This movie came to my attenna when media started showing and talking that Tamil movie superstar Rajnikant is going to make his next movie based on a Malayalam movie. I found out its name Katha Parayumbhol. Waited for more than 6-7 months, ultimately today I got to see this movie.
The story is set in a small village Melukavu in Kerala. A barber Balan (Sreenivasan) is poor with his wife Sredevi (Meena) and three children. He is not able to cope with modernization with a new air condition beauty salon / parlour opened by Sarasan (Jagadish) set up opposite his shop. He does not get license or a loan for the salon. He is in debt and ridiculed by everyone in the village. Life is tough for him he does not have money to pay children's school fee, nor knows how he is going to have his next meal for his family. There enters a Malayalam superstar Ashok Raj (Mammotty), who is going to come to the village for a ten day shoot. The whole village is excited in preparing their superstar's arrival. Slowly a word spreads that Balan and Ashok Raj are childhood friends. Balan, who was a laughing stock, becomes the center of attention. Everyone goes out of their way to help Balan in every way, so that they can get a favor when Ashok Raj arrives to the village. Balan is under pressure from everyone to part a favor of Ashok Raj. When Ashok Raj arrives, Balan tries his best to approach Ashok Raj but his honesty and status of barber, does not allow him to go pass through the police security. When the village people know that Balan is not able to help them for a favor, they start taking their support to Balan back, abusing him of cheating them. Balan depressed and sad is back to his old self. Ashok Raj gives a ceremonial speech at a school function where he talks about today's life, modernization, the state of good people etc. opening eyes of everyone to the sad truth of peoples behavior. In the end, Ashok Raj goes to meet Balan at his house, and Balan becomes an overnight hero in the eyes of his village people.
Sreenivasan has written and scripted the movie and M.Mohanan has directed it. Sreenivasan has done a fantastic job in presenting common persons life - people's motivation and greeds. He plays about the simple barbar with panache. Mammotty as superstar carries an aura with grace and touches everyone's heart with his last speech. The other characters of the village are also well developed the bard, the politician, the money lender, the beauraucrat, the modern salon owner, the school principal etc.
This is a very funny, poignant story of modernization and its impact on an ordinary person. I love to see good old Malayalam movies with its simplicity and village life. Now those movies are rare and few. I long for them. This movie fits my type of beautiful Malayalam movie that remains with you and touches your heart as no other form of cinema does.
I hope Rajnikant draws a lot and builds on top of this movie especially on the message it communicate with simplicity and honesty.
(Stars 7 out of 10)
