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Panchavadi Palam
| Panchavadi Palam | |
|---|---|
| File:Panchavadi Palam.jpg | |
| Directed by | K. G. George |
| Produced by | Gandhimati Balan |
| Written by | K. G. George, Yesudasan (dialogue) |
| Based on | Palam Apakadathil by Veloor Krishnankutty |
| Starring | Bharath Gopi Nedumudi Venu Sukumari |
| Music by | M. B. Sreenivasan |
| Cinematography | Shaji N Karun |
| Edited by | M. N. Appu |
Release date |
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| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Panchavadi Palam (transl. Panchavadi bridge) is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language political satire film written and directed by K. G. George, based on the story Palam Apakadathil (1981) written by Veloor Krishnankutty. It stars Bharat Gopy, Nedumudi Venu, Sreenivasan, Jagathy Sreekumar, Sukumari and Thilakan in the main roles.[1] The film tries to caricaturise the political scenario in the state of Kerala and portrays the pitiful corruption by politicians. It is the first Malayalam movie in this genre.[2][3][4]
Plot[edit]
A henpecked politician wants his name attached to a new bridge, even if that means destroying another, perfectly serviceable bridge. The politician Dussasana Kuruppu (Bharath Gopi) is the president of the village. He, along with his other members, tries to demolish the bridge on the advice of his fellow party member, his right hand and crooked mind Sikhandi Pillai (Nedumudi Venu). The opposition leader Ishak Tharakan (Thilakan) makes moves to thwart this and to capture the position of the village presidency. As a compromise step, both groups agree to relocate the bridge to a distant location, so that not only a new bridge, a new road also will be needed to reach the bridge.
The two tenders, one for bridge and one for road is given to two local contractors, one belongs to the ruling party and the other one supported by the opposition. Ultimately, the bridge is built and opened to the public on the same day of the marriage of Dussasana Kurup's daughter and the bridge contractor. The marriage function is attended by many, including the minister of state for public works department and the entire people, who came for marriage walks across the bridge, causing it to collapse, killing the crippled Kathavarayan (Sreenivasan). The film ends by showing the broken bridge in the background.[5]
Cast[edit]
- Bharath Gopi as Dussasana Kuruppu
- Nedumudi Venu as Sikhandi Pillai
- Sreevidya as Mandodhari
- Thilakan as Ishak Tharakan
- Sukumari as Rahel
- Jagathi Sreekumar as Habel
- Venu Nagavalli as Jeemudhavahanan
- Sreenivasan as Kathavarayan
- Kalpana as Anarkali
- K. P. Ummer as Jahangir Thatha
- Alummodan as Yudaskunju
- Innocent as Barabas
- Mohan Jose
- V. D. Rajappan as Avarachan Swami
- Shubha as Poothana
Soundtrack[edit]
The music was composed by M. B. Sreenivasan with lyrics by Chowalloor Krishnankutty.
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length (m:ss) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Naanayam Kandal" | K. P. Brahmanandan, C. O. Anto | Chowalloor Krishnankutty | |
| 2 | "Viplavaveeryam" | Chorus, C. O. Anto | Chowalloor Krishnankutty |
Reception and in popular culture[edit]
The movie is considered as one of the best ever political satires in the history of Malayalam film industry.[6] It was also one of the first of its kind of movie in Mollywood.[7] The Palarivattom Flyover Scam has close comparisons with Panchavadi Palam in Kerala's public sphere.[8] The Kerala High Court later referred this incident with Panchavadi Palam.[9]
References[edit]
- ↑ "'Panchavadi Palam': KG George's political satire that never gets old". The News Minute. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ↑ "Panchavadippaalam". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ↑ "Panchavadippaalam". malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ↑ "Panchavadippaalam". spicyonion.com. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ↑ http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/george.html
- ↑ "Nedumudi Venu: The day we waited to see a bridge collapse - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ↑ സിജു, വി എസ്. "'മന്ത്രിമാരുടെ പ്രസംഗം കേള്ക്കുന്നത് എനിക്ക് ജീവന്ടോണ് കഴിക്കുന്നതുപോലെയാ...'". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ↑ "പാലാരിവട്ടം പാലത്തെ ഓർമിപ്പിച്ച് പഞ്ചവടിപ്പാലത്തിന്റെ പോസ്റ്ററുകൾ". ManoramaOnline (in മലയാളം). Retrieved 1 April 2021.
- ↑ "Kerala HC compares Palarivattom flyover to film 'Panchavadi Palam', seeks report". The News Minute. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
External links[edit]
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