| Good
things come in small packages. Scriptwriter turned director Sarathchandran
Wayanad’s debut film, Annorikkal is worth a look for its story,
presentation and great performance by lead actors Kavya and Sunil.
The film tugs at your heart and Sarath who showed flashes of brilliance
in his earlier script Vasnathiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum is a
promising director. Anandakuttan, the veteran cameraman of over
100 films has etched the beauty and greenery  of
a village milieu in some never seen before locations.
Ponnu
(Kavya) is a girl who lives with her mother (Kalaranjini) in Devarhalli
village on the border of Kerala and Karnataka. Ponnu is a hardworking
girl who wants to pay off the debts made by her late father as
her properties are pledged with a Gounder. She has a heart of
gold and her only aim is to get back her land by working as a
manual labourer.
Pandi
(Kalabhavan Mani) has an eye on her but it is Velu, the Gounder’s
son who is after her. Meanwhile another unemployed young guy Benny
(Sunil) is madly in love with her and Ponnu too likes him. In
a melee, Benny accidentally kills Pandi’s brother and is jailed.
Now Pandi wants to take revenge on Benny and will the lovers unite
forms the climax of the film.
Sarathchandran
need praise for handling such a complicated subject with conviction
and ease.But it is Kavya's career best performance as Ponnu. Her
Wayanadan accent, nuanced understanding of the character and the
quality she invests in her character is worth mentioning. Sunil
is a promise for Malayalam cinema as his romantic interludes with
Kavya and superbly controlled emotions in the climax are simply
magical.
Sarathchandran
has given Malayalam cinema a mature look. Where many movies speak
from their wallets, here is one that speaks from the heart. m
is expected to release by March 15. |
