- Directors: Priyadarshan, Santosh Sivan, Mahesh Narayanan, Jayaraj, Shyamprasad, Ratheesh Ambat, Ranjith, Aswathy V. Nair
- Cast: Mohanlal, Mammootty, Indrajith Sukumaran, Biju Menon, Fahadh Faasil, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Nedumudi Venu, Indrans, Aparna Balamurali, Ann Augustine, Siddique, Shanthi Krishna
- Rating: 3/5
Undoubtedly, one of the most anticipated projects of the Malayalam film industry this year is Manorathangal. The first of its kind anthology series in Malayalam, is based on the short stories of writer, director and Jnanpith Award winner MT Vasudevan Nair.
The star-studded cast like Mammootty, Mohanlal, Fahadh Faasil, Indrans, Nedumudi Venu, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Aparna Balamurali, Indrajith Sukumaran and many others along with directors like Priyadarshan, Ranjith, Mahesh Narayanan and others made the series even more popular. The much-awaited series premiered on Zee5 on Independence Day. But does the series really live up to its expectations? Let’s find out.
Plot of Manorathangal
As reported earlier, Manorathangal is an anthology series and consists of nine unrelated short films based on common themes of longing, loneliness and complex human behaviour.
The series begins with one of the most talked-about segments – Olavum Theeravam. The segment stars Mohanlal and Durga Krishna in the lead roles, and is directed by Priyadarshan. Olavum Theeravam showcases the love story between Baputti and Nabisu and the complications that follow when Kunjali, a rich outsider, also expresses his love for Nabisu.
The second episode of this segment was also a much-awaited one – Mammootty starrer Kadugannawa: Oru Yathra Kurippu directed by Ranjith. The story revolves around a journalist who travels to Sri Lanka in search of his half-sister Leela after nearly 50 years.
The third part of the anthology series was Kaazhcha directed by Shyamprasad starring Parvathy Thiruvothu. The story is about a woman named Sudha, living a troubled married life, who expresses her desire for a divorce to her family. However, facing social pressure and ostracism by her family, Sudha seeks advice from an elder woman.
Silalakitham, starring Biju Menon, is the fourth installment in the series, and also the second directed by Priyadarshan. The story attempts to break the misconception that people in rural areas are nicer than those in cities, and establishes the idea that humans everywhere are grey.
Wilpana is the fifth installment in the series, directed by Aswathy V. Nair, daughter of M.T. Vasudevan Nair. The film is based on the story of a journalist, Sunil Roy, and the events that follow when he encounters a mysterious woman, Mrs. Parekh. The episode explores the complex human relationships that form between strangers in a short span of time.
Directed by Mahesh Narayanan, Sherlock is the sequel to the anthology series starring Fahadh Faasil. Malik plays Balu, a recovering alcoholic who travels to the United States to visit his sister. In America, he develops a complicated relationship with his sister’s cat, Sherlock.
Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam, directed by Jayaraj and starring Nedumudi Venu and Indrans, is the seventh episode of the series. The episode is reminiscent of Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu’s films, talking about strained family relationships, where Venu’s children hesitate to meet him even when they know he is on his deathbed.
Santosh Sivan’s Abhayam Thedi Vendum, starring Siddique, Ishit Yamini and others, is the sequel to Manorathangal. The film is the story of a stranger who comes to live in a rented house in a village. As he grows attached to the place, he is constantly reminded by the villagers that he is just a tenant and can be evicted by the owner anytime.
The last installment of the anthology series is Indrajith Sukumaran, Aparna Balamurali, Ann Augustine starrer Kadalakkattu, directed by Ratheesh Ambady. The film is based on the life of a successful businessman who has his family in the village and his mistress in the city. However, his life takes a turn in which he has to pay the price for his actions.
what works in manorathangal
Having a star-studded cast and crew, it goes without saying that all the episodes of Manorathangal had a brilliant technical side. The cinematography in all the episodes was undoubtedly excellent, with Sujith Vasudev and Prashanth Ravindran’s work in Mammootty starrer Kadugannawa Oru Yatra being one of the best.
Just like the cinematography, the music used throughout the series is also top-notch. The music perfectly complements the theme of each story and elevates the anthology series to an extent.
However, when talking about each episode, three episodes stood out from the rest. Mammootty starrer Kadugannawa, Oru Yathra Kurippu, Fahadh Faasil’s Sherlock and Parvathy Thiruvothu starrer Kaazhcha. These three episodes in particular managed to strip the story down to its true essence and make it relevant for the contemporary audience.
In fact, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that viewers will get a glimpse of the old Ranjith while watching Kadugannawa, Oru Yathra Kurippu. Viewers also wish that all three segments would have been longer.
Finally, the introduction of each episode by Kamal Haasan was a nice little touch by the makers. The great actor gives a preliminary introduction to each episode, just like a brief description in a book. The emotions and personal manner portrayed by the actor eases the audience into each episode, and they know what to expect from it.
What doesn’t work in Manorathangal
The biggest drawback in Manorathangal is undoubtedly its screenplay and its treatment. MT Vasudevan Nair’s works are undoubtedly timeless classics, unravelling the most complex layers of human emotions.
While the episodes have managed to do justice to the complexity of themes and emotions, it has failed to engage the audience at large. It seems that this disconnect starts with the dialogues. In many parts of the series, the dialogues seem scripted, and it doesn’t feel like the characters are saying anything.
Also, when it comes to Mohanlal’s segment, Olavum Theeravam, the acting is top notch but the film as a whole fails to leave a mark. The film, which is based on a 1957 short story, is also a remake of a 1970 film of the same name. However, even after 54 years, everything feels the same as it was before, so the thrill fades. Also, the age difference between Mohanlal’s Baputti and Durga Krishna’s Nabisu can be quite jarring.
The same can be said about Santosh Sivan-directed Abhayam Thedi Vendum, which stars Siddique in the lead role. Apart from the performances, the poignant segment somehow falls short in most aspects. The film seems scattered all over the place, and also lacks a logical narrative structure. Other episodes like Wilpana, Kadalakkattu and Shilalikitham also suffer from similar problems.
Performances at Manorathangal
The acting in Manorathangal undoubtedly serves as the saving grace of the anthology short film. The actors in the series who are considered to be the leaders in the industry gave top-notch performances. Special mention must be made of the performances of Indrans and Nedumudi Venu in Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam as well as Mammootty in Kadugannawa, Oru Yathra Kurippu.
Fahadh Faasil as Balu managed to successfully portray his complicated relationship with a cat on screen. Parvathy Thiruvothu’s performance as Sudha in Kaazhcha helped add depth to the whole story. Mohanlal, Indrajith Sukumaran, Aparna Balamurali, Ann Augustine and many other actors also deserve a special mention.
Manorathangal verdict
As mentioned earlier, Manorathangal is one of the most anticipated works in the Malayalam film industry. Though the anthology series is weak in many respects, it is quite commendable considering it is the first attempt at such a project. Moreover, many of the episodes are excellent in terms of performances and technical aspects, making it an entertaining viewing for the audience.
Though Manorthangal has its flaws and to a large extent, its flaws outweigh its strengths, it won’t be wrong to say that there is no other work in the Malayalam industry in recent times that has depicted complex human relationships as well as Manorthangal. The series also has the potential to start a conversation among family and peers and hence should be watched as an audience as well.
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