AGEISM IN MALAYALAM CINEMA

**padmanabha** · 14th September 2006, 01:37 PM

Films we all know are meant to entertain and portray life’s realities. The portrayals often are too close to make us comfortable. The film lingers on in our minds stirring the emotions and that reminds of the bitter truth. Carrying out such an exercise on the same theme very effectively is the two films-karunam & oru cheru puncheri-depicting two side of the same coin.

The contemporary relevance of such films in Kerala cannot be disputed. In fact Jayaraj’s Karunam brings us close to the painful realities of old age through the lives of Chakochan and chechamma. The timelines of this 77 minute long film in Kerala where nuclear families with NRI off springs have become the order of the day, alerts us to the dark clouds of loneliness and longing that fill the days of the aged.

The films begin on as happy tone. The old couple is sprucing up their home because their son and his family are expected from the US. Rejection and disappointment take over when news comes of their decision to put off their trip to India and instead visit the Niagara Falls. We realize that the old couple has had a hard life. They continue to live their simple uncomplicated life despite the comfort provided by the prosperity of the next generation. The emptiness in their lives and the inability to control it becomes evident when the house is sold off and the parents move to an old age home. The couple is distraught. Chakochan passes away one day and the mother realizes that the children will not come for the funeral. Terms have been arranged and provided for in the in the new environment that the parents are sent to.

As the film unspools sparse dialogues unveil the dilemmas of old age. Provided with every thing that money can buy their days are spent looking forward to the short reunion with the children who live in distant lands.

The sense of loss the total lack of identity and the voice in the sunset years of life is what the director has successfully portrayed.

The numbers of homes where lives are lived in this track are increasing and the social problem of a healthy problem of senior citizens starves of emotional support, the major ingredient in life at this stage is totally absent.

The director has just stated the truth and stoked the raw nerve. The choice Chechamma MAKES OF WANDERING OUT OF THE OLD AGE HOME IS A REMINDER THAT ONCE UPROOTED YOU ARE YOUR MOORINGS THEN WHERE YOU FIND YOUR SHELTER MAKES NO FIDDEENCE LIFE GOES ON SANS EMOTIONAL BONDING.

If Karuna is a painful revelation of vulnerability of old age painting a different picture is M T Vasudevan Nair’s oru cheru punchiri.

Here Krishna kurup and Amaluamma led an enviable life. The days are filled with enviable joys. They are companions in the true sense of the word. Playing pranks on one another getting on with life at a pace they can manage the two of them lead a life that would be the envy of any person.

The perfect understanding between the two of them their ability to vibe with the immediate neighborhood and the pleasant life they lead makes the film cheerful one. We also realize that they are fiercely possessive of this life of theirs and unwilling to give this up for anything else. The tender emotions the rapport between the old couple also tells that they derive their joys from the mutual understanding.

The parents are not willing to trade this uncomplicated life for anything else. As viewers we are distraught when kurup passes away. But M T lends dignity to the existence of Amluamma in a world without Krishna kurup.

Growing old with dignity and grace is something that can be achieved but circumstances over take are swept with the tide. If karunam brought us close to the dark side of life, Oru cheru punchiri depicts a more emotional fulfilled life.

As a theme films like ARANAZHIKA NERAM, THINKALAAZHCHA NALLA DIVASAM, ORU MINNA MINUNGINDE NURUNGU VETTAM, MANASINAKKARE, AND AMMA KILI KOODU ARE films that fall in this genre. Loss of identity, the inability to make choices and loneliness haunt the elders, but taking these and giving us touching insights into the lives are films like Karunam nad Oru cheru punchiri, which will linger on in our memories for the sensitive touches and realistic portrayals.
(737 WORDS)

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**Sandeep** · 14th September 2006, 04:00 PM

WOW you make me feel like seeing those movies.

Will sure try to catch, on first chance.

**padmanabha** · 14th September 2006, 06:37 PM

never miss them. the saddest part is that oru cheru punchiri was telecast by a tv cahnnel three-four years back for thiruvonam. (MT FILM) the short film took five and a half hours! it was telecast amidst ads soliciting severe criticism. true.