In ‘Manjadikuru’, the flashback, takes you back to the 1980’s, to the lost childhood and the innocence of youth. The story is retold through the memories of Vikki who, older and wiser, yearns for those wonderful days.
Vicki as a young boy of 10, comes home for his grandfather’s cremation. Grandmother insists that her husband’s will shall be opened only after the formalities are completed, which forces everyone to stay back for 16 days. This was an opportunity for Vicky to mix with his cousins and uncles and aunts and neighbours and he spends an eventful 16 days in his village.
He comes to learn the ways of the people, the feelings and emotions that run their lives, all through the eyes of a ten-year old boy, and goes back a better person.
The movie is definitely going to take you back and bring nostalgic memories of those lost periods.
You will recognize many of your dear and near ones in the characters like the hot-blooded rebel played by Murali, the rude and haughty son-in-law by Jagathy, The tender and loving Praveena who is aunt and sister to many, the dominating mother by Urvasi, the cunning relative by Bindu Panikker and many more. And the most striking and noticeable feature of the movie is the absolute innocence of the children so beautifully conveyed by the talented child artists.
The story is narrated through the perception of children which makes the plot simple, straightforward and easy to the senses.
The child artists are terrific and perfectly natural. Prithviraj as the adult Vicki makes a brief appearance but lends his voice for Vicki’s narration. He makes his guest appearance along with Padmapriya towards the climax. Praveena, Bindu Panikker, Rahiman and Urvasi have themost screen presence after the children and they do a commendable job. Murali, Thilakan and Kaviyoor Ponnamma have performed impressively in their small but significant roles.
Anjali Menon’s role should in no way be underplayed as she has achieved to make a great film out of a simple story. She has highlighted each individual character without giving importance to anyone in particular. The script, written by herself, is touching, sensitive and subtle. She will attain greater heights very soon.
Pietro Zuercher’s photography brings out the rustic beauty of Kerala village while Francois Gamaury’s background score is absolutely apt and amazing. Kavalam Narayana Panikker’s lyrics are tuned by Ramesh Narayanan to produce soft and melodious music.
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 ...! - Rating : 4/5
"There is a connection between childhood and cinema (think of Night of the Hunter, Moonfleet, Les 400 coups, Spirit of the Beehive...), which first-time director Anjali Menon exploits beautifully, knowing she can count on the audience to follow the path that leads back from adulthood, with its calculations of profit and loss, to the pure risk and adventure of childhood, by way of the rhapsodic and seductive image on which she expends so much skill." :Chris Fujiwara, Japan
"The film is full of contrasts: the complexity of the grown up world/family dynamics and the innocence of the children, old vs new, city vs rural, yet nothing is overtly black and white. Taking place in lush green Kerala, (Southwestern region in India) Manjadikuru is all about the colors, sounds and wonders of childhood. It feels similar to reading an Arundhati Roy story. The imagery is so striking you could almost smell it! Manjadikuru unfolds like a good memoir.
Manjadikuru is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful films about childhood I've seen." :Dustin Chang, Korea-USA
"Manjadikuru is an emotionally powerful family story told with skill and restraint" :Barbara Lorey de Lachiarerre, France
"Manjadikuru is heartbreakingly beautiful and meaningful.... a superior film." :Peter Belsito, US
"Manjadikuru took me down memory lane to my childhood... heartwarming!" :Revathy, India
"The uncontrollable tears in our eyes at the end of Manjadikuru clearly indicate the loss we sense in our lives� we long for our life to begin again and to relive it in the best way with all our relationships." :Cheran, India
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