| Anubhavangal Paalichakal | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | K. S. Sethumadhavan |
| Produced by | M. O. Joseph |
| Screenplay by | Thoppil Bhasi |
| Based on | Anubhavangal Paalichakal by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai |
| Starring | Prem Nazeer Sathyan Sheela Mammootty (uncredited) |
| Music by | Devarajan |
| Cinematography | Melli Irani |
| Editing by | M. S. Mani |
| Studio | Manjilas Films |
| Distributed by | Kerala Films (Kerala) Vimala Films (Tamil Nadu) Sajjan Films (North India) |
| Release date(s) | August 6, 1971 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Anubhavangal Paalichakal (Malayalam: അനുഭവങ്ങള് പാളിച്ചകള്) is a 1971 Malayalam film written by Thoppil Bhasi, and directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan the story is based on the novel by the same name Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. It stars Sathyan, Prem Nazeer and Sheela in the lead roles. This was the debutant film of the later superstar of Malayalam film, Mammootty, who appears only in a single scene in the film, and the appearance is uncredited.
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The film is set in the Punalur-Vayalar-Haripad area of Coastal Kerala, a traditional Communist hotbed. The story is about Chellappan (Sathyan) a fiercely dedicated Communist, an employee at Chacko's business, where he's become a respected leader amongst the working class by organising pickets and strikes. He, however, neglects his family, abusing his wife Bhavani (Sheela) and their two children, a boy named Kuttappan (to whom Chellappan is indifferent), and a younger girl named Kumari (on whom he dotes). Chellappan is depicted as a man of weak moral fiber (he's shown to have a weakness for various women). Moreover he is highly suspicious of his wife Bhavani, who is still rather comely and of clean habits. He often accuses her of infidelity (in fact he believes that their son is not fathered by him), and often wonders whether his wife is carrying on an affair behind his back with his friend Gopalan (Prem Nazir), another day-labourer. Due to this suspicion he constantly fights with and physically abuses his wife.
Life is depicted as a daily fight against hunger and hardship. One day, Chellappan gets fired from his job by Chacko. A belligerent Chellappan encounters a nervous Chacko on a bylane and accosts him. Chacko escapes somehow and complains to the police of a possible threat to his life by Chellappan. The police come around looking for Chellappan, but he's vanished underground, leaving behind his wife and kids to fend for themselves. In order to support her family, Sheela joins the ranks of day labourers. Gopalan befriends her and offers her sympathy and a shoulder to cry on. After a while, despite her conscience, they soon enter into a relationship. Bhavani sells her house to a local businessman, who promises to get her another small parcel of land elsewhere where she can construct her own house. The children miss their father, especially the little daughter Kumari.
The local chapter of the Communist Party now arrange for Chellappan to hide out with a humble family of working people, also Communist sympathisers, under an alias 'Prabhakaran'. He is now an honored guest with them, to whom he's a celebrity. They give him a lot of love; especially their grown-up daughter Parvathy (KPAC Lalitha), who harbors in her mind a desire for matrimonial union, not knowing he's already married. Prabhakaran notices the signals and tries to seduce her, but she does not succumb and he feels ashamed. He realises he's been neglecting his wife and kids and goes back to his village incognito. There he comes to know that his wife has sold their old home and is now openly residing with Gopalan. Moreover, she's pregnant. Chellappan gets remorseful, and starts blaming himself for the change of events. He goes back to Ernakulam, but now he has changed significantly, he's deeply philosophical, and truly alone.
Wandering around the town, he gets involved in a melee involving the local chapter of the Communist party, who are agitating a local mill owner, whom they accuse for the disappearance of Paulose, whose beautiful daughter was coveted by the mill owner. Outside the Factory gate is a small ramshackle kiosk operated by Hamza (Bahudoor), who admires the brave Chellappan. The police briefly arrest Chellappan, and then news gets out to his hosts that his guest was none other than Chellappan (not Prabhakaran) and that he's married with two kids. Parvathy gets disconsolate, and pines for Chellappan, offering herself. But Chellappan refuses and goes away. Hamza the shopkeeper shows scant respect for the Mill-owner's goons, who then demolish his kiosk at night. Hamza rushes to see the ruins of his kiosk and vows revenge against the Mill owner (a scene where Mammootty, is also present, as a clean-shaven young bystander). Chellappan goes back home and visits their new home. He learns from his son that his daughter has died of Jaundice. Bhavani, now with baby in arms, meets him, and asks him to show love to his own son Kuttappam. Chellappan looks at his son with love, and blesses him, telling him to study and become a big man. He then departs, silently, without looking back.
Soon news comes out that Chellappan has been arrested for the murder of the Mill-owner, and that Chellappan has given a full confession to the Police to that effect. Chellappan goes to trial, where he openly accepts blame for the crime. Consequently, he is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. As he is taken away to jail, the scene shows his ex-wife Bhavani, disconsolately running behind the van, crying, restrained by Gopalan: a very poignant scene. News of his sentencing brings all those who were close to him: Bhavani, Gopalan, Kuttappan, Parvathy and her parents, who lament his loss. The sentence is carried out. Bhavani and Gopalan bear the body back home in a rented car (for which they had mortgaged their land and house). The final scene shows two graves near their house. A large one of Chellappan, next to a smaller mound: that of his dead daughter Kumari, the one who really loved him.
The film's principal photography occurred at various parts of Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. The indoor parts were filmed from Vikram, Bharani and Shyamala Studios. R. B. S. Mani was the art director.
The film features a successful soundtrack composed by Devarajan with lyrics written by Vayalar.