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Thanmatra
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'Thanmatra' A Moving Tale

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

It may sound a bit hyperbolic. But the fact is Blessy is the ‘blessed one’ among the new crop of directors in Malayalam cinema. A self-confessed disciple of the late director Padmarajan, Blessy made an impressive directorial debut with ‘Kazcha’. The film won universal acclaim not only for Mammootty’s sensitive portrayal of the protagonist but also for the directorial dexterity Blessy demonstrated. The unanimous opinion was a new director – and a hugely talented one at that – has arrived in Mollywood.

Well, Blessy has proved that he is no one-film wonder with his second film ‘Thanmatra’, an adaptation of Padmarajan’s short story "Orma". Initial reports had it that the film was limping at the box office. But since then, the collections have picked up. Like the Scotch, ‘Thanmatra’ has the quality of stealing over you only slowly!

If megastar Mammootty matched Blessy’s talent in ‘Kazcha’, in ‘Thanmatra’, Mohanlal justifies the director’s faith in him with a riveting performance. With ‘Thanmatra’, Mohanlal has proved that, given a sensitive director and powerful script, he can rise to great heights of acting. ‘Thanmatra’, undoubtedly, is the finest film of the year about to pass into history. It is also Mohanlal’s best in recent years. Not for nothing is he known as one of India’s finest actors.

You might ask, what is so great about ‘Thanmatra’? The answer is it is a simple story said in a simple but telling manner. Blessy’s interpretation of the anguish of the film’s protagonist Rameshan Nair is as convincing as it is powerful. The frames radiate a realism unseen in Malayalam cinema for a long time. Superb camera work by Sethu Sriram adds to the quality of Blessy’s narrative style. Sethu has made effective use of the light and shade to enhance the mood of the movie.

Here is the story. Rameshan Nair (Mohanlal) is a government employee cocooned in his own small world. An honest and sincere man, Rameshan is lucky to have a caring wife like Lekha (Meera Vasudevan), son Manu (Arjun), a plus-two student, and daughter Manju (Niranjana), a primary school student. His biggest ambition: to see that his son gets his IAS, something he himself fails to achieve despite being a brilliant student.

However, fate had other ideas. The happy tenor of Rameshan’s life is rudely jolted by the discovery that he is suffering from Alzheimer's disease that causes loss of memory. The diagnosis turns his world upside down. How the shocked family copes with the trauma forms the gist of the film.

Director Blessy has brought out the manner the dreaded disease entangles Rameshan in its vice-like grip, with a few deft directorial strokes. The snapshots are devastating. One scene depicts Rameshan forgetting to switch on the scooter! Another has Rameshan using his son’s toothbrush. Then there is the scene that shows Rameshan forgetting the way to his home! In a few fabulous frames, Blessy conveys to the audience the malignancy and horror of the disease.

If Mohanlal has acted out of his skin in the lead role, Meera Vasudevan keeps in step with the megastar in the histrionic race. Veterans Nedumudi Venu as Rameshan’s father and Jagathy Sreekumar as his friend and colleague are, as usual, their competent selves.

But the surprise of the package is Master Arjun who plays Mohanlal’s son. He has what it takes to be a good actor. Arjun belongs to the natural school of acting. You will hear a lot about him in future, that is for sure.

Kaithapuram’s lyrics and Mohan Sitara’s music mesh with the mood of the film.

‘Thanmatra’ shows unambiguously that in Blessy, Malayalam cinema has an immensely talented director. He understands the grammar of cinema and uses it to reach out to the audience. Malayalam cinema can expect more contributions from this master craftsman in future.

‘Thanmatra’ is a must-watch film both for the serious student of cinema as well as the ordinary filmgoer who likes to watch good and clean cinema.

The verdict: A class act from a classy director. Well done, Blessy and Mohanlal!

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