for one cannot find an actor with a better range than him.
George, I saw this film in kerala when it was released there. it was my first visit to kerala and i wanted to see a malayalam film in the theatre. and i saw thanamatra without subtitles sitting with my would be wife and her parents but i could feel the film right from the beginning till the end. three cheers for Mohanlal. what a fabulous performance?
Hey George,
Brilliant write up on Thanmatra.
Could someone do a review/critique of Kaliyattam (the adaptation of Othello by Jayaraj). After all it gathered Suresh Gopi the National Award for best Actor. :D Shows what a good director and a great story/script can do for an Actor.
Thank u guys for reading !!!
@Gopi
ya many loved Kazhcha, most of my relatives also did but it dint appeal to me that much!!!(meanin no hangover)… but tats subjective so we can still maintain one thing … Blessy is surely our HOPE !!!
@rajesh
I have seen just parts of the movie “kaliyattam” wen it was aired on national TV!!
will try to get my hands on the DVD soon and may be we can discuss it over here !!
but my major worry is that i cannot see the guys who are gonna carry on the work in malayalam cinema after mohan lal, nedumudi venu,mamooty, jagathy sreekumar, innocent etc …
some HUGE boots to fill !!!
Dileep tried his best to mimic mohan lal and at the same time make his own efforts into a character but that too falls short !!!
as vasan bala said in one of his earlier posts mohan lal can act with his back to the camera !!! we need more directors who can atleast capture his back for us !!! before it is too late !!! if we dont see mohan lal in good roles ..the directors and the screen writers are to be blamed !!!
We mallus havent had enuf of him !!!
Georgy Unkle
http://hypem.com/search/unkle/1/
Thanmantra is one of mohanlal’s best…..simply super loved it…its wayyyyyyyyyyy better than black. You feel for ramesan nair in this film…the director great job by keeping it simple middle class family every one can connect with….
With all respects to this brave attempt in Malayalam cinema which is otherwise lack lusture, I must say that the film is melodramatic, unscientific and superficial. I found Mohanlal’s acting a bit steroetyped where his performance mirrored a Mongloid rather than a person afflicted with Alzhimers. Sorry for being a spoil sport, Mallus, but the truth tremains one, despite the fact that you have’nt much to cheer about these days.
@George,
Try and catch Kaliyattam. Its a brilliant movie. The bard has never been the same through Jayaraj’s inspired retelling. Its a couple notches above Omkara.
Rajesh
@All,
While on the subject of Mohanlal, do any of you guys remember ‘Season’ (a Patmarajan movie set in Kolvalam).
Classic neo-noir. Complete with a morally ambiguous protagonist (played by Mohanlal) who nevertheless has an unwritten code of beliefs, the hippie-tourist-drug dealer complete with a regulation Bullet (a chilling portrayal by Fabien, the woman who is not what she appears to be, and a couple of murders :D.
‘Season’ is sprinkled with strange and quirky characters (a half blind Pappu who loses his eyesight after a quickie with a tourist, flotsam who try and eke a living by peddling drugs mixed with flour to the tourists).
The movie was a commercial dud, too many women in bikinis/drug references to pull families in (this was in 1989). Hope Priyadarshan or RGV dont get their hands on this one!! :D
hey rajesh i have added “kaliyattam” and “season” to my must watch list !!!
@Ramakrishna menon
i am happy that i am not in ur position cause if i was i wud have stopped watchin malayalam movies, but i am happy with thanmatra and that has kept the light burnin !!!
b t w is there neother movie in malayalam that u personally njoyed ?? in recent years !!!
@Mainak
thank u for Unkle !!!! finally something other than rock in my play list.
recently watched
I am legend (2/5)
donnie darko (4/5)
movies to watch in the near future
Tare Zameen par
lives of others
dancer in the dark
no mans land
Music
toby keith (christmas carols) fav song “little drummer boy”
Unkle .. mainak reco
beatles & david bowie(classic collection)
@rajesh…
a lot of people dont like season…
it was again one of those gems by pappan saar, which neva got its due…
(pretty lame casting apart)
@ Dpac … is it available on DVD ??? how did u see it??
Misery in movies should be played like symphony and not like jarring music.Intimacy and Compassion in times of distress should be documented with utter care and shud be interjected with visuals, humour and memory of times bygone with precision and deft-touch. It shud be rhythmic and the tones that arise out of that rhythm shud encompass hope and tremendous, unhibited humanity. Only then, is it worth sitting thru.
And hence I conclude that Thanmathra was a POOR FILM. It was forced, contrived and overtly sentimental. It did not suck me in. it tried to swallow me and I dodged away successfully. Infinetely overrated, this movie..
@ george
i saw it first day second show or something…:)
yes i think u can get it on dvd/vcd
@ George good write up but will have to agree with Sreehari.
I watched it with a mallu friend Uday at Prasad’s Hyd where the whole Hyderabadi Mallu population showed up for an early Sun Morn screening…..boy there were SO many!
Uday promised me translation but he was so excited to hear his mother tongue that he totally neglected me
Now I thought I did not enjoy the movie too much because my Mallu is not as good as my Tamizh, which is not much! but……
Great attempt but loses coz the of above mentioned reasons by Sreehari.
Keep posting.
There is this sequence in “Kireedam”, a segment in the song “Kanneer Poovint
i cant agree more sreehari .. abt that scene from Kireedom,
u wrote “Compassion in times of distress should be documented with utter care and shud be interjected with visuals, humour and memory of times bygone with precision and deft-touch”
u mean to say that Thanmathra dint have all this !!!
i would love to read an elaboration on that !!! i dint get u !!!
And hence I conclude that Thanmathra was a POOR FILM. It was forced, contrived and overtly sentimental. It did not suck me in. it tried to swallow me and I dodged away successfully. Infinetely overrated, this movie..
1) poor film : my context was in the current release of films .. can u name a few good ones ??.. and i am the kinda movie buff who waits for a chance to appreciate Tushar Kappoor. dont be so harsh on Blessy !!
unless i can think of makin better ones .. i wudnt say something like that … but tats my view !!!
2)forced = i accept .. to some extent it was forced .. but i believe in cinema being a “make belief medium” and if u can force something and make me eat it .. i dont mind it ( personal view again)
3) overtly sentimental : its sentimental to an extent not surely “overtly” … and remember sreehari .. u need to sell the movie to ppl who are neck deep in the melo drama of the TV serials .. he needs to put in a bit!!! i felt it was to the ryt extent !!!
abt lalettans performance .. i wish i was sittin ryt across ur face in my hall with my DVD .. i cud have reminded u his work in that movie and had a nice discussion on the same !!!
@Sreehari
i loved the way u CONCLUDED that Thanmatra is a poor film, takes a lot for me to do that, cause i would atleast think 10 times before i can even say the same for Dhoom !!
@George
I really meant it was disappoining since ‘kazhch’had some gnuine nattive imagery and moments to express where as the entire plotline, acting style and emotional tenor is flawed. When it coems to Blessy’s next work – ‘Plaunku’ it is going further down. A rehashed version of many satyan anthikad, Sreenivasan, Siby types scenes.
To answer your question, the only film that leftme with a new cinematic impact is Shyamaprasad’s Ore Kadal, there is different world that he tries to present( despite many shortcomings, technicaly) and a truly unique voice as far as Malayalam cinema is considered.
I did not like Thanmatram. I too felt that they were trying to make it too sentimental. And I don’t think that Alzheimer’s disease is like what it was shown in the movie.
And the current Malayalam cinema is bad. There was a time when people use to say that the best cinema in India comes from Malayalam cinema. But currently they are trying to copy Tamil and Hindi films and the people who used to give great Malayalam films are making bad movies. Among the present directors I have hope only for Lal Jose, Padmakumar and Shafi.
Well George, I just find it easy to critique in the general sense than to appreciate . It was in many ways an unwelcome attrib to be endowed with, but then I just have to live with it I guess.
@ r menon and j john
plss do write abt the movies that u have loved … it wud be nice to read ..posts on mallu movies are quite restricted to few amazin articles by Sreehari !!!
well well well… coincidence or joincidence.. thanmathra happened to play on TV the day after i posted my earlier comment… and guess what… i am disappointed… all credit to Mohan Lal… he still made me writhe… but the whole happy family thing… Gosh that was too over done… i mean they behave like they are friends reuniting after a gap of 10 years… everything is hunky dory… too hunky dory… and a little preachy… but Mohanlal’s reactions when he starts forgetting small details is amazing…
These are dinosaur shoes someone should be filling… too bad they are extinct…
Special knock on the head to whoever acted as his son; my goodness he was super over the top. Mallu movies dont run over the top. This guys heightened happiness and everything went over the top; of my head.
@George On Shyamaprasad’s Ore Kadal
Since the days of Padmarajan and K G George, very rarely has a Malayalam film looked at the man-woman relationship so sensuously and closely as Shyamaprasad
@ramakrishna menon
loved ur write up !!! i saw the making of the movie and the promotional videos !! impressive .. will check it out !!!
@George
Check it out at www.2dmovies.com
Sorry. The linke was typed wrong. its www.2dmovie.com