27-07-2008

9 AM

AT SAVITHA THEATRE

ERNAKULAM

Ekantham -

On the pain of loneliness (2006)
MALAYALAM/COLOUR/35MM/

Director Madhu Kaithapram

Producer Antony Joseph

Cast Murali,Thilakan

Editor Venugopal

Camera man Radhakrishnan M J

Lyrics Kaithapram

Music director Kaithapram Viswanathan

Screenplay Alankode Leelakrishnan

Life is never uncomplicated. The reasons for one’s insecurity maybe many. But the eventual outcome of feeling hopeless and lost is common, especially among the oldies.
Ekantham tackles the subject of old age issues. The feeling of being left out and paranoia is common in many elder citizens. As we said, the causes vary.
Madhu Kaithapram through his debut film Ekantham has tried to go the parallel way of schemes and has etched out a better film. The film with its title which means “Solitude" is a sensitive creation based on the loneliness felt in old age, with no one to take care off. The thing about Ekantham is that it doesn’t get into polemic of doesn’t pontificate; it just showcases the problems of two different individuals.
Opening with aged Achutha Menon performing the last rites for his deceased wife Saraswathy, the film follows his loneliness since he has no children and no immediate relatives. Being a big beaurocrat, he had never taken care of his family in his home village. Tiring of his lonely life, he decides to go to his younger brother Ravunni, who lives in their native village. Ravunni too is a widower, but has a son Viswanathan and a daughter Chandrika, both of whom are settled in the city with their respective families. Since he is suffering from a severe ailment, his daughter and son visits him at regular intervals. Both the brothers meet after a long time, they cherish the memories of old times and are happy being together.
As Ravunni's health deteriorates further, his son and daughter decide to shift him to the city for better treatments. But on the advice of his friend Captain R.K.Nair, Ravunni decides to move to 'Kaarunyam Pain and Palliative Care Centre' a place that provides holistic treatment.
And once at the centres, the two brothers come across a bunch of very different characters like Velayudhan, Dr. Sunny, who is in charge of the centre, Dr. Sophie, who is working there and is deeply in love with Dr. Sunny. All the incidents in the centre is a relegation to Achutha Menon, who is also staying back with his brother. A world of uncanny human relationships opens before him, who decides to look into them in a novel way that he never had experienced before.
Thilakan who plays Achutha Menon once again proves why he is the best in these kinds of characterizations and does it with ease, while Murali is also in his usual self. Salim Kumar as Velayudhan has a small but beautiful role to keep in his records. Manoj K. Jayan as Dr. Sunny and Meera Vasudev as Dr. Sophie are also good.
The highlight of the movie is M.J. Radhakrishnan's cinematography, which captures the mood and feel of the film at its best.
Madhu Kaithapuram has adroitly just put a mirror to the happenings in life and used it to craft a sensitive film. Having been a assistant to Jeyaraj, he understands the subtlety and softness make for good cinema.
The cast comprising Thilakan, Murali, Manoj K Jayan,Meera Vasudev,Indrajith,Salim Kumar,Subair,Ibrahim and Bindu Paniker