Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
Encyclopedia
Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (English
: Shyamala lost in thought) is a 1998
Malayalam film written and directed by Sreenivasan, starring Sangeetha, Sreenivasan, Thilakan
, Innocent, Nedumudi Venu
, Sudheesh
, and Siddique
. The film is about an irresponsible husband and his neglected family. It won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
.
. The poem describes the philosophic musings of Sita
and her confrontation with her husband Rama
, towards the end of the Ramayana
epic. As in the poem, the film portrays the silent struggle, sacrifice, and finally the emancipation of the character Shyamala.
The movie opens with a light portrayal of the misery of his wife Shyamala and their two daughters, with Vijayan away on his latest venture — an attempt to shoot a short ad
film. It ends, predictably, with Vijayan taking to his heels when it is apparent that he has never seen a film being shot in his life before. Karunan "Mash," Vijayan's father, as a last resort to reform his son, suggests that Vijayan make the annual pilgrimage to the Hindu
hilltop temple Sabarimala
. Despite his initial protests, Vijayan makes his pilgrimage, undertaking the customary 41-day fasting
and abstinence
.
Sabarimala
changes him. On his return from his pilgrimage, his family discovers to their dismay that matters have swung to the other extreme. Vijayan takes faith to his heart, embraces vegetarianism
and adopts a life of prayer
, frugality
and abstinence
, eventually forsaking his debt-ridden family for a life at an ashram
. His version of ashram life is one of round-the-clock prayer and an escape from daily responsibilities and work — which doesn't go well the other residents. He soon finds himself unwelcome there and returns to his home, to discover his family now reasonably well-off from a small business his wife started soon after he left.
as a gifted comedian
and screenwriter
. The film won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
in 1999. It won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film
in 1998.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Shyamala lost in thought) is a 1998
Malayalam films of the 1990s
The following is a chronological list of films in the Malayalam cinema and language released in the 1990s.- Highest grossing films of the decade :*1990: His Highness Abdullah*1991: Kilukkam*1992: Yodha*1993: Manichithrathazhu...
Malayalam film written and directed by Sreenivasan, starring Sangeetha, Sreenivasan, Thilakan
Thilakan
Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
, Innocent, Nedumudi Venu
Nedumudi Venu
Nedumudi Venu is a popular Malayalam film actor from Kerala, India. He has also written screenplays and has directed one film.- Early life :...
, Sudheesh
Sudheesh
Sudheesh is an Indian actor who mainly works in Malayalam cinema.-Filmography:-External links:****...
, and Siddique
Siddique (actor)
Siddique is a Malayalam film actor, producer, and television compere. He started his film career doing comedy roles and later performed in a variety of roles.-Early career:...
. The film is about an irresponsible husband and his neglected family. It won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
The National Film Award - Best Film on Other Social Issues winners:...
.
Cast
- Shyamala - Sangeetha
- Vijayan - Sreenivasan
- Suku - SudheeshSudheeshSudheesh is an Indian actor who mainly works in Malayalam cinema.-Filmography:-External links:****...
- Karunan - ThilakanThilakanSurendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
- Achuthan Nair - Innocent
- The Headmaster - Nedumudi VenuNedumudi VenuNedumudi Venu is a popular Malayalam film actor from Kerala, India. He has also written screenplays and has directed one film.- Early life :...
- Usman - MamukkoyaMamukkoyaMamukkoya is a popular Malayalam comedian actor. His unique usage of Mappila dialect and style marks his presence in the industry. He has acted in more than 450 Malayalam films and is the first winner of State award for Best Comedian in malayalam films, the category introduced in 2009- Career...
- Johnnykutty - SiddiqueSiddique (actor)Siddique is a Malayalam film actor, producer, and television compere. He started his film career doing comedy roles and later performed in a variety of roles.-Early career:...
- Swamiji - Unni Mannanur
- Divya - Kripa
- Kavya - ShafnaShafnaShafna, is an Indian film actress, who appears in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. She made her acting debut as a child artist in Malayalam with Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala .- Film career :...
Title
The title and plot of the film are inspired by Chinthavishtayaaya Sita, a celebrated work by Malayalam poet and social reformer Kumaran AsanKumaran Asan
N. Kumaran Asan , also known as Mahakavi Kumaran Asan , was one of the triumvirate poets of Kerala, South India...
. The poem describes the philosophic musings of Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
and her confrontation with her husband Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
, towards the end of the Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
epic. As in the poem, the film portrays the silent struggle, sacrifice, and finally the emancipation of the character Shyamala.
Plot
Vijayan, the village school teacher, believes that his degree in economics is sufficient for him to succeed in the business ventures he undertakes. Taking long leaves of absence from work, he roams around with his schemes, all of which turn out to be downright failures.The movie opens with a light portrayal of the misery of his wife Shyamala and their two daughters, with Vijayan away on his latest venture — an attempt to shoot a short ad
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
film. It ends, predictably, with Vijayan taking to his heels when it is apparent that he has never seen a film being shot in his life before. Karunan "Mash," Vijayan's father, as a last resort to reform his son, suggests that Vijayan make the annual pilgrimage to the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
hilltop temple Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
. Despite his initial protests, Vijayan makes his pilgrimage, undertaking the customary 41-day fasting
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
and abstinence
Abstinence
Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstention from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical...
.
Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
changes him. On his return from his pilgrimage, his family discovers to their dismay that matters have swung to the other extreme. Vijayan takes faith to his heart, embraces vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
and adopts a life of prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
, frugality
Frugality
Frugality is the quality of being frugal, sparing, thrifty, prudent or economical in the use of consumable resources such as food, time or money, and avoiding waste, lavishness or extravagance....
and abstinence
Abstinence
Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstention from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical...
, eventually forsaking his debt-ridden family for a life at an ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
. His version of ashram life is one of round-the-clock prayer and an escape from daily responsibilities and work — which doesn't go well the other residents. He soon finds himself unwelcome there and returns to his home, to discover his family now reasonably well-off from a small business his wife started soon after he left.
Reception
This was Sreenivasan's second directorial effort and won critical and commercial success and further established his position in Malayalam CinemaMalayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
as a gifted comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
. The film won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
The National Film Award - Best Film on Other Social Issues winners:...
in 1999. It won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film
Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value winners:-References:**...
in 1998.
Awards
- National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social IssuesNational Film Award for Best Film on Other Social IssuesThe National Film Award - Best Film on Other Social Issues winners:...
- Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic ValueKerala State Film Award for Best Popular FilmThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value winners:-References:**...
- Kerala State Film Award for Best ActressKerala State Film Award for Best ActressThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress winners:-References:**...
- Filmfare Award for Best Feature Film in MalayalamFilmfare Award for Best Feature Film (Malayalam)The Filmfare Best Film Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Malayalam films....