Thalappavu: Difference between revisions

'''''Thalappavu''''' (literal meaning: turban or headgear, which is a symbol of power, status and protection<ref name="Killing fields">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/killing-fields/article2274018.ece|title=Killing fields|work=The Hindu|accessdate=1 April 2015}}</ref>) is a 2008 [[Malayalam film|Malayalam]] language [[period film|period]] [[thriller film]] based on the events related to [[Naxalite|Naxal]] [[Arikkad Varghese|Varghese]] and Police Constable P. Ramachandran Nair, directed by [[Madhupal]] and written by [[Babu Janardhanan]]. The film sympathetically portrays the social and political issues of the [[Naxalite]] era of the 1970s in [[Kerala]]. The film's cast includes [[Prithviraj Sukumaran|Prithviraj]], [[Lal (actor)|Lal]], [[Atul Kulkarni]], [[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]], and [[Dhanya Mary Varghese]]. Produced by actor [[Mohan (actor)|Mohan]] under the Civic Cinema banner and distributed by Lal's Lal Release, ''Thalappavu'' marks actor-cum-writer Madhupal’s directorial debut.

The film released on 12 September 2008 ([[Onam]]) to critical acclaim. However, in the box-office it failed to recover the cost of production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14764305&cid=14625530|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618102717/http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14764305&cid=14625530|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 June 2014|title=Kerala Box Office (Sep 19 – 21)|publisher=|accessdate=1 April 2015}}</ref> The film got [[Kerala State Film Awards]] for [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Lal) and [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director|Best Debut Director]] (Madhupal), [[Kerala Film Critics Association Awards|Kerala Film Critics Awards]] for Best Film, Best Director, Best Script writer,  Amateur Little Theatre Award for Best Debutant Director, Sohan Antony Memorial Film Award for Best Director. The film was screened at the 13th [[International Film Festival of Kerala|International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)]] 2008 and Indian Habitat Film Festival 2009.

His dream project ''Thalappavu'' was always there at the back of his mind, says Madhupal. "I was moved by the story of Varghese, a man who lived for others. More than his politics or his background, what attracted me was his willingness to help the most oppressed sections in society."<ref name="thehindu.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/crowning-glory/article1431312.ece|title=Crowning glory|work=The Hindu|accessdate=1 April 2015}}</ref> Babu Janardhanan who wrote the script said he had carried out extensive research on the life of Naxal Arikkad Varghese before capturing it on paper. "The spark for the script came from the revelation made by Ramachandran Nair (the police constable) through television channels that he was forced to kill Varghese,” said Janardhanan. "The revelation struck me and I started to think about the mental agony he had to endure by suppressing the fact for nearly 30 years," he said.<ref name="thehindu.com1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/thalappavu-a-wake-up-call-says-madhupal/article1342887.ece|title=‘Thalappavu’ a wake up call, says Madhupal|work=The Hindu|accessdate=1 April 2015}}</ref> Janardhanan, the script writer, and Madhupal sketched the whole film, shot by shot. Madhupal says his stint with [[Rajiv Anchal]] in Hollywood, Los Angeles helped him polish the quality of the sound track of ''Thalappavu.'' "For them, natural sound is of utmost importance. They also use it as transitions. Sound will appear before the cut to lead you to the next scene. We have also used sound to enhance cuts and dissolves. Travelling sound also contributed in smoothening the transitions."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/promising-debut/article1435780.ece|title=Promising debut|work=The Hindu|accessdate=1 April 2015}}</ref>

The film was praised for its script (Babu Janardhanan), flawless treatment, acting (Lal) and cinematography (Azhagappan).<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-eatures/tp-fridayreview/promising-debut/article1435780.ece]</ref> That ''Thalappavu'' was Madhupal’s crowning glory became clear when veterans like [[M. Mukundan]] and [[R. Sukumaran]] (''[[Paadha Mudra]]'' and ''Rajashilpi'') gave the film their stamp of approval. Litterateur [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]] also expressed a desire to watch his film.<ref name="thehindu.com"/> However, Madhupal denied allegations that the film set against the backdrop of the Naxalite movement reflected his sympathies for the political ideology. "The film is not an attempt to show my sympathy or political views. It is a reminder to a society that has forgotten how to respond to the problems faced by human beings," he said.<ref name="thehindu.com1"/> His new role of a director in Malayalam film industry has made Madhupal a much sought-after star, something that eluded him in his roles as actor, assistant director and scenarist. "While walking into a restaurant the other day, I overheard a few taxi drivers saying: "See, Madhupal, director of ''Thalappavu.''" Till then I had always been referred to as the serial actor Madhupal, villain Madhupal and so on…I am still getting used to this new avatar," says the actor-turned-director.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>