The year was 1954. Independent India was only 7 years old. M. R. Radha had recently broken the very basic rule of theater acting: he showed his back to the audience when performing. But the audience could see him emoting by noticing the way his head and ears moved.
Indian movies were busy showing us the finer points of love by showing two flowers caressing each other (The ’’Two birds pecking at each other’’ concept was not there yet.)
It was at a time like this that Ratha Kanneer was released. Ratha Kanneer was the odd one out. The movie was about an evil person’s descent to his death.
MAIN CHARACTERS
Mohanasundaram:
Also called Mohan. Westernized rich man who has just returned from abroad. Atheist. Arrogant. Proud. Sarcastic. Disrespectful to anything Indian and anyone below his social standards.
Balu:
Mohan’s friend, who also studied abroad. Simple, down-to-earth, humble. A complete contrast to Mohan’s character. The milk of human kindness.
Kantha:
Danseuse. Temptress. Seductress. Parasite. The apple of Mohan’s eyes.
Chandra:
Mohan’s wife. Very traditional. Submissive.
Mohan’s mom:
Run-of-the-mill mom. Submissive to Mohan’s tantrums.
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STORY
Mohan comes to India. A group of laborers have arranged a ’’Welcome Ceremony’’ for him. When asked to speak, Mohan goes:
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Mohan: Friends, when I was told that there would be a welcome ceremony for me, I thought I would be welcomed by people who have the social status to welcome me. I thought I would be welcomed by industrialists and rich men. I didn’t expect you laborers here. I hate seeing laborers like you... all you guys talk about is hunger, starvation, etc.(continues)
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He meets Kantha. He falls in love with her. She loves his money. Once, when they are in a park, a very sick-looking leper comes to them and asks for alms.
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Mohan (angry by the sight of the leper): A LEPER IN THE PARK!!! WHAT KIND OF A MUNICIPALITY IS THIS? THIS IS NONSENSE. WHY SHOULD LEPERS BE LET INSIDE THE CITY? SHOULDN’T THEY BE TAKEN AWAY AND SHOT??!!
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Mohan is disrespectful even to his mom.
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Mohan: Live in the outhouse!! I don’t want my friends to see you. I’d be embarrassed.
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Mohan: Don’t you have manners? Whenever someone comes and asks for me, you tell them ’’Mohan is asleep. Mohan is not here.’’ What will my friends think of me? From now on, you will address me as ’’Mohan Sir’’.
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His mom, worried by his playboy ways, convinces him to get married. He gets married to Chandra. Even during the wedding, Mohan is more with his foreigner friends than with his wife. When asked to pose with her for photos, he stands a little away from her, a clear indication that he really is not interested in her. Even on the night after his marriage, he leaves her and goes to Kantha.
Even after marriage, Mohan spends most of his time with Kantha, coming home only once in 2-3 days. On one such day when he’s home, his mom asks him to mend his ways. He kicks a chair at her, hurting her in the process. He goes back to Kantha.
His health has now deteriorated. He coughs all the time due to his chain-smoking. Balu once comes to Kantha’s house.
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Balu: Mohan, I have to talk to you.
Mohan: Don’t you have manners???!! You’re educated, aren’t you? Don’t you know that you should knock before you enter?
Balu: Mom is seriously ill.
Mohan: Then take her to a doctor. Why have you come here? Do I look like a doctor? I can’t come now. Can’t you see I’m busy??
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He comes home when his mom is about to die. Even there, he is very rude to her. His mom dies.
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Mohan: Balu, arrange to pack her off. Today is Kantha’s mom’s birthday. She’ll be very angry if I don’t go.
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Balu arranges Mohan’s mom’s funeral and goes to Kantha’s house to call him to attend the funeral.
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Balu: Mohan, I’ve made arrangements. Come to the funeral. We’ll have to walk to the crematorium.
Mohan: How far is the crematorium?
Balu: Two miles.
Mohan: TWO MILES? I haven’t walked even two furlongs in my life. You guys start off. I’ll follow in my car.
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He doesn’t attend the funeral.
Chandra is very depressed. Earlier, her father walked off in a huff after Mohan insulted him a lot. Mohan’s mom is dead. Balu is the only person who sympathizes with her.
Kantha convinces Mohan that Chandra and Balu are having an affair behind his back. He insults Balu, who vows not to talk to him and leaves the city.
His health gets worse. A doctor diagnoses his condition as that of a very severe case of leprosy, which cannot be cured. Mohan is now kept in a separate room in Kantha’s house. His appearance is terrible. His money is now non-existent.
In the meanwhile, Kantha gets friendly with a rotund movie producer from Bombay who promises to make her an actress. Mohan creates a scene when the producer comes to Kantha’s house, for which he is kicked out.
It’s raining hard. Mohan seeks refuge under a tree. The tree is hit by lightning and Mohan loses his sight.
Mohan now wanders the streets, blind and hungry. His sarcasm is still very much intact.
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Man: I’ll give you some food. Sing me a song.
Mohan (singing): The Lord will take care of all your problems...
Man: If the Lord takes care of everyone’s problems, why did he not take care of your disease?
Mohan (laughing): I sang this song only because you promised food. Why else would I sing it?
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Man: God righteously punished you. You deserve this.
Mohan: Don’t talk about God. You all are a bunch of hypocrites. You worship God, and kick him the very next second.
Man: What do you mean?
Mohan: Don’t you guys pray when you see the Flame of Thiruvannamalai???
Man: But that’s Agni, the Fire God.
Mohan: If that’s the case, why do you scream and curse if your house catches fire? Isn’t that Agni too? If you truly worship Agni, you should dance in glory.
--
The rest of the movie shows us Mohan’s degeneration till his death.
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Ratha Kanneer is a very depressing film. Not many of you will like it, this being a very negative movie. But if you aren’t the kind to be put off by such movies, do watch it. You’ll see what acting really is.
PS: MS says I’ve crossed the 8000 limit. Pros and Cons of the movie in the Comments section.