Balyakalasakhi (2014 film)

Balyakalasakhi
Official poster
Directed by	Pramod Payyannur
Produced by	MB Muhsin Sajeeb Hashim
Screenplay by	Pramod Payyannur
Based on	Balyakalasakhi  by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
Starring	Mammootty Isha Talwar Meena Seema Biswas KPAC Lalitha Mamukkoya
Music by	Bijibal
Cinematography	Hari Nair
Editing by	Manoj Kannoth
Studio	Red Cinema Livinart Film Factory
Release dates	February 7, 2014 (2014-02-07) (Kerala)
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Balyakalasakhi is a 2014 Malayalam romantic musical drama film written and directed by debutant Pramod Payyannur based on the 1944 novel of the same name by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer.^[1] The film stars Mammootty, Isha Talwar, Meena, Seema Biswas, KPAC Lalitha and Mamukkoya in lead roles.

The story revolves around childhood sweethearts Majeed (Mammootty) and Suhra (Isha Talwar). Born to rich parents, Majeed falls in love with his not-so-affluent neighbour Suhra. After her father's death, when Suhra struggles to make both ends meet, Majeed pleads with his father to sponsor her education. Refused, he wanders off to distant lands.^{[2] [3]} Some of the other characters created by Basheer such as Ettukali Mammoonju and Ottakannan Pokker also appear in the film.^[4]

The launch of the film edition of the novel Balyakalasakhi was done by Leela Menon who handed over the book to Fabi Basheer, wife of Vaikom Muhammed Basheer.^[5]

Cast

• Mammootty - Majeed/Majeed's father
• Isha Talwar - Suhara
• Meena - Majeed’s mother
• Seema Biswas - Selvi
• Tanushree Ghosh
• Sunil Sukhada
• Sasi Kumar
• Mamukkoya
• Priyam Shaikh
• Kavita Nair
• Parambrata Chatterjee
• Shari
• KPAC Lalitha

Production

Pramod Payyannur, a familiar name in Malayalam theatre and television, is making his debut on the big screen with the film.^[6] Mammootty was chosen to play the lead in film by Pramod Payyannur. He said in an interview with Malayala Manorama, "Vaikom is the home of the writer [Basheer], the character [Majeed] and also the actor [Mammooty]. Only a person who knew that place closely could imbibe that character in both looks and expressions. That search ended in Mammootty."^[7]

On being quizzed about the inspiration to choose Kolkata as the location of the film, when Vaikom Muhammed Basheer has not referred to any specific city in the novel, Pramod says that Kolkata is perhaps the only Indian metro that still retains its old world charm and that it perfectly matched the setting of the film’s backdrop. Besides, Basheer is believed to have written Balyakalasakhi during his brief stay at a house in Lower Chitpur Road in Kolkata, he explains.^[8]

Two seasons were shot in Kerala and Kolkata, West Bengal. The team began shooting in August, 2013 at Perumbalam near Vaikom. Mammootty began filming for Balyakalasakhi at Kolkata in October, 2013. The 18-day schedule included various places such as Victoria Memorial, Chhote Lal Ghat, in front of Town Hall.^[9]

Soundtrack

Mammootty officially launched the music by handing over the CD to the Raghavan Master's family.^[10] The film has six songs and four karaoke versions. The producers have employed Raghavan Master and Shahabaz Aman to compose two kinds of music — the classic and the contemporary — in the film.^[11]

References