Arabikatha

"Arabikatha" is a 2007 Indian Malayalam film directed by Lal Jose. It was a success with the critics [cite news |title=Arabikatha takes the cake |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/15/stories/2007071550720200.htm |work=The Hindu |date=2007-07-15 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ] and at the box office in India [cite news |title=‘Arabikatha’ turns out to be a success tale |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/18/stories/2007071851120200.htm |work=The Hindu |date=2007-07-18 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ] and the United Arab Emirates. [cite news |title=Hit Malayalam film showing in Doha today |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=178084&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16 |work=Gulf Times |date=2007-10-12 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ] It deals with differences within the Communist movement, [cite news |title=Arabikatha a tale on Communism’s strife |url=http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEE20070710010207&Page=E&Title=Startrek&Topic=0 |work=newindpress.com |publisher=New Indian Express Group |date=2007-07-10 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ] and was produced against a background of real-life splits in the ruling Communist Party in Kerala. [cite news |title=Movie throws light on split in ruling party |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=161196&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |work=Gulf Times |date=2007-07-16 |accessdate=2008-03-06 ]

Plot summary

The film narrates the story of Cuba Mukundan (Sreenivasan) who can be called an ‘impractical idealist.’ He is a staunch leftist who lives for the movement. Circumstances force him to take up a job in Dubai. But he finds himself a misfit in a highly materialistic world. He also realizes that the Malayalis working in this region, whom he had earlier mocked for leaving the country for monetary gains, actually perform menial jobs and physical labor in order to support their families back home. He has always had a soft corner for China as a result of his leftist leanings and when he meets a Chinese girl, she quickly finds a special place in his heart as she symbolizes China to him. Through her, he also learns of the Communist failings in other parts of the world.

The movie depicts Mukundan who lives in this present society where sticking to any ideology without any compromises is perceived as something of an anachronism. Mukundan often fails to change with the changing times. The film also reflects the inadequacies of modern Communists in Kerala who are neither ready to handle physical labor nor capable of using computers to perform simple tasks.

Credits

Cast

*Sreenivasan : Cuba Mukundan
*Chang Shumin : Shumin
*Samvrutha Sunil : Maya
*Jagathy Sreekumar : Kunjunny Mothalali
*Nedumudi Venu : Society Gopalan
*Salimkumar : Karim
*Indrajith : Anwar
*Jayasurya : Sidharthan
*Guruvayoor Sivaji : Com Karunan
*Atlas Ramachandran : Coat Nambiar
*KTC Abdulla : Abdullaka

Crew

*Director : Lal Jose
*Script : Dr.Iqbal Kuttipuram
*Cinematography : Manoj Pillai
*Editor : Ranjan Abraham
*Lyrics : Anil Panachooran
*Music : Bijibal
*Costumes : S B Satheesh
*Make up : Pattanam Sha
*Design : Jissen Paul
*Art : Saburam
*Stills : Momi and Rose Studio Dubai
*Effects : Arun Seenu
*Graphics : Rajeev Gopal
*Trailers : Rajasekhar & Sooraj
*Dts Mix : Raja Krishna Four Frames
*Sound Recordist : N Harikumar
*Associate Cameraman : Pradeep
*Associate Director : Anoop Kannan Salam Palapetty
*Assistant Director : Varma
*Lab : Adlabs

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0928194/ IMDb entry]
* [http://www.arabikatha.com Official site]