Sarpakkadu (1965)

Snake worship is an established cult in several countries including India from time immemorial. Snake groves or sarpakaavu are still found in various ancient households and temples in the State. Snakes, snake charmers and snake worship have always been a favourite ingredient in Indian cinema. The Bengali-Hindi bilingual starring Kanan Devi Sapurey/Sapera (1939) was probably the first successful film that worked on this theme. S.S. Vasan’s Telugu classicBalanagamma (1942) had as a sub plot, the revenge of a snake. Filmstan’s Hindi film Nagin (1954) that was based on snake charmers and their life was a musical hit. This film popularised ‘been music’ or the music of snake charmer’s flute. The celestial world of snakes was the plot of Tamil films likeKanavane Kann Kanda Deivam (1955) and Naga Panchami (1956).

Sarpakkadu, released on December 31, 1965, was the first Malayalam film that had snakes and snake worship as its theme. Produced by Oriental Movies, owned by P.K. Sathyapal, under the banner of Naga Films, the film was shot at Syamala Studios and directed by J.D. Thottan. Dances choreographed by Chinni Sampath, Rajkumar and E.Madhavan were impressive. Been music was effectively used in this film. Cinematography by P.K. Madhavan Nair, editing by Venkitaraman and Narayanan, dialogues by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai, for the screenplay developed by Sathyapal based on a story written by KVR Acharya added to the charm of this film.

Madhu, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Kottayam Chellappan, Adoor Bhasi, Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai, Ambika, Sukumari and others starred in the film.

Dr. Krishnan (Kottayam Chellappan) and his son Dr. Balan (Madhu) are dedicated to eradicating death by snake bite. They go on a mission to the dense forests surrounding the mountain ranges in search of the Thanka Sarpam or the Golden Snake, believed to be the most poisonous in the world. Their intention is to conduct research based on its venom and perhaps invent anti-venom that would be a remedy for all snake bites. Their compounder (Adoor Bhasi) also accompanies them. They stay in the forest guest house and the watcher there, Raghavan Pilllai (Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai), guides them in their search. But their efforts fail

Balan falls in love with Nagaprabha (Ambika), the elder daughter of Swami (Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair), a hermit who lives in the forests along with his daughters and engaged in worshipping his family deity Nagamma, the Snake Goddess. The compounder falls in love with the younger daughter Nagalatha (Sukumari). One day, Balan and the compounder reach Swami’s hermitage and happen to see the Thanka Sarpam on the idol of Nagamma inside the cave temple there. Balan and his father request Swami to hand over the Thanka Sarpam to them and offer a huge sum of money. Swami becomes furious and drives them away. Meanwhile, Nagalatha is attacked by a bear and Krishnan’s attempts to save her fail. Swami is shocked when he comes to know on his return to the hermitage that the Thanka Sarpam is stolen by Balan when he was away. Swami reaches the guest house and begins playing the makudi or the snake charmer’s flute. The Thanka Sarpam comes out of the pouch in which it was tied up. Swami forces the snake to bite Balan and Krishnan is unable to save him. Nagaprabha begs her father to save the life of her beloved. Swami accedes to the request. He plays the makudi, the snake sucks out the venom, strikes its head on the floor and kills itself. Balan is saved. Kari Nagam or the Mountain Cobra believed to be the companion of the Thanka Sarpam reaches there and bites Swami. Krishnan shoots the snake to death. Before dying Swami wishes Krishnan all success in inventing the anti-venom but also requests him to respect snake worship, not to kill snakes, and to honour the traditional methods of treatment for snake bite.

Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair came up with a superb performance. Adoor Bhasi, Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai, and Sukumari created ripples on laughter in the comic sequences.

Some of the songs written by Abhayadev and tuned by M.S. Baburaj became popular. The romantic duet sung by K.J. Yesudas and P. Leela, Asha nabhassil…aarumariyathe njanumariyathe….was one. The other popular numbers include Nanma cheyyanam njangalkkennum… (Kamukara Purushothaman, Leela, and A.P. Komala), Innale njanoru swapnam kandu…. (Leela), Malamakal thannude…. (Leela-Komala), Naattil varaamo…(Baburaj- Komala), and Srungara lahari than…(Baburaj-Purushothaman).

Will be remembered: As the first Malayalam film with snake worship as its theme and for some of the songs, especially the duet Asha nabhassil...aarumariyathe....

Manaswini (1968)

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Gujarati stage play Sanskar Lakshmi written by Prafulla Desai of Shri Deshi Natak Samaj, Bombay, was staged successfully in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Gujarati-speaking regions in the country during the 1960s. This emotionally charged family melodrama was adapted for the screen by Rajashri Productions for their super hit Hindi film Aarti (1962) with Ashok Kumar, Pradeep Kumar and Meena Kumari visualising a love triangle in the story. Vasu Menon remade the film in Malayalam as Manaswini which was released on this same day, April 13, in 1968.

Shot at Vasu Studios under the direction of P Bhaskaran, the dialogues for this film were written by novelist K. E. Mathai, popularly known as ‘Parappurath’. Manaswini was jointlyedited by K. Narayanan and K. Sankunny, with cinematography by E. N. Balakrishnan and music composed by Baburaj.

Indian cinema in the 1960s, especially in the South, was very much in favour of heroine-oriented social stories, glorifying the characters of mothers, daughters-in-law, sisters-in-law etc.

The success of films under this genre like Manaswini and Kudumbini (1964), Chettathi (1965),Kusruthikuttan (1966) ,etc carried forward this trend.

Sathyan, Madhu and Sharada forming the love triangle in the story, while other popular artistes who acted in the film included Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, P.J. Antony, Nellikkodu Bhaskaran, Meena and Indira Thampi.

Shekhara Menon’s (Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair) daughter Malathi (Sharada) and his nephew Ravi (Sathyan) are studying in the same Medical College. Menon wishes to conduct Malathi’s marriage with Ravi. But Malathi dislikes Ravi’s materialistic attitude and believes that a doctor’s skills should be used for the welfare of the patients and not for materialistic motives. Floods adversely affect life in the Kuttanad region in Kerala, and Malathi along with Ravi attend the medical camp organised there to assist people. A journalist, Haridas (Madhu) saves Malathi from drowning and they fall in love.

Ravi goes abroad for higher studies. Malathi and Haridas decide to get married though Menon firmly disapproves their relationship. Ravi returns after studies and is disappointed and humiliated by Malathi’s marriage to Haridas, considering it a betrayal. Ravi gets married to Rekha (Sukumari), who supports Ravi in starting a nursing home of his own.

Malathi is ill-treated in Haridas’s family by his brother Divakaran’s (Nellikkodu Bhaskaran) wife Janamma (Meena). Malathi keeps the household neat and clean and her dedication towards the family wins the hearts of Haridas’s father Raghavan Nair (P.J. Antony) and sister Usha (Indira Thampi), who is a divorcee. Divakaran’s son Venu (Master Sathyan) was unable to walk properly and Malathi takes him to Ravi for treatment.

Janamma spreads rumours that Ravi visits Haridas’s family to meet his former lover in the pretext of treating Venu. This brings a discord in the marital life of Malathi. A suspicious Haridas sents Malathi back to her father.

Malathi’s absence makes Venu emotionally down and his condition worsens due to lack of proper medical care. Raghavan Nair brings Malathi back home at Janamma’s request and Venu recovers from his illness.

Malathi then returns to her father once more. Janamma repents her past deeds and clears the suspicion created in the mind of Haridas by the rumors spread by her. She requests Haridas to bring Malathi back. When he sets out to do so, Haridas meets with an accident and sustains serious head injuries. Ravi is the only surgeon who can operate on Haridas and he agrees to do so on the condition that Malathi surrenders herself to him forever.

To save her husband’s life, Malathi accedes to the conditions laid down by Ravi and the operation takes place successfully. Being a loyal wife who firmly believes in the sanctity of marital relations, Malathi comes to Ravi with poison in her hands with firm decision to end her life. Ravi changes his mind, withdraws the conditions laid down by him and leaves for Calcutta with his wife, giving the social melodrama a happy ending.

Sathyan’s performance in a negative role impressed the audience. As usual Sharada excelled in her portrayal of the long-suffering but noble, family loving daughter-in-law. The comedy sequences with Adoor Bhasi, Bahadur and Pattom Sadan were just repetitions from the past.

Songs written by P Bhaskaran and set to tune by Baburaj became timeless.

Instant hits were “Kanneerum Swapnangalum….” (Yesudas), and “Paathiraavaayilla Pournami Kanyakku …” (Yesudas) . Other hits include “Thelinju Premayamuna…” (Yesudas), “Mutti Vilikkunnu Vaathilil…”, “Aaradhikayude Pooja Kusumam…” (Both by Janaki).

Will be remembered:

As a good social movie upholding the sanctity of marital life, and for the excellent music.