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Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum
| Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum | |
|---|---|
| File:Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum.jpg Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Vinayan |
| Produced by | Kabeer Latheef Vindhyan |
| Screenplay by | J. Pallassery |
| Story by | Vinayan |
| Starring | Kalabhavan Mani Kaveri Praveena Sai Kumar |
| Music by | Mohan Sithara |
| Cinematography | Alagappan N. |
| Edited by | G. Murali |
Production company | Thriveni Productions |
| Distributed by | Sargam Speed Release |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Budget | ₹45 lakhs[1] |
| Box office | ₹3.5 crores[1] |
Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (transl. Vasanthi, Lakshmi, and me) is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Vinayan based on a screenplay by J. Pallassery. The film features Kalabhavan Mani, Kaveri, Praveena and Sai Kumar in the lead roles. The film centers around Ramu, a blind poet and singer who supports his family. However, their happiness dissipates soon after he gets cheated by a rich businessman.
The film was a commercial success and won two National Film Awards: Best Male Playback Singer for M. G. Sreekumar and Special Jury Award for Mani. Kalabhavan Mani also received the Special Jury Award at the Kerala State Film Awards for his performance in the film. The film also won two Asianet Film Awards: Best Actor for Kalabhavan Mani and Best Supporting Actress for Praveena. The film was remade to Tamil as Kasi, in Telugu as Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi and in Kannada as Namma Preethiya Ramu. All the remakes were commercially successful.
Plot[edit]
Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum is a tale about the deception of appearances. Ramu (Kalabhavan Mani) is a blind poet and singer who supports his family by his songs. He has an older brother Thomas (Sai Kumar), who is a drunkard; an abusive, crippled father; and a younger sister Lakshmi (Kavya Madhavan). When the local landlord Raghupathi (Rajeev) returns to the district, he brings along with him Dinesh, the CM's son and his wife Radhika. Raghupathi has a reputation as a God in the area because of his charitable works, and when a specialist eye doctor arrives, he promises to pay the fees for an operation to give back Kasi's vision. Elated by this news, Kasi learns that he has to find an eye donor. His lover Kaveri (Kaveri), who cannot speak, offers one of her eyes. Unfortunately, something happens that shows that the 'God-like' Raghupathi and Dinesh are not what they seem. Blissfully unaware of the sadness of those around him, Kasi looks forward to his operation. One morning, on the day of her wedding, Lakshmi was found dead and it is figured out that she commits suicide because of Raghupati and when Raghupati comes to attend the funeral, Kasi explains to Raghupati of what he did as he kills Raghupati by choking him.
Cast[edit]
- Kalabhavan Mani as Ramu
- Kaveri as Lakshmi
- Praveena as Vasanthi
- Bharath Gopi
- Sai Kumar as Thomas
- Vani Viswanath
- Indrans
- Janardhanan as Krishnan
- Meghanathan
- Priya
- Krishnakumar as Sulaiman
- Augustine
- Meena Ganesh
- Priyanka Anoop
- Omana Ouseph
- Vignesh
- Swathy Narayanan as younger Vasanthi
- Manjusha Mohandas as younger Lakshmi
Soundtrack[edit]
The songs in the movie were composed by Mohan Sithara, with lyrics from Yusef Ali Kecheri. The audio was distributed by Sargam Speed Audios.[2] M. G. Sreekumar got the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer the second time for the song Chanthupottum Chankelassum.
| Song | Singer(s) | Raga(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Aalilakkanna Ninte Muralika" | K. J. Yesudas | Sindhu Bhairavi |
| "Prakrutheeshwari" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| "Thenanu Nin Swaram" | K. S. Chithra | |
| "Chanthupottum Chankelassum" | M. G. Sreekumar | |
| "Kattile Maninte Tholukondundakki" | Kalabhavan Mani | |
| "Thengapoolum Kokkilothukki" | K. J. Yesudas, Sujatha Mohan | |
| "Thengapoolum Kokkilothukki" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| "Kannuneerinum Chirikkanariyam" | K. J. Yesudas | Yamunakalyani |
| "Thenanu Nin Swaram" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| "Aalilakkanna Ninte Muralika" | K. S. Chithra | Sindhu Bhairavi |
Reception[edit]
Critical reception[edit]
The Times of India praised Kalabhavan Mani's performance writing:" Ramu from ‘Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum’ is undeniably one of the most challenging roles in Kalabhavan Mani’s acting career. We have seen many actors playing the role of visually challenged individuals on screen, but Kalabhavan Mani’s character Ramu stands out. Be it the way he controlled his eye movements or his acting chops especially in the intense emotional scenes, Kalabhavan Mani made the audience fall for him. The actor managed to ace the role with sheer determination and perfection." Kalabhavan Mani also won the Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards for a sensitive and realistic portrayal of a blind man complete with his behavioural and gestural distortions as he copes with difficulties in making life meaningful.[3]
Box office[edit]
The film was both commercial and critical success. The film was made on a budget of 45 lakhs and grossed more than 3 crores at the box office.[2][4]
Awards[edit]
National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
- Kerala State Film Award – Special Jury Award - Kalabhavan Mani
Asianet Film Awards
- Asianet Film Award for Best Actor - Kalabhavan Mani
- Asianet Film Award for Best Supporting Actress - Praveena
Remakes[edit]
Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum was remade in Tamil as Kasi (2001),[5] Kannada as Namma Preethiya Ramu (2003),[6] Telugu as Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi (2004),[7] and Sinhala as Sooriyaa (2012).[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kuriakose, M. A. (20 May 2019). "വാസന്തിയും ലക്ഷ്മിയും വാരിയത് മൂന്നരക്കോടി; ആകെ ചെലവ് 45 ലക്ഷം". Retrieved 20 May 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Manorama Music". www.manoramaonline.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008.
- ↑ "Karumadikkuttan". The Times of India. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ↑ "Raghuvinte Swantham Rasiya will release this Friday". Rediff.com. 19 May 2011.
- ↑ "Kasi".
- ↑ "Darshan: Top five movies of the superstar you should not miss". The Times of India. 16 February 2019.
- ↑ "Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi".
- ↑ "Kasi in Sinhala". The New Indian Express.