Panchagni

Panchagni
Directed by Hariharan
Produced by G. P. Vijayakumar
M. G. Gopinath
Written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Starring Geetha
Mohanlal
Nadia Moidu
Thilakan
Music by Bombay Ravi
(Songs)
Pukazhenthi
(Background score)
O N V Kurup
(Lyrics)
Cinematography Shaji
Edited by M. S. Money
Release date
  • 1 February 1986 (1986-02-01)
Running time
 140 minutes
Country India
Language Malayalam

Panchagni (English: Five Fires) (Malayalam:പഞ്ചാഗ്നി) is a 1986 Malayalam drama thriller film scripted by M.T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Hariharan, music by Bombay Ravi and lyrics by O N V Kurup. It stars Geetha, Mohanlal, Nadia Moidu and Thilakan.

A remarkable tale of a remarkable woman, who puts her commitment to social activism above everything else, including her own love for an adoring man. Under the direction of Hariharan, Geetha made a sensational debut in Malayalam in one of the most powerful female characters in Indian cinema ever.[1] It is one of the classics in Malayalam cinema.[2][3] The film was remade in Tamil as Nyaya Tharasu (1989).

Plot

The movie revolves round the incidents in a two-week period, when Indira (Geetha), a Naxal activist is out in parole. She is serving life sentence in the central jail, Kannore after being charged for the murder of Avarachan, a landlord, who she had witnessed kill a young tribal woman after she was raped and impregnated (by him).

Indira's mother, a past freedom fighter who is on her deathbed, is relieved to see her, and is under the impression that she is free now. Her younger sister Savithri (Nadiya Moidu), her husband Prabhakaran (Devan) and her nephew are happy to have her back home. But her younger brother, Ravi (Meghanathan), an unemployed guy, addicted to drugs is angered by her mere presence, blaming her for his inability to secure a good job. Indira's older brother who is home from Delhi to perform the death rites of her mother refuses to even talk to her, and leaves after a big brouhaha, leaving his nephew to do the rites. Most of her acquaintances are intimidated by her, except her old classmate Sharadha (Chitra). Sharadha had married her college sweetheart, Rajan (Murali) and lives close to Indira's home.

Rasheed (Mohanlal), a freelance journalist, tries to get an interview with Indira, she declines initially and is annoyed by his persistence.

As the days pass on, Indira feels unwanted, and ends up having no place to live. Savithri suspects an affair between her husband and Indira, making it hard for Indira to stay with them. Sharadha's husband had changed a lot in years, had degraded into a womanizer, and Indira can't stay with them either. Ultimately Indira, asks Rasheed for help her out and ends up staying at his place.

""In the late sixties and early seventies, there was an extremist revolutionary movement in Kerala in which a number of highly motivated young people were involved. The movement was mostly directed against big landowners who were known to be tyrannical towards their tenants. While it lasted, the movement resulted in the 'execution' of a few such tyrants, which, inturn, invited repression measures from the law enforcement agencies. Later, most of the people involved were disillusioned and the movement itself lost momentum. My film is set in this period."

- Hariharan said in an interview.

With time, Indira and Rasheed get closer, and a lovely relationship blossoms between the two. As Indira is nearing the completion of her parole, Rasheed, with great difficulty, succeeds in getting the government remission order in time, so that Indira no longer has to go back to jail. By this time Savithri and Ravi reconcile with Indira, and are overjoyed to hear about her release. Indira rushes to Sharadha's place to share the good news, but there she is shocked to see Sharadha's servant, a young teenage girl, being gang-raped by her husband Rajan and friends. True to her righteous self, Indira ends up shooting Rajan with his hunting rifle and ultimately surrenders herself at the police station.

Cast

Casting

Hariharan about Mohanlal's casting, "Panchagni was mainly Geetha's film, but when we asked Mohanlal whether he would do the film as Naseeruddin Shah was already selected,[4] he said he would do 'any role'. The first thing I wanted was to give him a different appearance. Till then, he hadn't appeared without a moustache. So I asked him to shave it off. He immediately agreed. Panchagni went on to become a turning point in his career.".[5]

Soundtrack

All lyrics written by O N V Kurup; all music composed by Bombay Ravi.

Song
No.TitleSingerLength
1."Aa Rathri.."K S Chithra4:25
2."Saagarangale.."K J Yesudas4:18

References

  1. ↑ "Screenplays for ever". The Hindu. 26 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "‘Pazhassi Raja' reigns supreme". The Hindu. 8 April 2010.
  3. ↑ "`Mayookham`- A ray of hope!". Sify.com. 23 April 2005.
  4. ↑ "അങ്ങനെ നസ്‌റുദ്ദിൻഷായ്ക്കു പകരക്കാരനായി മോഹൻലാൽ എത്തി-ഹരിഹരൻ". Nana Film Weekly. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "'His gift is that he underplays emotions'". Rediff.com. 29 August 2000.
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