Manjadikuru

Manjadikuru (English: Lucky Red Seeds) is a 2008 Malayalam film written and directed by Anjali Menon. A shorter video version of the film was premiered at the 2008 International Film Festival of Kerala, and won the FIPRESCI Award for best Malayalam film and Hassankutty award for Best Debutant Indian director.[2] In 2009, it received awards at the South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) at New York, winning five Grand Jury Awards - Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematographer and Best Emerging Talent.[3][4][5][6]

Manjadikuru
Film official poster
Directed byAnjali Menon
Produced byVinod Menon
Anjali Menon
Written byAnjali Menon
Dialogues:
Paliyath Aparna Menon
Anjali Menon
StarringSidharth
Vyjayanthi
Rejosh
Arathi Sasikumar
Rahman
Urvashi
Narrated byPrithviraj Sukumaran
Music byRamesh Narayan
Francois Gamaury (BGM)
Kavalam Narayana Panikkar (lyrics)
CinematographyPietro Zuercher
Edited byB. Lenin
Production
company
Little Films
Distributed byAugust Cinema
Release date
  • December 2008 (2008-12) (Kerala)[1]
  • 18 May 2012 (2012-05-18)
Running time
137 Minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Plot

Manjadikuru is a story of homecoming from late 1980s, when 10-year-old Vicky arrives at his grandparents home in rural Kerala to attend his grandfather's funeral. The disjointed family gathers together for the sixteen-day-long funeral period. During this period, Vicky discovers more about himself, his family and culture than he had expected to. The journey is narrated through the memories of an adult Vicky who returns to the same house to recount the experience. After some years the boy returns as a young man (Prithviraj), to visit old grounds, and finds the 'Lucky red seeds' scattered away.[7]

Cast
  • Special appearance :-
Prithviraj as elder Vicky
Padmapriya as elder Roja
  • The kids:-
Sidharth as Vicky
Vyjayanthi as Roja
Rejosh as Kannan
Arathi Sasikumar as Manikutty
  • The family:-
Thilakan as Appukuttan Nair (Vicky's grandfather)
Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Devayani (Vicky's grandmother)
Murali as Sanyasi Maaman / Murali
Jagathi Sreekumar as Unni
Bindu Panicker as Ammu
Urvashi as Sujatha (Vicky's mother)
Sagar Shiyaz as Hari (Vicky's father)
Rahman as Raghu
Sharran as Ravi
Sridevika as Latha
Praveena as Sheela
Sindhu Menon as Sudhamani
Thrissur Chandran as Vasudevan Nair
Firosh Mohan as Balu
Julia George as Sindhu
Shrevya Kannan as Baby Seetha
  • Other casts:-
Poojappura Ravi as Lawyer
Kannan Pattambi as Marimuthu
Venu Machad as Vishnu/Shop owner
Sreekumar as Police Inspector

Release

The film released in theatres in May 2012, after winning awards in film festivals. For the commercial release, songs and additional scenes are added to the film to make it more appealing to people.[8]

Soundtrack
Manjadikuru
Soundtrack album by
Ramesh Narayan
Released2012
LabelUniversal Music India
ProducerLittle Films

All lyrics are written by Kavalam Narayana Panicker; all music is composed by Ramesh Narayan.

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Ariya Vazhikalil"K. J. Yesudas 
2."Maargazhi Manjil"K. S. Chithra, Madhushree Narayan 
3."Manchaadipenne Vaadi"Shweta Mohan, Choir 
4."Chaadi Chaadi"Vijay Yesudas, Choir 
5."Manne Nampi"Kavalam Narayana Panicker, Anil, Sathish 
6."Kadamkadha - Mannile Thullikkum"Prithviraj Sukumaran 
7."Keralam Daivathinte Swantham"Prithviraj Sukumaran 

Awards
Kerala State Film Awards 2012
13th International Film Festival of Kerala 2008
  • Hassankutty Award for Best Debut Director - Anjali Menon [9]
  • FIPRESCI Prize for Best Malayalam Film in Malayalam Cinema Today section [10][11]
6th South Asian International Film Festival 2009
  • Grand Jury award for Best Film
  • Grand Jury award for Best Director - Anjali Menon.
  • Grand Jury award for Best Screenplay - Anjali Menon.
  • Grand Jury award for Best Cinematography - Pietro Zuercher.
  • Grand Jury award for Best Emerging Talent - Vyjayanthi.[12]
Other awards

Critical reception

Aswin J Kumar from The Times of India gave the movie 3.5 stars saying that "Manjadikkuru is a beautifully shot film that can be loved for its sheer earnestness and sense of belonging.".[15] Chris Fujiwara from Federación Internacional de la Prensa Cinematográfica said that "It is a lesson in the ways of society but a metaphorical lesson for the audience, the kind of lesson that (as one imagines, or remembers, while watching Lucky Red Seeds) the cinema was invented to teach."[16] Ben Umstead from Twitch Film said that "Manjadikuru is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful films about childhood I've seen. ".[17]

Veeyen from Nowrunning gave the movie 3 stars saying that "Anjaly Menon's 'Manjadikkuru' is an ode to the inherent innocence that once existed in us. Appealing equally to viewers of all ages, the flight of fancy that she offers to this incredible world that once was, is certainly not to be missed! ".[18] Metromatinee said "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 ...!"[19] Parvathy Anoop from Deccan Herald stated that "Anjali Menon leaves no stone unturned as she explores elements of hypocrisy, love, sympathy and sorrow inside a large Nair family."[20]

Paresh C Palicha from Rediff.com gave the verdict of 3 stars saying that "Manjadikuru is enchanting. In this film, Anjali Menon succeeds in giving us a charming view of the adult world seen through the eyes of a child."[21] Sify gave the movie a verdict of Good stating that "Manjadikuru comes as a whiff of fresh air. Enjoy this fabulous debut of a new talent called Anjali Menon straightaway!".[22] Indiaglitz gave the movie a rating of 6.5 in 10 stating that "'Manjadikkuru' is a right addition to the list of well made films that came out this year. Just have a go into this scent of fresh air."[23]

VCD/DVD Release

The VCDs and DVDs were released by Satyam Audios on 17 June 2013.

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References
  1. https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/manjadikuru-38926/technical-specifications
  2. "Parque Via wins best film award". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  3. "Malayalam film wins big at New York festival". Sify.com. 11 November 2009.
  4. "Seeds of a success story: Award-winning director Anjali Menon talks about her feature film, 'Manjadikurru,' and her love for cinema". The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram. 26 December 2008.
  5. Manjadikuru, Lucky Red Seeds cinemaofmalayalam.net.
  6. "Mistress of composure". Express Buss, Indian Express. 28 May 2009.
  7. Manjadikuru Summary South Asian International Film Festival, New York.
  8. "Manjadikuru goes commercial". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  9. ":: IFFK 2008 ::". Iffk.keralafilm.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  10. "Awards - Festival Awards 2008". Fipresci. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  11. "Festival Reports - Kerala 2008 - "Lucky Red Seeds"". Fipresci. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  12. "മഞ്ചാടിക്കുരുവിന് അഞ്ച് അമേരിക്കന്‍ അവാര്‍ഡ്". Movieraga.
  13. "അഞ്‌ജലിയുടെ മഞ്ചാടിക്കുരു ഫ്രാന്‍സിലേക്ക്". Movieraga. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  14. "A Panorama of choice" Archived 20 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Khaleej Times. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  15. timesofindia.indiatimes.com (20 May 2012). "Manjadikkuru".
  16. Chris Fujiwara (19 August 2011). "Lucky Red Seeds:The Double Look". Archived from the original on 16 October 2013.
  17. Ben Umstead (30 October 2009). "MANJADIKURU Review".
  18. www.nowrunning.com (24 May 2012). "Manjadikuru Review".
  19. www.metromatinee.com (19 May 2012). "Manjadikuru Movie Review".
  20. Parvathy Anoop (18 October 2012). "A slice of life seen through innocent eyes".
  21. Paresh C Pillai (21 May 2012). "Review: Manjadikuru is enchanting".
  22. Moviebuzz. "Manjadikuru is a whiff of fresh air".
  23. www.indiaglitz.com (23 May 2012). "Manjadikuru Movie Review".
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