Manjadikuru

Manjadikuru

Film official poster
Directed by Anjali Menon
Produced by Vinod Menon
Anjali Menon
Screenplay by Anjali Menon
Dialogues:
Paliyath Aparna Menon
Anjali Menon
Starring Sidharth
Vyjayanthi
Rejosh
Arathi Sasikumar
Rahman
Urvashi
Narrated by Prithviraj Sukumaran
Music by Ramesh Narayan
Francois Gamaury (BGM)
Kavalam Narayana Panikkar (lyrics)
Cinematography Pietro Zuercher
Edited by B. Lenin
Production
company
Little Films
Distributed by August Cinema
Release dates
  • 18 May 2012 (2012-05-18)

(Kerala)

Running time
 137 Minutes
Country India
Language Malayalam

Manjadikuru (Malayalam: മഞ്ചാടിക്കുരു, English: Lucky Red Seeds) is a Malayalam film (theatrical release: 2012) written and directed by Anjali Menon. A shorter video version of the film was premiered at the 2008 International Film Festival of Kerala, and won the FIPRESCI Award for best Malayalam film and Hassankutty award for Best Debutant Indian director.[1] In 2009, it swept the awards at South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) at New York, winning five Grand Jury Awards - Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematographer and Best Emerging Talent.[2][3][4][5]

Plot

Manjadikuru is a story of homecoming from late 1980s, when 10-year-old Vicky arrives at his grandparents home in rural Kerala to attend his grandfather's funeral. The disjointed family gathers together for the sixteen-day-long funeral period. During this period, Vicky discovers more about himself, his family and culture than he had expected to. The journey is narrated through the memories of an adult Vicky who returns to the same house to recount the experience. After some years the boy returns as a young man (Prithviraj), to visit old grounds, and finds the 'Lucky red seeds' scattered away.[6]

Cast

Prithviraj as elder Vicky
Padmapriya as elder Roja
Sidharth as Vicky
Vyjayanthi as Roja
Rejosh as Kannan
Arathi Sasikumar as Manikutty
Thilakan as Muthashan/Appukuttan Nair
Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Muthashi/Devayani
Murali as Sanyasi Maaman / Murali
Jagathi Sreekumar as Unni
Bindu Panicker as Ammu
Urvashi as Sujatha
Sagar Shiyaz as Hari
Rahman as Raghu
Sridevika as Latha
Praveena as Sheela
Harishanth as Ravi
Sindhu Menon as Sudhamani
Thrissur Chandran as Vasudevan Nair
Firosh Mohan as Balu
Julia George as Sindhu
Shrevya Kannan as Baby Seetha
Poojappura Ravi as Lawyer
Kannan Pattambi as Marimuthu
Venu Machad as Vishnu/Shop owner
Sreekumar as Police Inspector

Release

The film released in theatres in May 2012, after winning awards in film festivals. For the commercial release, songs and additional scenes are added to the film to make it more appealing to people.[7]

Soundtrack

Manjadikuru
Soundtrack album by Ramesh Narayan
Released 2012
Label Universal Music India
Producer Little Films

The songs were written by Kavalam Narayana Panikkar and composed by Pandit Ramesh Narayan.

Track Song Title Singer(s)
1 Ariya Vazhikalil Dr. K. J. Yesudas
2 Maargazhi Manjil K. S. Chithra, Chorus (Madhusree Narayan)
3 Manchaadipenne Vaadi Shweta Mohan, Chorus (Arjun, Abhilash)
4 Chaadi Chaadi Vijay Yesudas, Chorus (Arjun, Abhilash)
5 Manne Nampi Kavalam Narayana Panikkar, Anil, Sathish
6 Kadamkadha - Mannile Thullikkum Prithviraj
7 Keralam Daivathinte Swantham Prithviraj

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards 2012
13th International Film Festival of Kerala 2008
6th South Asian International Film Festival 2009
Other awards

Critical Reception

Aswin J Kumar from The Times of India gave the movie 3.5 stars saying that "Manjadikkuru is a beautifully shot film that can be loved for its sheer earnestness and sense of belonging.".[14] Chris Fujiwara from Federación Internacional de la Prensa Cinematográfica said that "It is a lesson in the ways of society but a metaphorical lesson for the audience, the kind of lesson that (as one imagines, or remembers, while watching Lucky Red Seeds) the cinema was invented to teach."[15] Ben Umstead from Twitch Film said that "Manjadikuru is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful films about childhood I've seen. ".[16]

Veeyen from Nowrunning gave the movie 3 stars saying that "Anjaly Menon's 'Manjadikkuru' is an ode to the inherent innocence that once existed in us. Appealing equally to viewers of all ages, the flight of fancy that she offers to this incredible world that once was, is certainly not to be missed! ".[17] Metromatinee said "The film has been kept simple, highlights relationships and family values, and has to be seen with the whole family. Verdict: Small But Beautiful & Nostalgic ...!"[18] Parvathy Anoop from Deccan Herald stated that "Anjali Menon leaves no stone unturned as she explores elements of hypocrisy, love, sympathy and sorrow inside a large Nair family."[19]

Paresh C Palicha from Rediff.com gave the verdict of 3 stars saying that "Manjadikuru is enchanting. In this film, Anjali Menon succeeds in giving us a charming view of the adult world seen through the eyes of a child."[20] Sify gave the movie a verdict of Good stating that "Manjadikuru comes as a whiff of fresh air. Enjoy this fabulous debut of a new talent called Anjali Menon straightaway!".[21] Indiaglitz gave the movie a rating of 6.5 in 10 stating that "'Manjadikkuru' is a right addition to the list of well made films that came out this year. Just have a go into this scent of fresh air."[22]

VCD/DVD Release

The VCDs and DVDs were released by Satyam Audios on 17 June 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Parque Via wins best film award". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Malayalam film wins big at New York festival". Sify.com. 11 November 2009.
  3. ↑ "Seeds of a success story: Award-winning director Anjali Menon talks about her feature film, 'Manjadikurru,' and her love for cinema.". The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram. 26 December 2008.
  4. ↑ Manjadikuru, Lucky Red Seeds cinemaofmalayalam.net.
  5. ↑ "Mistress of composure". Express Buss, Indian Express. 28 May 2009.
  6. ↑ Manjadikuru Summary South Asian International Film Festival, New York.
  7. ↑ "Manjadikuru goes commercial". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  8. ↑ ":: IFFK 2008 ::". Iffk.keralafilm.com. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  9. ↑ "Awards - Festival Awards 2008". Fipresci. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  10. ↑ "Festival Reports - Kerala 2008 - "Lucky Red Seeds"". Fipresci. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  11. ↑ "മഞ്ചാടിക്കുരുവിന് അഞ്ച് അമേരിക്കന്‍ അവാര്‍ഡ്". Movieraga. zero width joiner character in |title= at position 35 (help)
  12. ↑ "അഞ്‌ജലിയുടെ മഞ്ചാടിക്കുരു ഫ്രാന്‍സിലേക്ക്". Movieraga. zero width joiner character in |title= at position 33 (help)
  13. ↑ "A Panorama of choice". Khaleej Times. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  14. ↑ timesofindia.indiatimes.com (20 May 2012). "Manjadikkuru".
  15. ↑ Chris Fujiwara (19 August 2011). "Lucky Red Seeds:The Double Look".
  16. ↑ Ben Umstead (30 October 2009). "MANJADIKURU Review".
  17. ↑ www.nowrunning.com (24 May 2012). "Manjadikuru Review".
  18. ↑ www.metromatinee.com (19 May 2012). "Manjadikuru Movie Review".
  19. ↑ Parvathy Anoop (18 October 2012). "A slice of life seen through innocent eyes".
  20. ↑ Paresh C Pillai (21 May 2012). "Review: Manjadikuru is enchanting".
  21. ↑ Moviebuzz. "Manjadikuru is a whiff of fresh air".
  22. ↑ www.indiaglitz.com (23 May 2012). "Manjadikuru Movie Review".
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