Nandanam (film)
Nandanam (transl. Flower garden) is a 2002 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Ranjith. It stars Navya Nair and Prithviraj Sukumaran, along with Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Revathi, and Aravind Akash. Singer K. J. Yesudas made a cameo appearance. It was the debut film of Prithviraj. Ranjith co-produced the film with Siddique. The music was composed by Raveendran. The film was released on 20 December 2002. The film won four Kerala State Film Awards (including Best Actress for Nair) and two Filmfare Awards South—Best Film and Best Actress (Nair),
Nandanam | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ranjith |
Produced by | Siddique Ranjith |
Written by | Ranjith |
Starring | Navya Nair Prithviraj Sukumaran Kaviyoor Ponnamma Revathi Siddique Innocent |
Music by | Raveendran Rajamani (score) |
Cinematography | Alagappan N. |
Edited by | Ranjan Abraham |
Production company | Bhavana Cinema |
Distributed by | Kokers Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 145 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Malayalam |
Plot
Balamani (Navya Nair) is a young orphaned girl and housemaid. She is an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. Balamani takes care of Unniyamma (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) who lives in her ancestral house. Unniyamma considers Balamani like her own daughter. For Balamani, Lord Krishna and Unnyamma are everything. Despite being a devotee of Lord Krishna, she had never been able to visit Guruvayur Temple since her childhood and is always sad for the same. Unniyamma's grandson, Manu (Prithviraj Sukumaran) comes from Bangalore to stay with his grandmother for a few days before leaving to the US. Balamani is astonished at the sight of Manu, because she had dreamt him before in which the two were getting married. Eventually, they fall in love.
Manu's mother (Revathy), who was unaware of this affair, asks Manu to marry her friend's daughter. Manu discloses his wish to his mother, but in vain, as his mother had taken the marriage preparations to a point of no-return. His decision to marry the housemaid was not welcomed by the relatives and Manu was forced to go through the arranged marriage that was set for him. Disheartened, Balamani prays to Lord Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna) to give her strength to let go of her love. Unnikrishnan (Aravind Akash), whom Balamani lovingly calls "Unniettan" her neighbour befriends her and consoles her saying that everything will fall in place at the end.
The bride of Manu elopes with her lover as she doesn't have interest in this marriage. Thus the words of the neighbour becomes true.Unniyamma creates a scene in which supports Balamani after which Manu and Balamani get happily married in Guruvayur Temple in front of Lord Guruvayurappan. After the marriage , she goes to visit Unnikrishnan at his house, but is shocked to learn that the real Unnikrishnan is someone else (Sudheesh). She rushes back to temple and realizes that whom she met as Unniettan, her friend who consoled her, was Lord Krishna himself.
Cast
- Navya Nair as Balamani
- Prithviraj Sukumaran as Manu Nandakumar
- Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Ambalapatil Unni Amma, Manu's maternal grandmother
- Revathi as Thankam Nandakumar (Unni Amma's daughter and M/o Manu)
- Aravind Akash as Unnikrishnan / Guruvayurappan (voice dubbed by Sudheesh)
- Siddique as Balan/Balachandran, Unni Amma's nephew
- Saikumar as Ramadasan, Unni Amma's elder son and Thankam's elder brother
- Innocent as Kesavan Nair
- Jagathy Sreekumar as Kumbidi/Palarivattom Sasi
- Vijayakumari as Parootty Amma
- Subbalakshmi as Veshamani Ammal
- Meena Ganesh as Karthyayani Amma
- N. F. Varghese as Sreedharan, Unni Amma's nephew
- Jagannatha Varma as Ambalapatil Madhava Menon, Unniyamma's Relative
- Kozhikode Narayanan Nair as Shankarammavan, Unniyamma's Relative
- Sadiq as Vijayan, Unniyamma's Nephew
- Mala Aravindan as Sankaran Mushari
- Kalabhavan Mani as Manikandan (S/o Sankaran Moosari)
- Jagadeesh as Elder S/o Sankaran Moosari
- Augustine as Kunjiraman, the cook
- Kalaranjini as Janaki, (Janu Ettathy) (Unnikrishnan's Mother and Thankam's friend)(Voice dubbed by Urvashi)
- V. K. Sreeraman as Vishwanathan Menon, Unni Amma's eldest son
- Zeenath as Unni Amma's niece
- Subair as Venu Menon
- Jolly Easo as Sumam Venu, Thankam's friend
- Jyothirmayi as D/o Venu Menon
- Bindu Ramakrishnan as Unni Amma's relative
- Ambika Mohan as Unni Amma's relative
- Nivia Rebin as Unni Amma's relative
- Gayathri as Sakundala, Janaki's maid
- Sudheesh as Unnikrishnan (Cameo appearance)
- K. J. Yesudas as Himself (Cameo appearance)
Soundtrack
Nandanam | |
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Soundtrack album by | |
Released | 2002 |
Genre | Film |
Label | Satyam Audios |
Producer | Siddique, Ranjith |
The most critically acclaimed and popular songs of this film were written by Gireesh Puthenchery and composed by maestro Raveendran. The songs were on chart for weeks and the song Karmukil Varnante become highly popular and won Kerala State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Track | Song | Singer(s) | Raga |
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1 | Sreelavasantham | Dr. K. J. Yesudas | Yamuna Kalyani |
2 | Manassil | M. G. Sreekumar, Radhika Thilak | Naatta |
3 | Aarum | P. Jayachandran, Sujatha | Shuddha Dhanyasi |
4 | Mouliyil | K. S. Chithra | Mohanam |
5 | Gopike | Dr. K. J. Yesudas | Megh |
6 | Karmukil | K. S. Chithra | Harikambhoji |
7 | Aarum | Sujatha | Shuddha Dhanyasi, Abhogi |
8 | Manassil | M. G. Sreekumar | Naatta |
Reception
Box office
The film became a commercial success at the box office.[1][2]. The performances of Navya Nair, Prithviraj and Revathy were appreciated especially Navya whose performance led her to win many awards most notably the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress. She was even nominated for National Film Award for Best Actress, but eventually lost.
Awards
- Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress-Navya Nair
- Best Female Playback Singer - K.S.Chitra
- Best Music Director - Raveendran
- Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics - Gireesh Puthenchery
- Asianet Award for Best Film - Ranjith
- Asianet Award for Best Actress - Navya Nair
Remakes
Ranjith also worked on a Tamil remake of the film, which was shelved after some pre-production activities,[3] and the movie was remade as Seedan by director Subramaniya Shiva. It was also remade in Telugu as Maa Baapu Bommaki Pellanta by Raviraja Pinisetty and in Kannada as Gokula Krishna.
References
- "A filmi shot in the arm". The Hindu. 15 February 2003.
- "Prithviraj's Birthday: Some Career-Defining Roles of the Actor [PHOTOS]". International Business Times. 16 October 2014.
- Prema Manmadhan (9 January 2010). "Sitting Pretty". The Hindu.