- Mathilukal
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This article has details about the novel as well as its film adaptation.
Mathilukal 
The cover of Mathilukal.Author(s) Vaikom Muhammad Basheer Original title മതിലുകൾ Country India Language Malayalam Genre(s) Romance, patriotic Publisher DC Books[2] Publication date 1965[1] Mathilukal (Malayalam: മതിലുകൾ, meaning Walls) is a Malayalam novel written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in 1965. It is one of the most cherished and well-known love stories in Malayalam.[3] Its hero, Basheer himself, and heroine, Narayani, never meet, yet they love each other passionately. Despite being imprisoned and separated by a huge wall that divides their prisons, the two romance each other.[3]
Contents
Theme
The theme of the novel, focusses on the love between Basheer, a prisoner, and a female inmate of the prison, who remains unseen throughout the novel.[4] In Mathilukal, though the broad frame is autobiographical and the narration is first person, the details seem to contain sprinkles of fantasy.[5]
Plot summary
As Basheer, who is jailed for writing against the then ruling British, Gopakumar delivers a memorable performance. Basheer befriends his fellow-inmates and a considerate young jailor. One day, Basheer hears a woman's voice from the other side of the wall – the women's prison. Eventually the two jailbirds become lovebirds. They exchange gifts, and their hearts, without meeting each other. Narayani then comes up with a plan for a meeting: they decide to meet at the hospital a few days later. But before that, Basheer is released, unexpectedly. For once, he does not want the freedom he had craved for. The novel ends with Basheer standing outside the prison with a rose in his hand.[3]
Film adaptation
Mathilukal 
Movie ScreenshotDirected by Adoor Gopalakrishnan Produced by Adoor Gopalakrishnan Written by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (novel)Starring Mammootty
Murali
Karamana Janardanan Nair
Krishnan Kutty Nair
AzeezMusic by Vijay Bhaskar Cinematography Mankada Ravi Varma Editing by M. Mani Release date(s) 1989 Running time 120 mins Language Malayalam Mathilukal (Walls) (ml: മതിലുകള്)(1989) is an award-winning, Malayalam feature film directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan based on the novel by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. It stars Mammootty in the role of Basheer and the voice of K. P. A. C. Lalitha as Narayani. The film's music is composed by Vijay Bhaskar. It was well received upon screening at the Venice Film Festival, and won 4 awards at the National Film Awards in 1990.
The portrayal of Basheer by Mammootty, is regarded as one of the finest performances in world cinema. About casting Mammootty, Adoor says: "To play someone when he is living is no mean challenge, and the Malayalam star rose up to it".[6]
Plot
Confined to the narrow space of a prison cell, Bashir falls in love with a woman in the neighbouring prison compound. They are separated by a high wall so that they never see each other and have to devise ingenious ways for communicating. Narayani, Bashir's love is presented as a female voice and never appears in person in the film.[7]
Cast
- Mammootty as Basheer
- Thilakan
- Azeez
- Karamana Janardanan Nair
- Murali
- Ravi Vallathol
- K. P. A. C. Lalitha as Narayani (She doesn't appear in the film, but she voiced the female lead)
Awards
The film has won the following awards since its release:
- 1990 Venice Film Festival (Italy)
- FIPRESCI Prize - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
- Unicef Award - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
- 1990 National Film Awards (India)
- Best Director - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
- Best Actor - Mammootty
- Best Audiography
- Best Regional Film (Malayalam)
- Best Story - Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
- 1990 Amiens International Film Festival (France)
- OCIC Award - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
- 2002 Aubervilliers International Children's Film Festival (France)
- Grand Prize - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
References
- ^ R.E.Asher. 24 January 1998. "Basheer and the freedom struggle". Frontline. The Hindu. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- ^ "Mathikal by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer". DC Books. Retrieved 2010-12-27
- ^ a b c P.K.Ajith Kumar. "Romantic interlude". The Hindu. 14 May 2010.
- ^ K.Rajan. "Of human bondage". The Hindu. 14 March 2008
- ^ P.M.Girish. "A Brief Examination of Three Widely-Acclaimed Malayalam Novels". Languageinindia.com. 3 March 2008.
- ^ C.S.Venkiteswaran. "Adoor: the man and the auteur". The Hindu. 5 October 2010.
- ^ "Mathilukal-1989". Cinemaofmalayalam.net Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- ^ "Kerala State Film Awards"
External links
- Book review by Susan Mathen of Ingoodbooks.com (
) - Mathilukal at the Internet Movie Database
- Adoor's interview on Mathilukal
Feature films directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan Swayamvaram (1972) • Kodiyettam (1977) • Elippathayam (1981) • Mukhamukham (1984) • Anantaram (1987) • Mathilukal (1989) • Vidheyan (1993) • Kathapurushan (1995) • Nizhalkuthu (2003) •Naalu Pennungal (2007) • Oru Pennum Randaanum (2008) •National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam 1954–1963 Neelakuyil (1955) · No Award (1956) · No Award (1957) · Padatha Painkili (1958) · No Award (1959) · No Award (1960) · No Award (1961) · Mudiyanaya Puthran (1962) · No Award (1963)
1964–1980 Ninamaninja Kalpadukal (1964) · Thacholi Othenan (1965) · Kavyamela (1966) · Kunjali Marakkar (1967) Anveshichu Kandethiyilla (1968) · Adhyapika (1969) · Adimakal (1970) · Ezhuthatha Katha (1971) · Karakanakkadal (1972) · Panitheeratha Veedu (1973) · Gayathri (1974) · Uttarayanam (1975) · Swapnadanam (1976) · Manimuzhakkam (1977) · Kodiyettam (1978) · Thampu (1979) · Peruvazhiyambalam (1980)
1981–2000 Yagam (1981) · Elippathayam (1982) · Chappa (1983) · Malamukalile Daivam (1984) · Mukhamukham (1985) · Thinkalaazhcha Nalla Divasam (1986) · Uppu (1987) · Purushartham (1988) · Rukmini (1989) · Mathilukal (1990) · Vasthuhara (1991) · Kadavu (1992) · Swaroopam (1993) · Vidheyan (1994) · Sukrutham (1995) · Ormakalundayirikkanam (1996) · Desadanam (1997) · Mangamma (1998) · Agnisakshi (1999) · Punaradhivasam (2000)
2001–present Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal (2001) · Sayanam (2001) · Danny (2002) · Nizhalkuthu (2003) · Sabhalam (2004) · Akale (2005) · Thanmathra (2006) · Drishtantham (2007) · Ore Kadal (2008) · Thirakkatha (2009) · Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja (2010) · Veettilekkulla Vazhi (2011)
Categories:- Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
- Autobiographical novels
- 1965 novels
- Novels adapted into films
- Indian novels
- 1989 films
- 1980s drama films
- Films directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan
- 1980s Malayalam-language films
- Malayalam novels
- Novels set in India
- Mammootty
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