God's Own country were in news for last decade for sex scandals as well. In turn the state became a scandal capital of sex. There were numerous cases of alleged sex in kerala during last 10 years. Politicians, Businessmen, Film Stars, commuters all burn their fingers in the fire of the untouchable thing. The media as always boosted its coverage of sex related crime news over all other news as they know the pulse of the viewers. From old man to young chidren, all curiously read the papers, saw the TV coverage and celebrated it. But what will be the reaction of a father who's teenage daughter who has been raped by many? What will be the family's reaction to the mass media coverage to it? How a casual comment by an onlooker hurt the family? What is our legal system's reaction to such victims? Who is there to sympathise to the family? Or is it sympathy what they want?
Achanurangatha veedu (A house where the father do not sleep) invite you to a hurting, bleeding & burning issue exist in our society.
The Story
Samuel (Salim Kumar) is a government employee, a widower, who is on the verge of retirement. In society he belongs to the lower class group (Dalit Christians). With his single ended earning, he is trying to meet things all the demands of the family, while he pinned his hopes on his daughter's education. Treesa (Suja Karthika) is married to Johnykutty (Harisree Asokan), a full drunkard. Samulel's second daughter Sherly (Samvritha) is in love with her cousin, which is against the community wishes. Samuel's all hopes are now to make his third daughter, Lisamma (new comer Muktha), a doctor.
Things were rolling till life gave a big blow to Samuel, when Lisamma is been trapped by a sex racket. Later, Lisamma is back to Samuel after continuous chasing. But by then, the school student had been traded by them without mercy. What more, the media celebrated the news and so is the villagers. Life has become a hell for Samuel. However, the father whose sorrow cannot be solved decided to fight the case to give punishment to the culprits.
Then the judiciary takes its funny ways where the social system shows its true colour. The religion, the politicians, the relatives all were part of the ugly social system and Samuel didn't get justice. The family decided to commit suicide, but failed. Is there anything left? There are more to it in the movie.
Sharp dialogues, heart whelming emotional scenes and a narrow rope to shook all of your social beliefs and commitment.
Star Performance
Salim Kumar, who is known for acting as a comedian springs a surprise in this movie. He stole the show from all others. His controlled acting leaves no shades of his comic films. You experience a new talent in him. New comer Muktha plays the innocent school girl done her job convincingly. Bharat Murali, did his part as friend and co-worker of Salim Kumar in perfection. Rest others are adequate.
All praise to Laljose for trusting the new talents.
Music
As I expressed earlier, this is a no nonsense movie. So, we don't expect music for the sake of music. However, the song "Ozhukukayay puzha …." Catch your attention in its first hearing itself. The words and music well synchronized with the plot. So, when the music of the song took the seat of BGM in later scenes, we flow with the music to the story and the mood. But the other song in the movie is average or even below average.
BGM is really good.
Story/Screenplay/Direction
Story is lifted straight from the heart of the society. Babu Janardhanan is improving as a good writer. Mixing light moments to a serious story and serious moments to a light entertainer require real talent and I think Babu has to improve. He may take Lohithadas as his guru in this regard. However, his efforts need special mention. Lohithadas in his life experience explained how he wrote his first story. He saw one rat trapped in his house and ultimately that has been killed. When people like us just forget about it, he thought about that rat, its family and all. He felt very sad for the rat. He thought what it will be a waiting mother rat's emotions? He cried a lot and later wrote a story on that subject. Later, he explains a true story teller will see what others don't see. Here, Babu Janardhanan has seen what others failed to see.
Laljose add another feather of glory to his cap with this film. Normally a Lal Jose film is a light entertainer. In Chanthupotte, he tried a different plot, but he kept it strictly in the entertainer tag. In Achanurangatha Veedu, Laljose did not loose any strings for the sake of entertainment, but trying to establish the fact that a film can be entertaining even if it is a fully serious movie.
Remaining questions:_
A film may not change the attitude of a society which formulated for decades. So is this film. There is no serious change in the attitude of the people. The Thanthri case was in news these days, I saw a footage where Shoba John was taken to police custody, were example that we have not learn anything from the film. The film surely intruded into our heart. But, we failed to hold its spirit.
This film highlighted a serious problem affecting a boasting society, which proclaims that we are the most literate people in India. One will wonder the meaning of literacy, if one did not know the basic of how to live along with others and behave in society.
The establishment has to find answers for the burning issues of the society. First they need to address the issue seriously, sit together to study, analyze and make a plan so that we start working on that solution, even though it is late already.
Achanurangatha Veedu put forward a serious issue to the Kerala people and it is our duty to solve the issue so that we live in a cultured society.
The movie is a must watch for all those who believe serious cinema.
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