Dear Sreenivasan,
you wrote some extremely depressing and melancholic films disguised as full length comedies starting from 1986. Sanmanasulavarku Samadhanam was probably the second best among these films (the others being Gandhinagar 2nd Street, T.P.Balagopalam M.A, Varavelpu and Vadakunokiyanthram). You were successful in portraying the neurosis of and economic problems faced by lower middle class Malayalis without shedding your trademark style which is characterized by exaggerated humor and slapstick comedy.
A comedy based on the housing problems of lower middle class people leading to the sneaky landlord Gopalakrishna Panicker (Mohanlal) forcefully living with his stubborn tenants (Karthika, KPAC and Yadhu Krishnan) was a great idea. Some of the interactions and conflicts between the characters were pure comedy genius. The array of characters who try to help both sides in their desperate endeavors to displace each other from the house were also well thought out. As usual, you wrote the most pathetic, flirtatious and boastful role of the faltering police inspector for yourself. Thilakan as the goon from Bombay who tries to threaten Panicker took the film to another level of hilarity. The whole fight scene shot near the Bolgatty Palace is slapstick heaven.
I guess credit ought to be given to the director Sathyan Anthikad as well. This man has harbored an almost stubborn aversion to risks in terms of structure or camera angles throughout his career. His simple style (or lack of it) is almost perfect for the mundane urban lower middle class setting. Frankly, I prefer this absence of directorial flourishes over some of the over-directed, affected and deliberately confusing style of the new generation filmmakers.
The two songs were outrageously funny.
Lalettan was simply splendid as the landlord who is sneaky, cowardly, helpless and goodhearted all at the same time. Karthika effortlessly played the disturbed tenant.
This film has some of your best writing. Second only to Vadakunokiyanthram. Thank you.
Best Regards,
Pimpin.
you wrote some extremely depressing and melancholic films disguised as full length comedies starting from 1986. Sanmanasulavarku Samadhanam was probably the second best among these films (the others being Gandhinagar 2nd Street, T.P.Balagopalam M.A, Varavelpu and Vadakunokiyanthram). You were successful in portraying the neurosis of and economic problems faced by lower middle class Malayalis without shedding your trademark style which is characterized by exaggerated humor and slapstick comedy.
A comedy based on the housing problems of lower middle class people leading to the sneaky landlord Gopalakrishna Panicker (Mohanlal) forcefully living with his stubborn tenants (Karthika, KPAC and Yadhu Krishnan) was a great idea. Some of the interactions and conflicts between the characters were pure comedy genius. The array of characters who try to help both sides in their desperate endeavors to displace each other from the house were also well thought out. As usual, you wrote the most pathetic, flirtatious and boastful role of the faltering police inspector for yourself. Thilakan as the goon from Bombay who tries to threaten Panicker took the film to another level of hilarity. The whole fight scene shot near the Bolgatty Palace is slapstick heaven.
I guess credit ought to be given to the director Sathyan Anthikad as well. This man has harbored an almost stubborn aversion to risks in terms of structure or camera angles throughout his career. His simple style (or lack of it) is almost perfect for the mundane urban lower middle class setting. Frankly, I prefer this absence of directorial flourishes over some of the over-directed, affected and deliberately confusing style of the new generation filmmakers.
The two songs were outrageously funny.
Lalettan was simply splendid as the landlord who is sneaky, cowardly, helpless and goodhearted all at the same time. Karthika effortlessly played the disturbed tenant.
This film has some of your best writing. Second only to Vadakunokiyanthram. Thank you.
Best Regards,
Pimpin.