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Karutha Pakshikal
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Karutha
pakshikal
Review :
Mammootty excels in 'Karutha
Pakshikal' (REVIEW)
By Paresh C. Palicha,
Film: "Karutha Pakshikal"; Cast: Mammootty, Padmapriya, Meena
and Baby Malavika; Director: Kamal; Music: Mohan Sithara
Mammootty teams up again with director Kamal in "Karutha
Pakshikal" after their last successful outing in "Raapakal".
The film tells the story of a Tamil immigrant Murugan (Mammootty),
who makes a living out of ironing clothes in Kerala. He is a
widower, who lives in a slum with his three children - one of
whom is blind.
"Karutha Pakshikal" showcases the life in slums with
these characters, but it moves between starkness and
sentimentalism. Where the film wins us over is the
characterisation of the protagonist Murugan. Kamal puts so much
life into this man that we can overlook any other shortcoming of
the film.
The film portrays Murugan's daily life and the odds he faces
because of his identity-less existence. He cannot afford a
cornea transplant for his daughter as recommended by the doctor
in the free eye camp.
When he loses his handcart in a political riot in the city, he
is helpless because his name is not in the electoral list. The
general apathy towards such people is highlighted again where he
lies bleeding at a hospital after a stabbing incident.
These events are just punctuations in the narrative. The story
moves forward as his blind daughter Malli (Baby Malavika)
befriends a rich woman, Suvarna (Meena), while accompanying her
father to work. Suvarna, who is terminally ill, develops a
special bond with Malli and decides to donate her eyes to the
girl after her imminent death.
Mammootty has grabbed the opportunity to perform with
relish. He truly embodies Murugan and takes us through a gamut
of emotions, as the character is forced to compromise at several
occasions.
Kamal also scores with the characters of children - they are the
mirror of Murugan's conscience. This becomes evident when
Suvarna offers to donate her eyes to the little girl after her
death, but Malli does not wish death for Suvarna who has been
extremely nice to her.
On the other hand, Malli's elder brother Azhakappan (Master
Thejus) hopes that Suvarna dies soon so that his sister's sight
is restored at the earliest.
The female characters, however, could have been portrayed
better. Meena as Suvarna is a porcelain beauty and does not
reveal the emotional depth of a terminally ill patient. This
treatment of Suvarna's character may be intentional, as we see
her through Murugan's point of view.
Poonkodi (Padmapriya), the beggar girl who has a soft
corner for Murugan's kids, provides some lighter moments to the
film.
This page related to : Karutha
pakshikal review, Malayalam movie review, Malayalam film
review, Actor Mammootty's film, Actress Padmapriya, Director
Kamal movies,
Malayalam chithram Karuthapakshikal
IANS.
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