Thoovanathumbikal is an example of magical film making at its best. When I say best, I really mean it. Thoovanathumbikal is an unforgettable movie and a poignant movie that is worth having in your film library. Padmarajan sir had a habit. He loves to glue his viewers to the seat and hypnotize them by his unique movies. Films like Aparan, Nammukku Paarkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Kallan pavithran, Ennale etc. He does the same or even much further in Thoovanathumbikal. Malayalam movie viewers still miss him.
Padmarajan sir wrote a novel names "Udakapola" and the central character in this film is a colorless character in that novel. If you read this book and then watch it you can see the perfection of the picturisation. A film about a man who have his own principles in life regarding all his deeds accidentally breaks one and changes brought by it to his life. Mohanlal plays a man who lives in village and having lot of friends in town. He likes a girl and when he tell her about that he got denied. After that he got involved in a relation with a virgin girl whom he never thought would be like that. He decides to marry that girl following some of his principles in life. By that time girl he really loved comes to him and he have to choose between the two. This man don't want to hide anything from his lover and tells her about his old relationship. He cant stop himself seeing that old girl and finally he have to choose the right one. Both faces of the character was safe with Mohanlal. He again displays his genius as the handled the role with consummate ease.
"Enikku aa murivakanaanu moham... Aa changalayude oru kanniyodu mathram urayunna unangaatha oru murivu..." I always loved this dialogue from the movie. It is the beauty of that metaphor that connoisseurs of good cinema talk about. Mohanlal delivers in depth and breadth the emotions and feelings of a protagonist in a Padmarajan style.Clara as a prostitute who knows in what she is going to end up is superb . She shows the deep sorrow of being forced to be a prostitute in a neutral manner. Her dialogues reflects the feelings of a prostitute who knows clearly that a normal life is a dream for them. Jayakrishanan's ideologies are simple but his emotions are complex to understand. Parvathy has acted beautifully in her part so did Ashokan. There is NO other movie in the history of malayalam film history where 'Rain' is picturised more beautifully. The beauty of Rain which ushers whenever Jayakrishnan and Clara meet is both poignant and pure. The background music and the songs still lives in the hearts of people even after 20 years. Its a movie much ahead of time.
This is one of those films that come once in a blue moon. The ones that leave you sitting on your seat staring at the screen when the film is ended and trying to think of a word to describe the excellence of the film. What really makes this film great is the use of no special effects, no stunts, just plain simple amazingly original, witty story writing and outstanding acting by every character in the film including the minor ones.
To Padmarajan Sir, the genius who brought out love and passion so beautifully...!!
