Oru Cheru Punchiri
Encyclopedia
Oru Cheru Punchiri is a 2000
Malayalam film written and directed by M.T. Vasudevan Nair. This is his sixth film as a director
. The film stars Oduvil Unnikrishnan
and Nirmala Sreenivasan in the lead roles. The film is based on Telugu
writer Sriramana's short story Mithunam.
) in his mid seventies and his wife Ammalukutty (Nirmala Sreenivasan) in her mid sixties continuing their married life in a honeymoon mood. This couple wake up to romantic mornings dense with sweet herbal aroma with the melodious music of birds as the background. They spend their time engaged in games of mischief and even some social activities that they could manage. They make it clear that they would never surrender to the plea of their children coated in love, to sell the ancestral property in the village and move to the city with them. They are happy doing agriclture in the land they own. They have some good neighbours in Janu (Roslyn), her daughter Malathi (sindhu) and helper-boy Kannan (Master Vignesh). Krishna Kuruppu was instrumental in Janu getting a sweeper's job in the Urban bank there. He also sponsors for Kannan's education. Krishna Kuruppu helps Bhaskaran (Jayakrishnan) get a job in the estate he worked. He also arranges the marriage of Bhaskaran and Nirmala. He also supports the love affair of his grand-daughter Beena (Lena
) with a Muslim youth.
The movie ends with Ammalukutty's decision to continue with this celebration of life even after the death of Krishna Kuruppu.
at Parappuran, Puthiyedam, Chowwara
, Sreemoolanagaram
, and Aluva in Kochi, India.
Malayalam films of the 2000s
The following is a list of films produced in the Malayalam cinema and language in the 2000s.- Highest grossing films of the decade :*2000: Narasimham*2001: Raavanaprabhu*2002: Meesa Madhavan*2003: Balettan...
Malayalam film written and directed by M.T. Vasudevan Nair. This is his sixth film as a director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. The film stars Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan was an award winning Malayalam movie actor known for his versatile acting skills, known for his portrayal of classical ancient aristocratic personalities in Malayalam cinema with his unique provincial linguistic style, expressions and dialect. He was noted as a serious as well...
and Nirmala Sreenivasan in the lead roles. The film is based on Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
writer Sriramana's short story Mithunam.
Plot
Oru Cheru Punchiri tells the story of a retired estate manager Krishna Kuruppu (Oduvil UnnikrishnanOduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan was an award winning Malayalam movie actor known for his versatile acting skills, known for his portrayal of classical ancient aristocratic personalities in Malayalam cinema with his unique provincial linguistic style, expressions and dialect. He was noted as a serious as well...
) in his mid seventies and his wife Ammalukutty (Nirmala Sreenivasan) in her mid sixties continuing their married life in a honeymoon mood. This couple wake up to romantic mornings dense with sweet herbal aroma with the melodious music of birds as the background. They spend their time engaged in games of mischief and even some social activities that they could manage. They make it clear that they would never surrender to the plea of their children coated in love, to sell the ancestral property in the village and move to the city with them. They are happy doing agriclture in the land they own. They have some good neighbours in Janu (Roslyn), her daughter Malathi (sindhu) and helper-boy Kannan (Master Vignesh). Krishna Kuruppu was instrumental in Janu getting a sweeper's job in the Urban bank there. He also sponsors for Kannan's education. Krishna Kuruppu helps Bhaskaran (Jayakrishnan) get a job in the estate he worked. He also arranges the marriage of Bhaskaran and Nirmala. He also supports the love affair of his grand-daughter Beena (Lena
Lena Abhilash
Lena Abhilash , is a Malayalam actress and a VJ . She is known for her contrasting roles in different Malayalam soaps, which otherwise is filled with tear-jerking female characters. She has acted in many films including Jayaraj's Sneham, Karunam and Shantam, Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal, Randam...
) with a Muslim youth.
The movie ends with Ammalukutty's decision to continue with this celebration of life even after the death of Krishna Kuruppu.
Cast
- Oduvil UnnikrishnanOduvil UnnikrishnanOduvil Unnikrishnan was an award winning Malayalam movie actor known for his versatile acting skills, known for his portrayal of classical ancient aristocratic personalities in Malayalam cinema with his unique provincial linguistic style, expressions and dialect. He was noted as a serious as well...
as Krishna Kuruppu - Nirmal Sreenivasan as Ammalukutty
- Jayakrishnan as Bhaskaran
- Sindhu as Nirmala
- P. K. Venukuttan NairP. K. Venukuttan NairA leading theatre personality and actor in Malayalam.He is a revered figure in the theatre circles in Kerala and a film actor of yesteryears. Nair was the vice-president of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and member of the Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Akademi...
as Govindettan - Aliyar as Postman Ramankutty
- Master Vignesh as Kannan
- Thampi KannanthanamThampi KannanthanamThampi Kannanthanam is a noted Malayalam film director. He has directed over 16 films in his career. His last film was the 2004 film Freedom....
as Ravi - Sreedevi Unni as Radha
- Paul as Kesu
- Manka Mahesh as Subhadra
- LenaLena AbhilashLena Abhilash , is a Malayalam actress and a VJ . She is known for her contrasting roles in different Malayalam soaps, which otherwise is filled with tear-jerking female characters. She has acted in many films including Jayaraj's Sneham, Karunam and Shantam, Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal, Randam...
as Beena - Mukundan as Jayan
- Roslyn as Janu
- Vijayan Peringode as Paulose
- Sarada as Chinnamani
Filming
The film was shot on the banks of the Periyar RiverPeriyar River
Periyar is the longest river in the state of Kerala, India, with a length of 244 km. The Periyar is known as the lifeline of Kerala; it is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns...
at Parappuran, Puthiyedam, Chowwara
Chowwara
Chowwara is a census town in Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics:At the 2001 India census, Chowwara had a population of 13,603. Males constituted 50% of the population and females 50%. Chowwara had an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of...
, Sreemoolanagaram
Sreemoolanagaram
Sreemoolanagaram is a small town near to Aluva. It is in Aluva taluk, Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala, India. Chowwera village is part of Sreemoolanagaram panchayat....
, and Aluva in Kochi, India.
Awards and recognitions
- Special mention at the FIPRESCI awards in 2000.
- Indian National Film AwardNational Film AwardsThe National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
for the Best Film on Environment Conservation/PreservationNational Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation/PreservationThe National Film Award - Best Film on Environment Preservation/Conservation winners:-References:...
in 2001. - The Kerala State Film AwardKerala State Film AwardThe Kerala State Film Awards are the most prestigious film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy since 1998 on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala, India....
for the best director of 2000. - Screened at the third Mumbai International Film FestivalMumbai International Film FestivalMumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films , is a festival organised in the city of Mumbai by the 'Film Division', Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. It has been organised since 1990, and focuses on documentary, short and animation...
in November 2000. - Screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2001.
- Selected for the MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
International Film Festival. - Premiered on the Asianet Satellite television channel during Onam 2000.