’Katha Parayumbol’ comes from Srinivasan, the gifted actor/screenplay writer/director. Released this Christmas, the film has an interesting theme and a different script. The usual ingredient in Indian films, ’Romance’ between lovers, is missing here and the story narrates the friendship between a barber and a super star of the silver screens in a novel way. There are plenty of interesting characters in this film, and the way they have been used shows the brilliance of Srinivasan and the flavour is pure rural Kerala.
Barber Balan(Srinivasan) who is settled in a hilly village tries his best to improve his ruining shop, by trying for loans from government departments. His wit and sharp tongue ends him in trouble always and he has to make his customers sit on old and unsafe chairs for their cutting and shaving. He has a wife(Meena) and three children, the eldest at 10th std. Even paying their fees has become an impossible task and the eldest has to stand outside her class for not paying her fees. He cajoles the local tutorial college Principal Venu Master (Mukesh) to admit her without fees. But this Principal is also a poor guy running after his students for their fees. Eeppachchan muthalaali(Innocent) is the local financier who is ready to lend anyone for hectic interests, but Balan is always against this, inspite of his starvation. His shop is surrounded by interesting characters like Sarasan(Jagadish) the rival Saloon owner, Devassi(Mamu Koya) the tea shopman, Kavidas Vadakkemuri(Salim Kumar) the local poet who scribbles anything on papers in the name of poetry and villagers playing games in front of his shop.
A Movie production unit enters the village for shooting and the entire scenario changes. Superstar Ashokraj(Mammooty) is the hero of the film and the shooting will take place for a month or so. Everyone wants to see the shooting and the big shots to meet the Star himself in person. They ply by local jeeps and cycles to the spot. The tea shop has no customers now. Somebody says to Eepachchan that a rich man like him should produce a film with Ashokraj as the hero and something called’some sheet’(callsheet) will be available only after meeing him. The poet wants to write lyrics for films with the help of the Star. Venu master offers his students if they pay the pending fees, he will make them meet the Star.
Balan reveals to his wife that he and Ashok were friends some 25 years ago, and that doesn’t mean anything to him now. The news spreads like fire. His wife and kids want to meet the star. The school waives the fees of the girl with a condition that Balan should bring the Star to the school for a function. Eepachchan provides latest revolving chair and new scissors for his shop. Everyone in the film pounce on him for the introduction of the star, and poor Balan is hesitant to meet the Star. He is a straightforward man and fears insult if he goes to meet him. At one juncture he is accused as a cheat, who is using the Star’s name, and the poor guy is broken, even his children insult him. The school Principal meets the star and he consents to attend the function. He outpours on the stage that he is also an ordinary man with a heart, and everything he owns now are due to his old friend Balakrishnan, who sold his earstud for his tickets to filmdom, and who sacrificed a lot to see his friend as an actor. He says friendship is the best gift for everyone and he misses it now and is in search of his old friend.
Balan runs home in tears hearing the speech. Now his children are aware of their dad’s humble character. When the whole family is comforting each other the star enters the simple house silently. The friends meet only in the climax. He hugs the children and utters, ’Balanda makkal’(Balan’s kids) that has so many meaning behind it. He leaves promising to return back only to take them along.
The film is a load of comic situations , neat sentiments and great performances. The thread of friendship never crosses the limits for this honest man. Poverty has never made him kneel before anyone and his pride never allowed him to exploit the situation. Such a character has been brought to life by Srinivasan. Mammootty has excelled in the role of the Super Star. His body language, movements and action is world class. All the other actors have given their best for this movie produced by Srinivasan and Mukesh and directed by Mohanan. The poet’s song’Vithyasthanaam’ still lingers in my mind. The sharp dialogues are great assets for this film, thanks to Srinivasan.
I only wish that this film should gather plenty of awards in the near future.
The mild shock I received is, it is going to be remade in Tamil with Rajini as the Star and Pasupathy as the Barber and directed by P.Vasu who butchered Manichitrathaazh to remake it as’Chandramughi’.