Pavithram
Encyclopedia
Pavithram is a Malayalam film released in 1994 directed by T. K. Rajeev Kumar
. The film won Mohanlal
the Filmfare Award for Best Actor
in 1994.
The story flashes back to Unni's youth when he was living in his ancestral home with his parents. He is courting Meera, a beautiful woman with a penchant for books and stories. Unni and Meera appear all set to be married soon and Meera's father wants Unni to take an MBA in UK to eventually take over the company responsibilities. But Unni makes it clear that he has no interest in pursuing such a career and his dreams are very simple.
Unni has a brother Ramakrishnan (Sreenivasan) who is a doctor living in the city with his wife. Devaki (Unni's mother) wants to have a grandchild and she is concerned as Ramakrishnan has been married a few years without children. In her desire to become a grandmother she visits many temples and holy functions to pray for a grandchild. But in a twist of fate an amorous relation takes a second bud between Devaki and her husband Easwarapilla and she becomes pregnant. The parents are ashamed at the first signs of the pregnancy and worry about how their grown children will react to this news. But they are surprised by the enthusiasm of Unni and the mature and supportive attitude of Ramakrishnan.
Devaki gives birth to a girl but dies during childbirth. Ramakrishnan's wife doesn't seem to be interested in children much less in one she considers to be a source of shame. In the absence of anyone to take care of the child Unni steps in to take care of the child. Soon after in a heated moment, Unni scolds his father and Easwarapilla leaves town as he is devastated by the recent happenings. This leaves Unni with the double responsibility of being a brother as well as father to Meenakshi. Unni breaks off his relationship with Meera upon Meera's dad's request as he feels the child will always be a source for problems in their relationship. Unni goes ahead with it as he feels Meenakshi needs him and there's no one else to take that role.
The story now comes back to the present as Meenakshi is a grown girl preparing for her 10 std exams. Unni has regressed to a village life after he chose to play Meenakshi's brother/father. Over the years Unni has become possessive of Meenakshi as she has been the center of his existence. When it comes time for Meenakshi to go to the city and stay in a hostel to continue her studies, Unni goes through a trying period before finally coming to terms with the inevitable. In the city, Meenakshi is exposed to a new culture and fashions that she wasn't aware of growing up in the village and she becomes enamored in it.
The rest of the story is of Meenakshi finding a new identity as she experiences and experiments with college life and Unni's struggle to come to terms with the changes his sister is going through. Unni having regressed to a village culture cannot understand Meenakshi's change in attitude and fashion and Meenakshi is swept away by peer pressure and the glamorous attractions of life in the city. This results in friction between the two and the alienation of Meenakshi from her brother. Unni realizes that the child who so dearly needed him once has grown up and it's he who needs her instead to give meaning to his life. The movie boils to a climax as Unni goes to see his sister and witnesses her getting hurt in an accident and the effect this has on Unni is heart breaking.
, with lyrics by O. N. V. Kurup
. The song Sreeragamo skyrocketed to fame upon release and is highly regarded as a masterpiece of the composer. It is composed on Carnatic
raga
Kharaharapriya
. Sharath uses Dwijavanthi raga in the noted song Thaalamayanju, sung by Yesudas
and Sujatha
.
T. K. Rajeev Kumar
T. K. Rajeev Kumar is an award winning director of Malayalam films.He is settled in Trivandrum, Kerala. Rajeev Kumar served as the Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy from 2003 to 2006...
. The film won Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...
the Filmfare Award for Best Actor
Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Malayalam)
The Filmfare Best Actor Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards South for Malayalam film lead actors. The award was first given in 1972 with Madhu being the first recipient....
in 1994.
Plot
The movie begins with an older man's dream. In this dream, Unni (played by Mohanlal) is roused from his house in haste and told to come along to see his father (someone Unni has longed believed to be dead) and upon reaching the destination, he is greeted by a crowd of people who begin to make fun of him and Unni wakes up. He consults an astrologer who interprets the dream as a harbinger of Easwara Pillai's (Unni's father) death and advices Unni to do the last rites for his dead father. During the rituals, Unni finds it difficult to go through the rituals as he doesn't believe that his father is dead and he walks away declaring that his father is not dead.The story flashes back to Unni's youth when he was living in his ancestral home with his parents. He is courting Meera, a beautiful woman with a penchant for books and stories. Unni and Meera appear all set to be married soon and Meera's father wants Unni to take an MBA in UK to eventually take over the company responsibilities. But Unni makes it clear that he has no interest in pursuing such a career and his dreams are very simple.
Unni has a brother Ramakrishnan (Sreenivasan) who is a doctor living in the city with his wife. Devaki (Unni's mother) wants to have a grandchild and she is concerned as Ramakrishnan has been married a few years without children. In her desire to become a grandmother she visits many temples and holy functions to pray for a grandchild. But in a twist of fate an amorous relation takes a second bud between Devaki and her husband Easwarapilla and she becomes pregnant. The parents are ashamed at the first signs of the pregnancy and worry about how their grown children will react to this news. But they are surprised by the enthusiasm of Unni and the mature and supportive attitude of Ramakrishnan.
Devaki gives birth to a girl but dies during childbirth. Ramakrishnan's wife doesn't seem to be interested in children much less in one she considers to be a source of shame. In the absence of anyone to take care of the child Unni steps in to take care of the child. Soon after in a heated moment, Unni scolds his father and Easwarapilla leaves town as he is devastated by the recent happenings. This leaves Unni with the double responsibility of being a brother as well as father to Meenakshi. Unni breaks off his relationship with Meera upon Meera's dad's request as he feels the child will always be a source for problems in their relationship. Unni goes ahead with it as he feels Meenakshi needs him and there's no one else to take that role.
The story now comes back to the present as Meenakshi is a grown girl preparing for her 10 std exams. Unni has regressed to a village life after he chose to play Meenakshi's brother/father. Over the years Unni has become possessive of Meenakshi as she has been the center of his existence. When it comes time for Meenakshi to go to the city and stay in a hostel to continue her studies, Unni goes through a trying period before finally coming to terms with the inevitable. In the city, Meenakshi is exposed to a new culture and fashions that she wasn't aware of growing up in the village and she becomes enamored in it.
The rest of the story is of Meenakshi finding a new identity as she experiences and experiments with college life and Unni's struggle to come to terms with the changes his sister is going through. Unni having regressed to a village culture cannot understand Meenakshi's change in attitude and fashion and Meenakshi is swept away by peer pressure and the glamorous attractions of life in the city. This results in friction between the two and the alienation of Meenakshi from her brother. Unni realizes that the child who so dearly needed him once has grown up and it's he who needs her instead to give meaning to his life. The movie boils to a climax as Unni goes to see his sister and witnesses her getting hurt in an accident and the effect this has on Unni is heart breaking.
Cast
- MohanlalMohanlalMohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...
- Unnikrishnan - Shobana - Meera
- Vinduja Menon - Meenakshi
- K. P. A. C. LalithaK. P. A. C. LalithaMaheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K.P.A.C. Lalitha, is a National Award winning Indian film and stage actress. She was the wife of late filmmaker Bharathan.-Biography:...
- Punchiri - InnocentInnocent VincentInnocent Thekkethala , popularly known as Innocent, is a Malayalam film actor and producer. He was born in Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district of Kerala, India. He is one of the most successful and leading comedy actors of Malayalam cinema...
- Erussery - 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:...
- Easwara Pillai - SrividyaSrividyaSrividya was a leading Indian film actress of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s in the Tamil film Industry, in addition to being a good singer. In the latter part of her career, she concentrated on Malayalam films. Her brilliant portrayals as a mother in many films were highly acclaimed....
- Devakiyamma - 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....
- Sankaran Pillai - 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 :...
- Warrier
Music
The film has six songs composed by SharrethSharreth
Sujith Vasudevan I, better known by his stage name Sharreth , is a music director and singer.He began by composing film scores mainly for Malayalam films, but has gone on to compose for Tamil and Telugu films too. Most recently, he scored the music for the Tamil-Telugu bilingual 180.He won the...
, with lyrics by O. N. V. Kurup
O. N. V. Kurup
Ottaplakkal Nambiyadikkal Velu Kurup , popularly known as O. N. V. Kurup or simply O. N. V., is a Malayalam poet and lyricist from Kerala, India, who won Jnanpith Award,the highest literary award in India for the year 2007. He is considered one of the finest living lyrical poets in India. O. N....
. The song Sreeragamo skyrocketed to fame upon release and is highly regarded as a masterpiece of the composer. It is composed on Carnatic
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
Kharaharapriya
Kharaharapriya
Kharaharapriya is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 22nd melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. Kharaharapriya has a distinct melody and brings out the Karuna rasam, invoking pathos in the listeners...
. Sharath uses Dwijavanthi raga in the noted song Thaalamayanju, sung by 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,...
and Sujatha
Sujatha Mohan
Sujatha Mohan , usually credited as Sujatha, is an award-winning Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam and Tamil movies. She has also sung for Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movies. She is widely popular for her evergreen melodies and her sweet voice is considered to be her...
.
| Song | Singer(s) | Raaga |
|---|---|---|
| Kannil Pedamaaninte | G. Venugopal G. Venugopal G. Venugopal is an Indian playback singer, active mainly in Malayalam films. He also has Tamil and Telugu songs to his credit. Venugopal started his career in the film Odarathammava Aalariyam and has sung in more than 280 films and over 250 albums since then.G. Venugopal is a graduate of Kerala... , Sujatha Sujatha Mohan Sujatha Mohan , usually credited as Sujatha, is an award-winning Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam and Tamil movies. She has also sung for Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movies. She is widely popular for her evergreen melodies and her sweet voice is considered to be her... |
|
| Parayoo Nin Hamsa | 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,... |
Subhapanthuvarali |
| Parayoo Nin Hamsa | 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... |
Subhapanthuvarali |
| Sreeraagamo | 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,... |
Kharaharapriya Kharaharapriya Kharaharapriya is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 22nd melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system. Kharaharapriya has a distinct melody and brings out the Karuna rasam, invoking pathos in the listeners... |
| Thaalamayanju | 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,... , Sujatha Sujatha Mohan Sujatha Mohan , usually credited as Sujatha, is an award-winning Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam and Tamil movies. She has also sung for Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movies. She is widely popular for her evergreen melodies and her sweet voice is considered to be her... |
Dwijavanthi, Madhyamavati |
| Vaalinmel Poovum | M. G. Sreekumar M. G. Sreekumar M. G. Sreekumar is a two-time National Award-winning Indian playback singer and music director who works in Malayalam cinema. With a career of over 25 years, he is one of the prominent male singers in the Malayalam film industry. He is known for matching voice with Malayalam actor Mohanlal. He has... , Sujatha |
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:... |