Venkalam is about the Moosharis - a polyandrous and matriarchal community in Kerala. In the film, the two matriarchs - Philomena (the grandmother who had four husbands) and KPAC Lalitha ( the mother who had two husbands) try to persuade the two young brothers of the family to share a wife so that it would keep the family and community together. But times are changing and the brothers want to go their own ways. The film is an interesting account of the life and culture of this community. Their religious ceremonies involved consumption of pork and country liquor.
Despite a few flaws, it is a pretty good film. I was not entirely convinced by the comedic roles of Mala Aravindan and Kuthiravattom Pappu. They seemed to have been added for entertainment value. But then Bharathan was never an out and out art filmmaker like Adoor or Aravindan. His films were always quite entertaining.
The film features a great understated performance by Murali as the disillusioned aging older brother who could not marry the love of his life. Manoj K Jayan plays his younger brother who sorts out the mess created by the polyandrous matriarchs.
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