Kattukuthira

Kattukuthira (literally: Wild Horse) is a 1990 Malayalam film. It was directed by P. G. Viswambharan[1] and scripted by S. L. Puram, based on his classic play of the same name. This movie is noted for the brilliant performance of Thilakan in the role of the cantankerous Kochuvava.[2] This role was donned by noted actor Rajan P. Dev in the play, which was also highly acclaimed.[3]

Kattukuthira
Directed byP. G. Viswambharan
Produced byA. K. K. Bappu
Written byS. L. Puram
StarringThilakan
Vineeth
Anju
Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Innocent
Music byJohnson
CinematographySaroj Padhi
Edited byG. Venkitaraman
Production
company
Arakkal Films
Distributed byPratheeksha Pictures
Release date
  • 1990 (1990)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Plot

Kochuraman (V. K. Sreeraman) is the village toddy collector, belonging to the Ezhava caste, with a well-built body and a strong personality. Kochuraman leads a simple and happy life with his wife and son Kochuvava. Manorama "Thampuratti" is the daughter of a feudal lord of the ruling Brahmin family in the village. Thampuratti falls for Kochuraman and tries to gain his attention, ignoring the vast caste gap between them. Both of them are found together in her bedroom one day by the feudal lord.This results in Kochuraman being brutally murdered and his chopped off body being displayed for all the village to see while Manorama Thampuratti is paralysed for rest of her life by a deadly kick of the Thampuran in his rage. Kochuvava witnesses his father's body lying in the pool of blood under a coconut tree and despite his young age, he swears revenge upon his father's murderers.

Kochuvava grows up into a ruthless and witty patriarch and capitalist amassing huge wealth through various legal and illegal ways, climbing the social ladder with the changing times. He ends up buying everything in the village including the kovilakam of the Namboothiris, whose current generation sold the land as they migrated to an urban life.

For Kochuvava (Thilakan), nothing is more important than money and revenge in his life. Even his wife (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) and son (Vineeth) are secondary when it comes to that. In his quest for revenge, he bullies anyone and anything who dares to stand up to him. Despite being uneducated during changes around him, he manages his empire with his wit and ruthless efficiency. He plans to exact his ultimate vengeance by starting an illicit Arrack business in the kovilakam. This will serve to increase his profits as well as help drive out the last residents of the kovilakam - Manorama and a young girl who live their with their property overseer Raman Nair , after which he plans to dig a pond where the kovilalkam stands today. For Kochuvava, drinking a handful of water from that pond will mark his completion of his vengeance.

However, this masterful long standing plan is strongly resented by his spoilt immature son Mohan, who also happens to be in love with the young and equally naive girl who is the titular "Kochuthampuratti" (Anju) of the kovilakam. Kochuvava mostly resents this relationship, accusing the Brahmin girl to be scheming to win all his wealth and offspring while Kochuvava was trying to win her house in exchange for money. One day both of the lovers (neither of who have a job or independent source of income or know of any way of life other than living off the assets of their parents) decide to live together and come and stay with Kochuvava. He initially refuses to let them stay here and threatens to make life impossible for them even if they are to go live in the old ruined palace.

As Kochuvava thinks things over in the mediation of other friends and well wishers, the immature couple go and immediately hang themselves in the palace. Raman Nair, the overseer of the feudal family sees the hanging bodies. Kochuvava's words echo in his mind about the inevitability of his plan to start Arrack manufacturing in the upper caste homestead. He realizes the strength of Kochuvava's will upon seeing his own son and the youngest Brahmin dead as well. Unable to stand the caste humiliation any longer, he burns down the palace with Manorama alive inside it and goes and informs this to Kochuvava and the rest of the village.

The film ends in a bitter tragedy for Kochuvava. The film ends with the lines that Kochuvava finally bowed his head for the first time in his life to love and fire. It is unclear what punishment was dealt to Raman Nair or whether this made any change in Kochuvava's plans to dig a pond where the palace once stood.

Cast
The role of Kochuvava was challenging. Kattu Kuthira, the film, was virtually the play by S. L. Puram; there was hardly any change. But I had to make my role cinematic, not theatrical. I was aware that it was a role made memorable by Rajan P. Dev on stage, so there was bound to be comparison. I had to leave my own impression on the role, and there was the slang of the character that I had to get right."

—Thilakan about his role in the film.[4]

Technicians: Associate Director: Rajeevan, Art Director: Sabu Pravadas, Publicity Design: Gayathry.

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References
  1. "P.G. Viswambharan dead". The Hindu. 17 June 2010.
  2. P. K. Ajith Kumar (25 September 2012). "The unforgettable Thilakan". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  3. Prema Manmadhan (31 July 2009). "Actor par excellence". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. P. K. Ajith Kumar (January 26, 2007). "Indelible expressions". The Hindu. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
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