Chemmeen

Chemmeen (Prawns) is a Malayalam novel written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai in 1956. Widely successful, it was translated into languages such as English, Russian, German, Italian and French apart from several Indian languages. It was adapted into a film, which won critical acclaim and commercial success.

Film Adaptation

The Malayalam film version Chemmeen was directed by Ramu Kariat and released in 1965. It won the Indian President's Gold Medal for the Best Film of 1965. Sheela, Madhu, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair and Sathyan played the lead characters in the film.

The screenplay was written by S. L. Puram Sadanandan, with cinematography by Marcus Bartley, and editing by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and K.D. George. Songs were set to music by Salil Chowdhury, with lyrics by Vayalar, and featuring voices of Manna Dey, K. J. Yesudas and P. Leela.

Plot

Chemmeen is set in a fisherfolk community. The fisherfolk beileve that the safe return of a fisherman from the sea depends on the fidelity of his wife waiting for him on shore. This is intertwined with the myth of the "sea-mother", the destroyer and preserver of the community.

Karutthamma (played by Sheila in the movie), the daughter of a fisherman Chembankunju (Kottarakkara), is in love with a fish trader, Pareekkutty (Madhu), who helps her ambitious father buy a boat and net in return for which, Chembankunju promises to sell his catch to Pareekkutty on credit. However Chembankunju dishonors the agreement and forbids Karutthamma and Pareekutty's relationship.

Months later, when a chakara occurs on the shore, Chembankunju meets a young visiting fisherman from the south named Palani (Satyan) and makes Karutthamma marry him. Palani trusts his wife in spite of rumours that she is unfaithful. His reaffirms his trust each time he ventures to the sea and returns home safely. However finally, Pareekkutty has an affair with Karutthamma on the seashore .Palani drowns. Pareekkutty, Karutthamma, and Palani's fish are shown dead on the shore.

Significance

Chemmeen was recognized as a technically and artistically brilliant cinema. Incidentally, it was also one of the first Malayalam movies in colour. It was also a prominent instance of collaborative work involving technicians from Bollywood such as Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Manna Dey with those of South India. The commercial success of this movie is believed to have brought a sea-change in the way Malayalam films were made. When Chemmeen won the President's gold medal, it was the first time a film from South India did so. At the Chicago Film Festival, the movie won a Certificate of Merit. At the 2005 Brisbane International Film Festival, the movie was screened in a retrospective on 50 years of Malayalam Cinema.

The songs in the film, Kadalinakkare ponoarae, Putthan Valakkaarae, Maanasamaine varoo and Pennaalae were hits. All of the songs are finished well before intermission, though parts of Maanasamaine varoo are sung again to reaffirm the love between the two lovers.

References

• A write-up on Chemmeen
• News item - 40 years of Chemmeen

External links