Iyobinte Pusthakam

Iyobinte Pusthakam

Poster of the film, designed by "Thought Station"
Directed by Amal Neerad
Produced by Amal Neerad
Fahadh Faasil
Screenplay by Gopan Chidambaran
Story by Gopan Chidambaran
Based on The Karamazov Brothers 
by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Starring Lal
Fahadh Faasil
Jayasurya
Isha Sharvani
Padmapriya
Reenu Mathews
Chemban Vinod Jose
Narrated by TG Ravi
Music by Neha Nair and Yakzan Gary Pereira
Cinematography Amal Neerad
Edited by Praveen Prabhakar
Production
companies
Amal Neerad Productions
Fahadh Faasil and Friends Private Limited
Distributed by A and A Release
PJ Entertainments (Europe)
Release dates
  • 7 November 2014
Running time
 159 minutes
Country India
Language Malayalam

Iyobinte Pusthakam (translation: Book of Job) is 2014 Malayalam-language film written by Gopan Chidambaran and directed, co-produced and filmed by Amal Neerad. It stars Fahadh Faasil, Lal, Jayasurya, Isha Sharvani, Padmapriya, Reenu Mathews and Lena in lead roles.[1]

The film is a period drama set in the mid-20 century Munnar, Western Ghats. It follows the various stages in the life of Iyob and the sibling rivalry between his sons Aloshy, Ivan and Dimitri, named after the characters of The Brothers Karamazov.[2]

Fahadh Faasil co-produced the film along with Amal Neerad, which was written by debutant Gopan Chidambaran.[3] The filming started in March 2014 at Vagamon, Idukki district[4] and the film was released on 7 November 2014.[5] The film widely received rave reviews and was a box-office success.[6]


Plot

The film starts with a message "The aged aren't always wise, nor do the elderly always understand justice"Job 32:9.The story is narrated by the communist leader(TG Ravi)who witnessed it.The story is set in 1900 in Munnar in British occupied India.Harrison is a British bussinessman who comes to Munnar to cultivate Tea.Harrison finds an abled boy amidst his workers and names him 'Iyob'(Job).Harrison holds Iyob close and helps him get married to Annamma(Reenu Mathews).Harrison's wife leaves him , later he sees Kazhali(Lena) and becomes interested in her.When he finds out Kazhali's relation with Thacho, one of His servants. Iyob kills Thacho after Harrison order him to.Afterwards,Harrison takes Kazhali as his mistress and she becomes pregnant.In the time of the First World War, Harrison's Buisness gets affected and he leaves for Britain but dies on the way.Knowing this Iyob throws Kazhali out of the house and takes over all assets of Harrison.

Iyob has three sons Dmitri(Chemban Vinod Jose),Ivan(Jinu Joseph) and Aloshy(Fahadh Faasil).Dmitri and Ivan is ruthless like Iyob whereas Aloshy is kind and compassionate like his mother.Aloshy leaves the house as a child after he sees his brothers kill and hang a girl who was a servant there.He runs away to Cochin and stays there.After some years Aloshy joins the Royal Navy.After the Royal Indian Navy mutiny of 1946 he returns to his father and brothers in Munnar ,but is upset by the wrongdoings of his father and brothers.When Iyob finds out Aloshy was dismissed from the navy because he defected and became a part of the movement against the British ,he orders Aloshy to leave and he leaves.He meets his love Martha(Isha Sharvani) who is the daughter of Kazhali and says he will come back for her.He leaves for Cochin,but on his way he is attacked by Dmitri and Ivan who tries to kill him,but Aloshy survives and is found by his childhood friend Chemban(Vinayakan).At this time Iyob's health deteriorates and his sons overpower him making pacts with Angoor Rawther(Jayasurya)regarding the lumbering of wood despite opposition by Iyob.Dmitri and Ivan finds out Aloshy is alive with Martha.

When Dimitri finds out about the illicit relationship of Ivan with his wife Rahel(Padmapriya),Ivan kills Dimitri.It is revealed that Rahel is daughter of Thacho whom Iyob killed and she is taking revenge using Ivan.Iyob escapes from home and ends up under Aloshy's shelter.Iyob reveals that all the assets of Harrison belongs to Kazhali and he was cheating them the whole time.Aloshy is arrested by the police but is libertaed by the narrator(played bySreejith Ravi)who was against Ivan and Angoor Rawther.Ivan knowing that all the assets will be lost,decides to kill Aloshy,but he depises Rahel when he come to know about her real intention.Rahel makes a deal with Angoor Rawther to kill everyone in his way including Ivan and all the assets and Rahel will be His.Iyob and Martha tries to escape through the forest, but Iyob is shot down by Angoor Rawther.Aloshy finds Martha sinking into a Swamp and tries to help her.Ivan and Angoor Rawther comes towards them ,when Angoor tries to shoot Ivan he runs out of bullets and Aloshy stabs Angoor with a ramrod and Ivan shoots Angoor's associate,when Ivan tries to kill Aloshy he is killed by Chemban and Aloshy kills Angoor.Desperate of the situation Rahel shoots herself.Afterwards,Aloshy and Martha is seen leaving Munnar.

At the end of the film the narrator is arrested by police and he remarks that persons like Aloshy would make the life of people much prosperous than it is now.

Cast

Iyyob and his sons
Other characters

Critical reception

Upon release, Iyobinte Pusthakam opened to highly positive reviews from critics. The film was praised for its cinematography, performances and background score.[7] Veeyen of Nowrunning.com rated it 3.5/5, the best rating for any film this year and stated, "In 'Iyobinte Pusthakam', Amal Neerad inventively puts together all the elements of a much known tale and recreates it magnificently into a poignant and resounding work. It's a film that takes its time to set itself up and get going, and shot on an epic scale is compellingly appealing and wonderful to behold. At once a contemplative and strapping work of art, 'Iyobinte Pusthakam' is the best Malayalam film as yet, to have hit the screens this year!" He added, "The elaborate canvas on which Amal Neerad sets up his period drama 'Iyobinte Pusthakam' is blatantly gory and ravaged by the frenzied cries of the browbeaten. In this beguiling terrain of degradation and violence, none is what it seems and truth lies veiled behind a haze."[8]

Menaka of Bioscope rated it "Must-Watch" stating that it is "a well-conceived and executed story of rivalry, hatred, vengeance, love, comradeship, cunning and killing". She has appreciated the performances of the actors Fahadh Faasil, Jayasurya and Chemban Vinod Jose and commended the direction and cinematography of Amal Neerad.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Fahadh will now woo Isha Sharvani - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  2. ↑ Padmakumar K, "Iyobinte Pusthakam: Karamazov rejigged". Malayala Manorama. 11 November 2014
  3. ↑ "Fahad Turns Producer - Malayalam Movie News". IndiaGlitz.com. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  4. ↑ "Iyobinte pustakam starts shoot - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2014-04-12. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  5. ↑ "Padmapriya’s ‘classic’ looks land her another period film - The Times of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  6. ↑ VIJAY GEORGE "The game changer" The Hindu November 20, 2014
  7. ↑ Akhila Menon (12 November 2014). "Iyobinte Pusthakam: A Tale Of Love, Lust And Vengeance". filmibeat.com. Retrieved 12 Nov 2014.
  8. ↑ Veeyen (10 November 2014). "Iyobinte Pusthakam Review". NowRunning.
  9. ↑ Menaka (9 November 2014). "Iyobinte Pusthakam - Amal Neerad". Bioscope.

External links