Paithrukam
Encyclopedia
Paithrukam is a 1993 Malayalam drama film directed by Jayaraaj, and staring Suresh Gopi
, Narendra Prasad
and Jayaram
in lead roles. Scripted by Kaloor Dennis, this film revolves around a traditional Brahmin family and the fight between their beliefs and atheism.
), a vedic scholar is widely respected by everyone. He successfully completed Somayagam and has gained the title Somayajippadu. Leading a simple life away from all the chaos, Somayajippadu has two sons, Somadathan (Suresh Gopi
) and Chithrabhanu (Jayaram
). While Somadathan left for Delhi to become a journalist, Chitrabhanu stayed along with his father in order to assist him. Bhanu Namboothiri is now a chief priest in the nearby temple. During his Delhi days, Somadathan got attracted to atheism and became associated with several radical groups. One day he returns back to his village to meet up with his family. But, upon arriving home, he finds the daily rituals irritating and starts questioning them. He denounces Vedas
as superstition and starts propagating atheism among the villagers.
In the beginning, Somayaji does not take it seriously, slowly he becomes to feel it is unbearable. He advises Dathan to lead a Brahmin
's life, to which Dathan shoots back that he is no longer a Brahmin and had given up his Yajnopavitam, long ago. This shocks Somayaji, who asks him to stay away from his house. Dathan steps out of his house and gets married to Gayathri (Geetha), another atheist and his lover. The couple, in their efforts to win out against superstition, decide to stay at an old haunted house, which people believe is dangerous. They along with fellow radicals clean up the place and destroy the idols of Nagas and the small worship place.
In the meantime, Bahnu Namboothiri falls in love with a girl in the neighboring village. He requests his mom (Nandita Bose) to speak about this to Somayaji. But, Somayaji reveals that Bhanu has several issues in his horoscope and at the age of 27, even his life could be in danger. This breaks him down, and he commits suicide. Somadathan accused his father for his brother's death and his anger turns into hatred. Mean while, Gayathri gets pregnant twice, but both end up aborted. The people cite it as a reason for Sarpadosha. She starts getting dreams of serpents and slowly starts believing that their act of destroying the idols of Nagas were the reason for the abortions.
One evening, while returning home, Somadathan finds Gayathri lighting a lamp for the idols at a cleaned up shrine, which infuriates him. She tries to justify her rationale and make him change his mind. But he stubbornly tells her that to stay with him, she needs to follow his principles. Gayathri storms out the house and arrives at Somayaji's house. Devadathan's mother (Nanditha Bose) welcomes her and performs special pujas for her, because she is pregnant for third time. She then gives birth to a boy. Somadathan argues with Somayaji that he should not be brought up as a Brahmin
and no vedic rituals should be conducted for him.
In the mean time, a group of people arrive at Somayaji house to perform an Athirathram, in order to to please Lord Indra
and make it rain. Athirathram is the highest form of yagas, according to Vedas and if performed perfectly, it will result in heavy rain. The stage is set and all preparations are on full swing. A group of atheists under the leadership of Somadathan decides to oppose it, exposing the meaningless of such rituals. He challenges Somayaji and asks him if no heavy rains fall, will he give up Vedas and accepts atheism, to which Somayaji agrees. But he also put forward another question to Dathan that if it rains, will he be ready to follow his father's way, to which Dathan agrees. On the last day of Athirathram, it rain severely and Dathan accepts defeat. But after setting the altar on fire, Somyaji continues his meditation and sacrifices his life to the fire. Somadathan then takes up his father's path and becomes the next priest of the family.
for which the acclaimed lyrics were penned by Kaithapram. All the songs of this movie were instant hits and won S. P. Venkatesh
the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam for 1993.
Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...
, Narendra Prasad
Narendra prasad
Narendra Prasad was a popular Indian movie actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikara, Alappuzha District, in the south Indian state of Kerala....
and Jayaram
Jayaram
Jayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
in lead roles. Scripted by Kaloor Dennis, this film revolves around a traditional Brahmin family and the fight between their beliefs and atheism.
Plot
Devadathan Chemmathiripadu (Narendra PrasadNarendra prasad
Narendra Prasad was a popular Indian movie actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikara, Alappuzha District, in the south Indian state of Kerala....
), a vedic scholar is widely respected by everyone. He successfully completed Somayagam and has gained the title Somayajippadu. Leading a simple life away from all the chaos, Somayajippadu has two sons, Somadathan (Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...
) and Chithrabhanu (Jayaram
Jayaram
Jayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
). While Somadathan left for Delhi to become a journalist, Chitrabhanu stayed along with his father in order to assist him. Bhanu Namboothiri is now a chief priest in the nearby temple. During his Delhi days, Somadathan got attracted to atheism and became associated with several radical groups. One day he returns back to his village to meet up with his family. But, upon arriving home, he finds the daily rituals irritating and starts questioning them. He denounces Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
as superstition and starts propagating atheism among the villagers.
In the beginning, Somayaji does not take it seriously, slowly he becomes to feel it is unbearable. He advises Dathan to lead a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
's life, to which Dathan shoots back that he is no longer a Brahmin and had given up his Yajnopavitam, long ago. This shocks Somayaji, who asks him to stay away from his house. Dathan steps out of his house and gets married to Gayathri (Geetha), another atheist and his lover. The couple, in their efforts to win out against superstition, decide to stay at an old haunted house, which people believe is dangerous. They along with fellow radicals clean up the place and destroy the idols of Nagas and the small worship place.
In the meantime, Bahnu Namboothiri falls in love with a girl in the neighboring village. He requests his mom (Nandita Bose) to speak about this to Somayaji. But, Somayaji reveals that Bhanu has several issues in his horoscope and at the age of 27, even his life could be in danger. This breaks him down, and he commits suicide. Somadathan accused his father for his brother's death and his anger turns into hatred. Mean while, Gayathri gets pregnant twice, but both end up aborted. The people cite it as a reason for Sarpadosha. She starts getting dreams of serpents and slowly starts believing that their act of destroying the idols of Nagas were the reason for the abortions.
One evening, while returning home, Somadathan finds Gayathri lighting a lamp for the idols at a cleaned up shrine, which infuriates him. She tries to justify her rationale and make him change his mind. But he stubbornly tells her that to stay with him, she needs to follow his principles. Gayathri storms out the house and arrives at Somayaji's house. Devadathan's mother (Nanditha Bose) welcomes her and performs special pujas for her, because she is pregnant for third time. She then gives birth to a boy. Somadathan argues with Somayaji that he should not be brought up as a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
and no vedic rituals should be conducted for him.
In the mean time, a group of people arrive at Somayaji house to perform an Athirathram, in order to to please Lord Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
and make it rain. Athirathram is the highest form of yagas, according to Vedas and if performed perfectly, it will result in heavy rain. The stage is set and all preparations are on full swing. A group of atheists under the leadership of Somadathan decides to oppose it, exposing the meaningless of such rituals. He challenges Somayaji and asks him if no heavy rains fall, will he give up Vedas and accepts atheism, to which Somayaji agrees. But he also put forward another question to Dathan that if it rains, will he be ready to follow his father's way, to which Dathan agrees. On the last day of Athirathram, it rain severely and Dathan accepts defeat. But after setting the altar on fire, Somyaji continues his meditation and sacrifices his life to the fire. Somadathan then takes up his father's path and becomes the next priest of the family.
Cast
- Suresh GopiSuresh GopiSuresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...
- JayaramJayaramJayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
- Narendra PrasadNarendra prasadNarendra Prasad was a popular Indian movie actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikara, Alappuzha District, in the south Indian state of Kerala....
- Maniyanpilla Raju
- Geetha
- Bobby KottarakkaraBobby KottarakkaraBobby Kottarakkara was a Malayalam film actor. He began his acting career on stage. He made his film debut with "Muchcheethukalikkaarante Makal". Bobby soon became a well known actor. He had performed in around 300 roles in a variety of films, some of which are such as Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu,...
- HakimHakim (director)Hakim Rawther, known mononymously as Hakim is an Indian Malayali filmmaker who has marked his presence in Malayalam cinema as an actor and director. He is known for his directional debut The Guard , which was the world's first film with only a single actor in the cast...
- Nanditha Bose (actress)
Soundtrack
The acclaimed soundtrack of this movie was composed by S. P. VenkateshS. P. Venkatesh
S. P. Venkatesh is a music director and composer popular for his works in the Malayalam film industry. He has also scored for some Bollywood and Bengali films. S. P. Venkatesh who is a Tamilian, was introduced into the Malayalam film industry by Dennis Joseph. The major break for S. P. Venkatesh...
for which the acclaimed lyrics were penned by Kaithapram. All the songs of this movie were instant hits and won S. P. Venkatesh
S. P. Venkatesh
S. P. Venkatesh is a music director and composer popular for his works in the Malayalam film industry. He has also scored for some Bollywood and Bengali films. S. P. Venkatesh who is a Tamilian, was introduced into the Malayalam film industry by Dennis Joseph. The major break for S. P. Venkatesh...
the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam for 1993.
| Song Title | Singer(s) | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|
| "Neelaanjana" | K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films... |
|
| "Neelaanjana" | Bombay Jayashri Bombay Jayashri Bombay Jayashri Ramnath is an Indian Carnatic music vocalist. She has also recorded songs as a playback singer in South Indian films. She has many albums to her credit, released as cassettes and CDs.... |
|
| "Neelakanda" | Kaithapram | Traditional Folk Raaga: Samantha Malahari |
| "Seethakalyana" | Dr. K. J. Yesudas K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... |
Traditional Krithi by Tyagaraja Tyagaraja Kakarla Tyagabrahmam , colloquially known as Tyāgarājar and Tyagayya was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music or classical South Indian music. He, along with his contemporaries Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastry, forms the Trinity of Carnatic music... Raaga: Kurinji |
| "Seethakalyana" | K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films... |
Traditional Krithi by Tyagaraja Tyagaraja Kakarla Tyagabrahmam , colloquially known as Tyāgarājar and Tyagayya was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music or classical South Indian music. He, along with his contemporaries Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastry, forms the Trinity of Carnatic music... Raaga: Kurinji |
| "Shivam Shivadagana" | Dr. K. J. Yesudas K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... |
Raaga: Kalyani Kalyani (raga) Kalyan or Kalyani, originally called Yaman, is a melakarta rāga in the Carnatic music of South India, and is also an important raga in Hindustani music.-Kalyani in Carnatic music:... |
| "Swayamvaramaay" | Dr. K. J. Yesudas K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... , Minmini Minmini Minmini is a South Indian film playback singer. She is remembered especially for the song "Chinna Chinna Aasai" from Roja, the debut work of film composer A. R. Rahman. Though she is from Kerala, most of her memorable songs are in Tamil, most of them composed by Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman... |
|
| "Vaalkannezhuthiya" | Dr. K. J. Yesudas K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... |
Raaga: Anandabhairavi Anandabhairavi Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi is a very old melodious rāgam of Carnatic music . This rāgam has been used even in Indian folk music. Ānandam means happiness and the rāgam brings a happy mood to the listener.It is a janya rāgam of the 20th Melakarta rāgam Natabhairavi Raganidhi by P... |
| "Vaalkannezhuthiya" | K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films... |
Raaga: Anandabhairavi Anandabhairavi Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi is a very old melodious rāgam of Carnatic music . This rāgam has been used even in Indian folk music. Ānandam means happiness and the rāgam brings a happy mood to the listener.It is a janya rāgam of the 20th Melakarta rāgam Natabhairavi Raganidhi by P... |