‘Headmaster’ movie review: Rajiv Nath’s film, based on a short story by Karur Neelakanda Pillai, works in parts

Distinguished Malayalam author Karur Neelakanda Pillai’s basic quick story ‘Pothichoru’ is a couple of principled instructor who struggles to make ends meet. Award-winning movie director Rajiv Nath’s function movie Headmaster relies on that story, set throughout a interval when starvation stalked houses in Kerala and consumerism was nonetheless an unknown phenomenon within the State. It was additionally a time when academics had been underpaid, and solely their dedication made them stick with their vocation. The movie’s theme assumes significance in at the moment’s world when instructing and the student-teacher relationship have seen a number of modifications over time.

Movie director Rajiv Nath
| Photograph Credit score: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Throughout a dialog, the director, who who makes his comeback to cinema after overcoming a critical sickness, had stated that the story had been on his thoughts for greater than 20 years. When he discovered a producer, Rajiv put every part apart to make the movie.

Nonetheless, making a function movie based mostly on a brief story shouldn’t be straightforward and, in consequence, the narrative drags in locations. Among the scenes may have been shorter, or higher nonetheless prevented, and a little bit extra consideration to element may have enhanced the texture of the poignant story.

Scripted by KB Venu and the director, the dialogues have the flavour of the soil during which the story unfolds. Shot in and round Thiruvananthapuram, Praveen Panikkar has captured the plush greenery of a country background and the old-world really feel of a classroom of yore.

The instructor with a big household to take care of has to outlive on his paltry wage and infrequently satiates his starvation by consuming water. Pushed by starvation, the instructor steals the lunch of a pupil. However then, overcome by guilt, the loving father and devoted instructor decides to punish himself for his mistake. Thampy Antony performs the lead character of the Headmaster and, more often than not, he’s at dwelling within the position. The classroom scenes are well-etched and Thampy is ready to ring a bell with viewers because the hapless father and devoted instructor.

The story unfolds when the son (enacted by Child Antony) visits his village within the firm of his daughter. He recollects the previous as he tells his daughter about his previous.

Jagadish, Manju Pillai, Madhupal, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Prem Kumar, and Devi Nair are a few of the different actors within the movie. Devi, daughter of yesteryear actor Jalaja, has an attention-grabbing position. Nonetheless, not everybody within the forged is ready to step into the pores and skin of the characters and that disturbs the narrative, making their characters look synthetic. Jagadish is his loud self, whereas Babu Antony appears unable to transcend his traditional set of expressions. Manju Pillai, because the long-suffering spouse of the instructor, brings throughout the pathos of the character and so does veteran Sethu Lakshmi.

Produced by Sreelal Devraj below the banner of Channel 5, the movie’s energy is the story. Carnatic vocalist and playback singer Kavalam Srikumar makes his debut as a movie music composer right here with a few soulful songs.

Headmaster is at present operating in theatres