Anandabhadram

Infobox_Film
name = Ananthabhadram


caption = Poster ("with alternative spelling")
director = Santhosh Sivan
writer = Sunil Parameswar
starring = Kavya Madhavan
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Manoj K Jayan
Riya Sen
Kalabhavan Mani
Biju Menon
Revathi
Cochin Haneefa
producer = Manian Pillai Raju
Ajaya Chandran Nair
Reghu Chandran Nair (Sri Bhadra Pictures)
distributor = Vishaka Release
music = M. G. Radhakrishnan
cinematography = Santhosh Sivan
editing = Sreekar Prasad
released = 4 November 2005
runtime = 130 minutes
language = Malayalam
country = flagicon|India India
budget =
website = http://www.anandabhadram.com/
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0487011

"Ananthabhadram" (also spelled "Anandabhadram"; in Malayalam: അനന്തഭദ്രം ) is a Malayalam film released in 2005 about ghosts, spirits, and black magic, based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Sunil Parameswaran.cite news | title = Of facts and fantasy | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/07/08/stories/2005070803010400.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-29] It is the Malayalam venture of Indian director Santosh Sivan [ [http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/2005/12anandabhadram.asp Ananthabhadram on Chennai Online] ] as well as of Bengali model/actress Riya Sen. [cite web | title = Riya Sen in Ananthabhadram | publisher = That's Malayalam | url = http://thatsmalayalam.oneindia.in/movie/news/2005/03/031205riyasen.html | accessdate = 2007-03-29] "Ananthabhadram" was inspired by the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Theyyam and Kathakali dance movements, and Kalaripayattu.

"Ananthabhadram" won five awards in the Kerala State Film Awards 2005, and was a commercial success as well. It is the first Malayalam feature screened using a satellite feed instead of conventional prints; [cite web | title = Ananthabhadram screened using satellite technology | publisher = My Kerala | url = http://www.my-kerala.com/n/a/arc10-2005.shtml | accessdate = 2007-03-29] aimed at an international market and released as a Ramadan special, it was also dubbed in Tamil, Telugu (as "Sivapuram"), and English.cite news | title = All set for the new season | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/09/23/stories/2005092301510100.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-29] [cite news | title = Mesmerising mystery | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/11/04/stories/2005110401910100.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-30]

Production

The release of "Ananthabhadram" in India followed that of horror movie "Chandramukhi", starring Rajnikanth, which was a remake of the Malayalam film "Manichitrathazhu". [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/07/08/stories/2005070800840100.htm Horror is the current flavour from the Hindu] ] "Anathabhadram" was originally to be directed by Sabu Cyril with actress Meera Jasmine in the lead, [cite web | title = Sabu Cyril turns director | publisher = Kairalee | url = http://www.kairalee.com/php/adisp.php?i=257 | accessdate = 2007-03-29] cite news | title = In love with the lens | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/09/stories/2004060904350300.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-30] but Shivan stepped in to replace Cyril when production was delayed, first to a strike in the Malayalam film industry June 2004, and then because Cyril became busy with Shankar's film "Anniyan". [cite news | title = Malayalam film industry begins indefinite strike | language = English | publisher = The Hindu Business Line | date = 2004-06-25 | url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/06/26/stories/2004062601941900.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-17] [cite news | title = The reel world of Sabu Cyril | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-02-17 | url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/02/17/stories/2006021700930100.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-17] [cite web | title = Santosh Sivan to direct spooky film | publisher = Rediff Movies| url = http://ia.rediff.com/movies/2005/apr/07ss.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-17] Cyril's assistant Sunil Babu art directed the film for Shivan. [cite news | title = Mesmerising mystery | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2005-09-23 | url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/09/23/stories/2005092301510100.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-17]

Like his earlier directorial ventures "Asoka" and "The Terrorist" (a.k.a. "Malli"), Sivan was also the cinematographer for "Anathabhadram". Kavya Madhavan replaced Meera as the female lead and gave a performance that established her as the top heroine of the Malayalam Film Industry that year, aided by both commercial success and critical acclaim. Prithviraj Sukumaran as the male lead also had his biggest success of 2005, out of the five films he did that year.cite news | last= Pillai| first = Shreedhar| title = Boom year for Mollywood | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2005-12-30 | url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/12/30/stories/2005123001380100.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-20] Manoj K Jayan was to have a "sannyasin" look with long hair in the proposed Sabu Cyril version, but sported a more contemporary look in the version that was eventually shot, winning much critical accolades. [cite news | last= George| first = Vijay | title = Portrayal of tones of grey | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2005-11-18 | url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/11/18/stories/2005111800690100.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-17] To get the right score for the film Sivan rejected Vidyasagar's work and appointed M. G. Radhakrishnan, who went on to win awards for the film's tracks – including the celebrated number "Pinakkamano" [ [http://www.keralapals.com/reviews/Anandabhadram-review-r-135/ Anandabhadram review on Kerala Pals] ] [ [http://www.musicindiaonline.com/ar/i/movie_name/8092/2/ Anandabhadram preview at Music India Online] ] – and do the score for "Sivapuram", the Telegu version of the film. [ [http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/review/8765.html India Glitz Review of Sivapuram Soundtrack] ]

Inspirations

" (2005). [cite news | title = Kathakali comes alive on screen | language = English | publisher = Deccan Herald | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jul32005/finearts113624200572.asp | accessdate = 2007-03-29]

The film also uses Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art of South India, for the fight sequences between Digambaran and Chemban choreographed by action director Arash,cite news | title = In love with the lens | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hindu.com/2004/06/09/stories/2004060904350300.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-30] [cite web | title = Ananthabhadram | publisher = BizHat | url = http://movies.bizhat.com/review_ananthabhadram.php | accessdate = 2007-04-17] following the footsteps of Kalari-based movies like "Palattu Koman" (1962), "Thacholi Othenan" (1964), "Kannappanunni" (1977) and "Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha" (1989), [ [http://varnachitram.com/2006/07/10/payyamveli-chanthu-early-preview/ Payyamveli Chanthu: Early Preview] ] as well as famous martial art film actor Jackie Chan's "The Myth". [cite web | title = Jackie Chan and the art of Kalaripayattu | publisher = Rediff Movies| url = http://in.rediff.com/movies/2005/jun/07myth.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-20] [cite web | last = Gopakumar| first =R| title = Jackie Chan touch gives kalaripayattu a fillip | publisher = Deccan Herald| url = http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/aug152004/n5.asp | accessdate = 2007-04-20] It is the second time the director has used Kalari (as it is known in popular coinage) in his films, the first time being in "Asoka".

Raja Ravi Varma's painting "Woman in thought"
Kavya Madhavan in the "Pinakkanamano" song sequence

The director used three paintings of Raja Ravi Varma – "Damayanti and the swan", "Lady in thought" and "Girl carrying milk tray" – as inspiration to picturize the song "Pinakkamano" (acted by Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kavya Madhavan; sung by M. G. Sreekumar and Manjari). [cite web | title = Raja Ravi Varma's art makes song number one favourite | publisher = Now Running | url = http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.asp?it=4867 | accessdate = 2007-03-29] [cite web | title = Newsmaker: Raja Ravi Varma | publisher = Varnachitram | url = http://varnachitram.com/2005/12/30/newsmaker-raja-ravi-varma/ | accessdate = 2007-03-29] [cite news | title = Ananthabhadram | language = English | publisher = Deccan Herald | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov202005/movies16434120051119.asp | accessdate = 2007-03-29] Sivan says, "Yes, it is a tribute to Raja Ravi Varma, who is so intrinsically etched in every Malayali's mind." [cite web | title = Newsmaker: Raja Ravi Varma | publisher = Varnachitram | url = http://varnachitram.com/2005/12/30/newsmaker-raja-ravi-varma/ | accessdate = 2007-03-29] [cite news | title = Ravi Varmas come alive | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/11/19/stories/2005111900920300.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-29] This song came in the wake of a renewed interest in Varma's work in Indian showbiz, as evidenced in Indian pop star Phalguni Pathak's music video for the song "Meri Chunar Ud Ud Jaaye" (1998, acted by Trisha Krishnan) which emulated Varma's "Shakuntala" [cite web | title = Women in Raja Ravi Varma Mold | publisher = Boloji | url = http://www.boloji.com/women/07011.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-31] and Shaji Karun's declared film to be made on the artist's life which would feature Madhuri Dixit (actress of "Gaja Gamini", a film by painter M.F. Hussain). [cite web | title = Madhuri being sought to play a painter’s muse | publisher = Apun Ke Choice| url = http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20060604-2.html | accessdate = 2007-03-31] [cite web | title = The return of Madhuri Dixit | publisher = Rediff News| url = http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/08shaji.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-31] [cite web | title = Shaji N Karun to make a Hindi film | publisher = Rediff Movies| url = http://ia.rediff.com/movies/2006/apr/05spice.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-31] since the auction of the 19the-century painters work was auctioned at Christie's and Sotheby's in late 1990s. [ [http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/ArtArchitecture/History/NonWestern/~~/cHI9MTAmcGY9MCZzcz1wdWJkYXRlLmFzYyZzZj1jb21pbmdzb29uJnNkPWFzYyZ2aWV3PXVzYSZjaT0wMTk1NjU5NzE2 "Raja Ravi Varma: Portrait of an Artist", Oxford University Press, 5 May 2006] ] [cite book| last =Chandran| first =Kilimanoor|title =Ravi Varmayum Chitrakalayum| publisher =Department of Culture| date =1998| location =Kerala| id = ]

Plot

The story of "Ananthabhadram" is a fairy tale. Set in rural Kerala, the tale is dominated by black magicians, martial arts experts, sorcerers and seductresses. Sivan said "it was the story of Ananthabhadram that captivated me. The stories my grandmother used to tell me used to take me to a world of mystery. It was the same feeling when I heard this story and I have tried to capture that in my film."cite news | title = In flashback mode | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/11/19/stories/2005111901040100.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-29] Parameswaran says, "The fables that my grandmother narrated to me when I was a kid was there at the back of mind and that has been a source of my stories."cite news | title = Of facts and fantasy | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/07/08/stories/2005070803010400.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-29]

The movie opens with little Ananthan hearing a tale from his mother (Revathi). She tells him that his family in the ancient village of Shivapuram comes from a line of powerful magicians. The family is responsible for protecting "nagamanikyam" (a jewel on the serpent's head), which lies in a secret place in the house guarded by snakes, including a tiny snake called Kunjootan.

The real story begins when Ananthan (Prithviraj Sukumaran) returns to his ancestral village of Sivapuram from the US to light the lamps at "Shivakavu", a dark and mysterious temple of Shiva, obeying the long-standing wish of his dead mother. On his way home he meets Maravi Mathai (Cochin Hanifa), the story's comic relief, on the train. The local black magician Digambaran (Manoj K Jayan) opposes the lighting on the grounds of local superstitions in order get his hands on the "nagamanikyam", and disbeliever Ananthan meets the supernatural for the first time in his life.

Chemban (Kalabhavan Mani), the blind martial arts expert, stands in Digambaran's way; the evil black magician manages to remove Chemban from his way, and leaves a taril of blood in his wake. Digambaran lures Chemban's sister and his lover Bhama (Riya Sen) a series of sensuous and evil magical rites that feature a wide paraphernalia of the exotic, including Kathakali movements, traditional magic spells, special effects, and make-up artist Pattanam Rasheed's black-and-red face paints.

Meanwhile, Ananthan's cousin Bhadra (Kavya Madhavan) falls for him and his light-hearted flirting, eventually leading to a commitment of love between them. In his effort to fit into the local environment, Ananthan wins the villagers' hearts by his easy kind manners; breached only when the magician takes over his mind for a short while. Bhadra faces the dilemma of choosing between Ananthan's love and becoming a Devi (goddess) in a mystical ritual of self-offering.

In the end, Ananthan and Bhadra escape Digambaran's sinister tricks and unravel his conspiracy in front of the villagers, who always believed him to be a benevolent mystic. The fight to the end sees Digambaran destroyed and Ananthan restoring the "nagamanikyam".

Reception

In a year when most Malayalam films failed to recover costs, "Ananthabhadram" was one of the few commercial successes, along with "Rajamanickam", "Chanthupottu", "Naran", "Thommanum Makkalum" and "Udayananu Tharam". [cite news | title = Santosh on a roll | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2005-11-24 | url = http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/11/24/stories/2005112400380100.htm | accessdate = 2007-04-20] [ [http://sify.com/movies/malayalam/fullstory.php?id=14055617 2005- An analysis from Sify] ] "Pinakkamano" became the top hit among Malayalam film songs in 2005. [ [http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.asp?it=4867 Raja Ravi Varma's art makes song number one favourite from Now Running] ] It also inspired director KJ Bose's "Tanthra" (2006) featuring actors Siddique and Shweta Menon.

"Ananthabhadram" won five awards in the Kerala State Film Awards for 2005, including Best Cinematgraphy (Santosh Sivan), Best Music Direction (MG Radhakrishnan), Best Editing (Sreekar Prasad), Best Art Direction (Sunil Babu) and Best Makeup (Pattanam Rasheed). [cite news | title = Thanmatra, Ananthabhadram bag five State film awards each | language = English | publisher = The Hindu | date = 2006-08-02 | url = http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/08/stories/2006020820990100.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-28] It won five awards in the Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 2005, including Best Film, Best Director (Santhosh Sivan), Best Actor (Manoj K Jayan), and Best Cinematography (Santhosh Sivan). [cite web | title = Kerala Film Critics Association 2005 Awards | publisher = Alternative Film Guide | url = http://www.altfg.com/awards/2005/kerala.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-29] Sunil Babu, the art director, was critically acclaimed for his work for the film. [ [http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/11/11/stories/2005111101430300.htm Casting a spell from the Hindu] ]

References