PAADHA MUDRA

PAADHA MUDRA 1988

(Foot Print)

DIRECTION R. SUKUMARAN

This movie bagged special actor award for Mohanlal and special Jury award.Mohanlal has given duel performance as father and son, ” Mathu Pandaram ” and ” Soap Kuttappan” Father is a ” Thayyam ” artist and because of his bad reputation his son’s life is completely ruined and he almost lost his mental balance. I’ll consider this movie as Mohanlal’s best.

MOVIE

The the movie opens with the scene where the priest is giving a sermon on the mount about the birth of Jesus. Kuttappan who was hearing it along with some of his friends got mad when he heard the word ” Pitha” He starts abusing the priest and start shouting ” stop your preaching ” . He hates the word “Father” as much as he hates his own father whom he feels is fully responsible for his losing is mental balance. His friends calm him down and took him home . On seeing his condition his mother feels helpless. To understand his present condition we have to know more about his father who is a” Thayyam ” artist.

Thayyam Dance

Theyyam (Teyyam, Theyyattam ) (Malayalam:തെയ്യം) is a popular ritual form of worship of North Malabar in Kerala, India, predominant in the Kolathunadu area (consisting of present-day Kasargod, Kannur Districts, Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad and Vadakara and Koyilandy Taluks of Kozhikode of Kerala) and also in Kodagu and Tulu nadu of Karnataka as a living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs. The performers of Theyyam belong to the lower caste community, and have an important position in Theyyam.People of these districts consider Theyyam itself as a God and they seek blessings from this Theyyam. A similar custom is followed in the Tulu Nadu region of neighbouring Karnataka known as Bhuta Kola.

The dance or invocation is generally performed in front of the village shrine. It is also performed in the houses as ancestor-worship with elaborate rites and rituals.

There is no stage or curtain or other such arrangements for the performance. The devotees would be standing or some of them would be sitting on a sacred tree in front of the shrine. In short, it is an open theatre. A performance of a particular deity according to its significance and hierarchy in the shrine continues for 12 to 24 hours with intervals. The chief dancer who propitiates the central deity of the shrine has to reside in the rituals. This may be due to the influence of Jainism and Buddhism. Further, after the sun sets, this particular dancer would not eat anything for the remainder of that day (again possibly on account of a legacy of Jainism). His make-up is done by specialists and other dancers. The first part of the performance is usually known as Vellattam or Thottam. It is performed without proper make-up or any decorative costume. Only a small, red headdress is worn on this occasion.

Though Kuttappan hates his father he often utters the word ” Paavam Achan” meaning Poor father. He works in a quarry but does not get regular job there. He earns more money by curing sick people because people believe he has divine touch. He is also quick tempered. If some one calls him “Soap Kuttappan” he gets mad. It is a nickname the villagers have given him. It has a big story behind it.

Mathu Pandaram

Mathu Pandaram is a very interesting character. He is a gifted singer and Thayyam artist. Besides that he sells special ” Pappadams” He makes them with so much care mixing garlic, green chilies , rice flour etc. He takes to every house and demonstrates how even with out oil it puffs just by keeping under the sun and lit with a small fire. All women are his targets and he is a flirt too. Young women are attracted by his charm and sweet talk. He has befriended few women too who become his regular customers.

One such customer is Mallooran’s wife. She and her husband became his close friends. Sometimes Pandaram and and Mallooran’s share ” Kanja” a sort of drug which gives them kick. Because all women are easily charmed by him people tease him saying he puts soap and call him ” soap Pandaram” He actually enjoys it.

Actually he is married . He married someone who was making Pappadams in her house. But she is ignorant about music. Whenever he talks about M.K. Thiagaraja Bhagavathar and K.B. Sundarambal she just turn a deaf year.He feels she is no match for him. Probably that is why he wants the company of other girls !

On one such occasions when Narayanan Mallooran and Pandaram were having a good time puffing Kanja , Pandaram was tempted to have an affair with his wife. He wanted to control his temptation but finally has to yield to his desire. When Narayanan was completely knocked down by the drug he went inside his house and they shared some intimate moments. She started feeling guilty after that and avoided seeing him and also told him she is bearing the cross.

Mallooran met him on the way Oneday. He told him to stop acting smart with girls and wanted to know whether he adds special powder in the Pappadams to attract girls. He warns him if he continues doing it he will have to be tie with a nose ring like a bull. Pandaram got so insulted by his words.

One Day he happened to meet Mallooran ‘s wife in the temple. She came to offer prayers for her son who is named “Kuttappan Mallooran ” Pandaram immediately realized it is actually his son.Infact the whole neighbourhood knows he is the son of Pandaram because he too has a mole on his left cheek exactly like Mathu and because of this Narayanan’s wife feels so embaressed. Kuttappan too was ridiculed by everyone and they call him ” Cheriya Pandaram’

Mathu stared feeling guilty and restless. He decided to go to Palani to take part in Kavadi Attam. Since he does not have enough money he goes and performs dance and collects money. When he came to Narayanan ‘s house after the dance when he was about to give the prasadam Narayanan tells him’ Stop it! Nerathe Prasaadam Thanthallo” ( you have already given me the Prasaadam” He too knows the secret about Kuttappan and was deeply hurt. He doesn’t like Kuttappan much. But he used to take him to the tea shop.

After returning from Palani one unfortunate day Mathu was killed by the bull which Kuttappan let the bull out , to graze. There was no one even to do the last rites and when Kuttappan offered to it he was denied. This made Kuttappan to lose his mental balance and he was sent to rehabilitation center now and then.

He loved his half sisters Saradha and Laksmi. Saradha is Narayanan ‘s daughter and Laksmi is Mathu’s daughter. But Narayana’s wife doesn’t like him visiting Laksmi. Kuttappan felt so helpless. He had a soft corner for Aswathi. But he was completely shattered when she was raped by a man working in the quarry and was killed and dumped in the pond . Kuttappan completely lost his mental equilibrium. He had to be admitted in rehabilitation center again. After returning he too wanted to visit Palani. He met many Pandarams there and he was telling himself ” they are all “Thendigal” meaning jobless people, like him. When he returned he met his parents , got them some gifts and also took some gifts to Laksmi. He saw her with a man . When he asked her why she is roaming around with someone she replied she can’t be living with the cheap gifts he is giving to her and she needs money. This was the last straw in already burdened heart . He felt he was rejected by everyone.He broke down and was completely mad. He started running in the street without any control.This time he might not come back from the asylum.

As father and son who are just opposite in their character Mohanlal has given a brilliant performance! Father is a happy go lucky guy, carefree, full of energy easy going and flirt. Whereas son is very soft, gentle, kind and sensitive. Seema too has given a brilliant performance as a guilt ridden house wife who lives every minute cursing the moment when she was tempted by the charm of Mathu and Nedumudi Venu excels as a true friend who trusted him and lost his peace of mind. The song ” Ambalamillathe” is so beautifully picturised!

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