Vanaprastham
| Vanaprastham | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Shaji N. Karun |
| Produced by |
Mohanlal Pierre Assouline |
| Screenplay by |
Shaji N. Karun Raghunath Paleri (dialogue) |
| Story by | Pierre Assouline |
| Starring |
Mohanlal Suhasini Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar Kukku Parameswaran Venmani Haridas Kalamandalam Gopi Venmani Vishnu |
| Music by | Zakir Hussain |
| Cinematography |
Santosh Sivan Renato Berta |
| Edited by |
A. Sreekar Prasad Joseph Guinvarch |
Production company |
Euro American Films Pranavam Arts |
| Distributed by | Pranavam Arts (Kerala) |
Release dates | 25 December 1999 |
Running time | 119 minutes |
| Country |
India France Germany |
| Language | Malayalam |
Vanaprastham - The Last Dance (English title: Pilgrimage, Malayalam: വാനപ്രസ്ഥം) is a 1999 Indian-French-German[1] co-production Malayalam language, drama film directed by Shaji N. Karun. It stars Mohanlal, Suhasini, Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, Kalamandalam Gopi and Venmani Haridas. The film's music is composed by Zakir Hussain. The film follows the tale of a lower-caste Kathakali artist Kunhikuttan (Mohanlal) during the 1940s era in Travancore. Subhadra (Suhasini), a member of an aristocratic family, falls in love with the character Arjuna played by Kunikuttan. She views Kunikuttan and the character he plays as separate individuals. Their affair eventually leads to the birth of a son, who is hidden away by Subhadra from Kunijuttan for almost a lifetime.
The film was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival (AFI Fest) in 1999.[2] It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival.[1] It is considered to be one of Mohanlal's best performances. IBN Live ranked the film #9 in its list of greatest Indian films of all time.[3][4] The film was screened retrospective, during the 2014 International Film Festival of India in the Celebrating Dance in Indian cinema section.[5]
Plot
The story revolves around a male Kathakali dancer Kunhikuttan (Mohanlal), an admirable and respected performer but a member of a lower caste. He struggles to come to terms with the rejection and estrangement of his father, a member of an upper caste who denies his son. Poor, unhappy, and stuck in an arranged marriage that provides no relief, he gets by for the sake of his daughter. One night, whilst performing as Arjuna from the epic Mahabarata on stage, his dance is witnessed by Subhadra (Suhasini), a well educated member of an upper caste family. Defying the norms of India's rigid caste system, they have a son, but it soon becomes clear that Subhadra loves the character Arjuna from his stage performances, and not Kunhikuttan the dancer. More in love with the valiant, noble hero of the Mahabarata, than the dancer Kunhikuttan, she rejects him and refuses to let him see his son. Denied access to his son, and rejected by his father, Kunhikuttan returns to the stage, leaving behind his hero roles to play demonic characters, reaching within the dark corners of his mind, becoming increasingly resentful and full of anger, until one last dance which brings the feature to a stunning end.
Cast
- Mohanlal as Kunhikuttan
- Arun as Child Kunhikuttan
- Suhasini Mani Ratnam as Subhadra
- Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar as Raman
- Kukku Parameswaran as Savithri
- Venmani Haridas as Vasu Namboothiri
- Kalamandalam Gopi as Kunju Nair
- Venmani Vishnu as Pisharadi
- Kalamandalam Kesavan as Thirumeni
- Bindu Panicker as Bhageerathi
Awards
The film has been nominated for the following awards since its release:
- Nominated - Grand Jury Prize - Shaji N. Karun
1999 Istanbul International Film Festival (Turkey)
- Won - Special Prize of the Jury - Shaji N. Karun
1999 Bombay International Film Festival (India)
- Won - FIPRESCI Prize - Shaji N. Karun
1999 National Film Awards (India)
- Won - Golden Lotus Award - National Film Award for Best Feature Film
- Won - Silver Lotus Award - National Film Award for Best Actor - Mohanlal
- Won - Silver Lotus Award - National Film Award for Best Editing - A. Sreekar Prasad, Joseph Guinvarch
- Won - Best Actor - Mohanlal
- Won - Best Director - Shaji N. Karun
- Won - Best Editor - A. Sreekar Prasad, Joseph Guinvarch
- Won - Best Sound Recordist - Lakshmy Narayana, Bruno Tareere
- Won - Best Processing Lab - Prasad Colour Lab
- Won - Best Make-up Artist - M.O. Devasya, Saleem
1999 Filmfare Award
- Won - Best Actor - Mohanlal
Other Awards
- Won - Mathrubhumi Film Awards - Best Actor - Mohanlal
- Won - Film Critics Award - Best Actor - Mohanlal
Soundtrack
| Song | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arjunavallabhayallo | Manoj Kuroor | Zakir Hussain | Venmani Haridas |
| Bhavatheeya Niyogam | Kottayathu Thampuran | Traditional | Kalamandalam Sukumaran |
| Dark Melody | Zakir Hussain | ||
| Enanka Dinam | Irayimman Thampi | ||
| Inimelil Janikunna | Ittiraarisa Menon | Traditional | |
| Kaaminee Mama | Manoj Kuroor | Zakir Hussain | Kottakkal Madhu |
| Karyamavanodu | Kalloor Namboothirippad | Traditional | |
| Kallinodu Thulya | Kilimanoor Cherunnikoyi Thampuran | Traditional | |
| Kandu Njan Thozhee | Manoj Kuroor | Zakir Hussain | K. Omanakutty |
| Kunhikuttan | Zakir Hussain | ||
| Medoorabhakthiyulla | Muringoor Sankara Potti | Traditional | |
| Mindidaathathenthe | Irayimman Thampi | ||
| Pushkara Vilochana | Muringoor Sankara Potti | Traditional | |
| Smile | Zakir Hussain | ||
| Sodara Balin | Kottayathu Thampuran | Traditional | |
| Subhadra | Zakir Hussain | ||
| Subhadra 2 | Zakir Hussain | ||
| Sukumaara Nandakumaara | Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma | Traditional | |
| Thaal Manthra | Zakir Hussain |
First film in India made in panavision film with dolby stereo.
References
- 1 2 "Festival de Cannes: Vanaprastham". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ↑ Awards (IMDb)
- ↑ "'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll". IBN Live. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ↑ "IBNLive Poll: Vote for India's greatest film of all time". IBN Live. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
- ↑ http://www.iffi.nic.in/Indian%20Cinema%20Catalogue%202014.pdf
External links
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