Ulsavappittennu (1988)
“The Day after the Festival” – (Lit. Translation)Ulsavapittennu marked the return of Bharat Gopy into cinema, after his debilitating illness, this time wielding the Director’s baton. The screenplay was by John Paul based on one of his stories, and had Mohanlal and Parvathy in leading roles. Enriched with a rich sonic inlay (all the songs are classics in their own right), Mohanlal’s Aniyan Thamburan is one of the most memorable roles in his career.
| Parvathy Jayaram |
| Mohanlal |
| Sukumaran |
| Jagathy Sreekumar |
| Sankaradi |
| Sukumari |
| Kaviyoor Ponnamma |
| Jayaram |
| Devan, VBK Menon, M Chandran Nair, Kunchan, Kuthiravattam Pappu, Mala Aravindan |
| Kozhikode Narayanan Nair, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Philomina, Praseetha, RK Nair, Sabitha Anand |
| Suma Jayaram, Sumithra, Surasu, TM Abraham, Valsala Menon, Kollam GK Pillai |
| Director | Bharat Gopy |
| Producer | Babu |
| Banner | Thomsun Films |
| Story | John Paul |
| Screenplay | John Paul |
| Dialogue | John Paul |
| Lyrics | Kavalam Narayana Panicker |
| Music | G Devarajan |
| Singers | KJ Yesudas, P Madhuri, CN Unnikrishnan, Lathika |
| Cinematography | Vasanth Kumar |
| Editing | B Lenin, VT Vijayan |
| Art Direction | Kitho |
| Design | Kitho |
| Distribution | Thomson Release |
The story revolves around Aniyan Thampuran (Mohanlal), a naive and innocent prince of an erstwhile royal family, and his household in a village of Kerala. His family is heavily into debt by the wayward lifestyle of his elder brother Chettan Thampuran (Sukumaran). Chettan Thampuran’s untimely death forces Aniyan to take responsibility for the family.
He loses his house and all properties to pay off his brother’s debts and is led into financial ruin. He realises that his wife’s (Parvathy) affair with his friend Balan prior to their wedding is as green as ever, and she had married him only to deliver herself from the abject financial ruin of her own family. This realisation devastates him further and culminates in his suicide.
A Movie Clipping from Ulsavappittennu (1988)
Athinthom
Singer : KJ Yesudas, P Madhuri, Lathika | Lyrics : Kavalam Narayana Panicker | Music : G Devarajan
Kisalaya Shayanathale
Singer : CN Unnikrishnan | Lyrics : Ashtapadi / Jayadeva | Music : G Devarajan
Panthiruchuttum Pachola
Singer : KJ Yesudas, Chorus, Lathika | Lyrics : Kavalam Narayana Panicker | Music : G Devarajan
Poovithal
Singer : P Madhuri | Lyrics : Kavalam Narayana Panicker | Music : G Devarajan
Pularithoomanju
Singer : KJ Yesudas | Lyrics : Kavalam Narayana Panicker | Music : G Devarajan
An excerpt from John Paul’s memoir, “Kaalathinnu Munpe Nadannavar,” remembering the making of Ulsavapittennu, titled “Manjulali Ippozhum Thengunnu.” All rights vested with Olive / Papiyon / Harmony.
Courtesy : Biscoot Malayalam.
On Directing Ulsavappittennu (1988) : An Overview
The puja and Recording of Ulsavapittennu.
Ulsavapittennu had some of the best craftsmen from the south Indian film industry coming togeter, bound by a deep respect for Bharat Gopy, and the cast and crew were at their accommodative best to help the process reach its fulfilling end, without any hindrance. Bharathan’s trusted friend and Asst. Director Kitho was the powerhouse behind the shooting process, ensuring the director’s vision for the approved script was realised the way it had to be done. John Paul, in his Memoirs recalls that the puja and recording event of Ulsavapittennu had the cream of tinsel town attending, mostly out of respect and love for the legend, and to offer any help possible to fulfill the project.
Ulsavapittennu had a simple, linear narrative with hardly any embellishments for any of the characters, and it was unusual for Mohanlal, one of the leading stars in Malayalam agreeing to do a character whose response to the events that had completely devastated his life was to act against himself, removing himself from his tribulations.
എന്നെ വളരെ സ്പര്‍ശിച്ച ചിത്രം, മോഹന്‍ലാലിന്‍റെ, പാര്‍വതിയുടെ, വളരെ നിഷ്കളങ്കമായ അഭിനയം, സുകുമാരന്റെ പ്രകടനവും മികച്ചത് തന്നെ ഇതിലെ ഗാനവും (പുലരിതൂമഞ്ഞു ) കവിതയും (പൂവിതള്‍) അതി മനോഹരം, സ്വന്തം സഹോദരി ഒരു കീഴ്ജാതിക്കാരന്റെ കൂടെ ഓടി പോയി എന്നറിയുമ്പോഴും, അതിന്റെ പേരില്‍ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിലെ ജോലി പ്രമാണിമാര്‍ കളയുമോ എന്ന് പേടിക്കുന്ന ജയറാമിന്റെ കഥാപാത്രം വേവലാതി പെടുമ്പോള്‍ ഒരു സമൂഹത്തിന്‍റെ ദുരവസ്ഥ കൂടെ നമുക്ക് കാണാന്‍ കഴിയുന്നു,