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The growth : 1960s
After the success of Neelakuyil,
films with authentic Malayalam stories set in the backdrops of
Kerala villages started arriving. Minnaminingu directed
by Ramu Karyat and Rarichhan enna Pouran by P.Bhaskaran
were noted films produced during the late 1950s. Uroob's famous
novel Randidangazhi was also seen on the silver screen.
In 1961 Kandam Bacha Coat,
the first full-length colour film in Malayalam was released.
This was adopted from a famous social drama. The film has no
other relevance than that it is the first colour film in
Malayalam.
Thoppil Bhasi's famous play Mudiyanaya Puthran was filmed
by Ramu Karyat in the early 1960s. This is considered as one of
the best works of Ramu Karyat. In this film instead of
converting the play to film as it is, as was usually done in
those days, he created his own interpretation to the play.
Bhargavi Nilayam (1964) directed by A.Vincent is a notable
film during this period. This was an adoption of renowned
Malayalam writer Vykom Muhammad Basheer's novel. A.Vincent also
directed some of the best films of early ages like Murapennu,
Nagarame Nandi, Asuravithu and Thulabharam.
Irutinte Athmavu directed by P.Bhaskaran, based on
M.T.Vasudevan Nair's story, gave a new face to superstar Prem
Nazir, who till then was seen only in romantic hero's role.
Chemmeen
(Prawn)
Chemmeen (1965) directed
by Ramu Karyat brought home the National Film award for the best
film for the first time in Malayalam. Based on the famous novel
by renowned Malayalam writer Takazhi Shivashanakara Pillai,
Chemmeen pioneered the growth of Malayalam cinema in
technical and artistic aspects. It brought together some of the
best technical talents in India. With the presence of Salil
Chowdhari (music), Markes Burtly (cinematography) and Hrishikesh
Mukhargee (editing) and a huge star cast in its credit, the
director took a back seat. Chemmeen narrates a
melodramatic story of life of fishermen on the costs of Kerala.
When Chemmeen is still hyped as a classic or even the
best film ever made in Malayalam by some quarters of film
industry, it should not be forgotten that Chemmeen was
produced almost a decade after Satyajith Ray made his Pather
Panchali and Malayalam couldn't produce even a single
director in the range of Mrinal Sen or Ritwik Ghatak at that
time. But Chemmeen definitely pioneered the "big" films
in Malayalam.
Post-Chemmeen era
The post-Chemmeen
Malayalam cinema arena saw a upsurge in quality films with
authentic Malayalam stories. After Chemmeen, Ramu Karyat
directed Ezhu Rathrikal which narrated the story of the
down trodden of the society, the beggars. M.T.Vasudevan Nair,
renowned Malayalam writer made his entry to film industry by
writing screenplay for Murapennu. Directed by A.Vincent,
Murapennu was a landmark film. P.N.Menon through his film
Oolavum Theeravum forced Malayalam cinema industry and
the Malayalee audience to think differently. This film cleared
the path for the arrival of Malayalam parallel cinema movement
which swept the cinema arena from the early 70's. |
