Introduction

 In this essay, Harris traces the history of 50-years of Malayalam cinema

beginning with Neelakkuyil (1954) and ending with Paadam Onnu - Oru
Vilapam" (2003).
 The optimism of the 1950s was gone and a growing sense of discontent
and disillusionment gripped India in the 1960s.
 National Emergency and Modernism marked the Malayalam movies in the
70s and 80s.
 The political and cultural turbulence of the 90s did not reflect much in the
movies.
 Harris talks about the cheap commercialization of movies and the
problematic cinematic representation of Muslims.
In 1940s and 1950s, the processes of artistic productions including cinema were
determined by issues like caste inequality, class consciousness, nationalism and
progress. There was optimism, and enthusiasm. All this was found in Neelakkuyil
(1954) jointly directed by P. Bhaskaran and Ramu Kariat. It is considered to be a
landmark film in Malayalam. Many ingredients were fused into it for the first
time. It had a local story, caste inequality, progress, a modern secular subject,
fine music, folk music, many excellent actors and technicians. A decade later
another similar film Chemmeen (1965) by Ramu Kariat reinforced the message
given in Nilakkuyil. Chemmeen was based on the novel of the same name by
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. It is a fine portrayal of a particular fishing
community, focusing on local culture and mythology and the problems of caste
and communal differences. The mythology said that the safety of the men
fishing in the sea depended on the chastity of their women at home.
About Nirmalyam film
Nirmalyam is a 1973 film by M.T. Vasudevan Nair. The secularization and
modernization going on in the country questioned the religious. In Nirmalyalm,
M.T. showed the degeneration that social change brought to priests and the laity
alike and to temple related rituals. It is therefore significant even today.
Patriarchal ideology is the idea that men have more power, dominance, and
privilege than women. Patriarchy is a social system in which men are thought to
hold the positions of power in both the public and private sphere. Women are
believed to be lower than men and are oppressed by a patriarchal society. In
both Chemmeen and Nilakkyil we see this. Chemmeen works around a
patriarchal mythology. The mythology propagates that the safety of the men
fishing in the sea depended on the chastity of their women at home. If the
women fall into temptations and have relations with other men, Kadalamma will
punish the women by letting their husband perish in the sea. In Neelakkuyil, we
find Neeli, a scheduled caste girl falling in love with Sreedharan Nair, a teacher
belonging to the upper caste. Neeli becomes pregnant. Sreedharan Nair refuses
to marry Neeli as he fears that the so-called conservative society will expel him.
Neeli becomes an outcaste and dies during childbirth. Here also we find the
patriarchal society cruelly letting Neeli die.

About Chemmeen Film

The Malayalam film Chemmeen is a 1965 film by Ramu Kariat Ramu Kariat was
the co-director of the 1954 film Nilakkuyil Chemmeen reinforced the message
given in Nilakkuyil. Chemmeen was based on the novel of the same name by
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. It is a fine portrayal of a particular fishing
community, focusing on local culture and mythology and the problems of caste
communal differences. The mythology said that the safety of the men fishing in
the sea depended on the chastity of their women at home. Here we see
Karuthamma, the wife of Palani, falling in love with Pareekkutty and then in the
end all of them die. Chemmeen being a tragedy gave way to a growing sense of
discontent and disillusionment. Chemmeen exerted a great influence on
Malayalam cinema in the 1960s and the influence remained intact until the new
cinema, dubbed as 'art cinema', that emerged in the early 1970s, led by Adoor
Gopalakrishnan, G. Aravindan and John Abraham.

Questions and Answers

1. How did Neelakkuyil become a landmark film in Malayalam?
Neelakkuyil became a landmark film in Malayalam because many ingredients
were fused into it for the first time. It had a local story. caste inequality, progress,
a modern secular subject, fine music, folk music, many excellent actors and
technicians.
2. Which was the decade of the emergence of the Modernist Movement in
Malayalam cinema?
The 1960s was the decade of the emergence of the Modernist Movement in
Malayalam cinema.
3. How did Aravindan's "Thampu" portray the arrival of modernity into a
village community?
Aravindan's "Thampu" was a 1978 film. It showed a village community coming
face to face with modernity represented by the coming of a circus troupe. Many
village youths are tempted to abandon their traditional role and join the circus.
This shows the rural/urban conflict and the problem of social mobility in Kerala.
4. How is "Nirmalyam" significant today?
Nirmalyam is a 1973 film by M.T. Vasudevan Nair. The secularization and
modernization going on in the countrquestioned the religious. In Nirmalyalm,
M.T. showed the degeneration that social change brought to priests and the lait
alike and to temple related rituals. It is therefore significant ever today.

5. How is the year 1975 significant in the history of post independent

India?
The year 1975 is significant in the history of post independent India because it
was in that year National Emergency was declared in India. The Emergency
curtailed all political and civil rights of the people. Then a few politicians,
government functionaries and the police had all the power. There was great
disillusionment among the citizens.