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Adhyapika

1968 139’ b&w Malayalam d/p P. Subramanyam pc Neela Prod. s Kanam E.J. lyr Balamurali c E.N.C. Nair m V. Dakshinamurthy lp Padmini, Madhu, Ambika, S.P. Pillai, Bahadur, Shanti, Aranmulla Ponnamma, Leela, Meena, Shobha, Thikkurisi Sukumaran Nair, Kottarakkara Sridharan Nair, Piravam Mani, Ramakrishna, T.K. Balachandran

Unremittingly tragic melodrama, drawing on the paingili type of popular sentimental fiction, about a middle-class schoolteacher, Saramma (Padmini). She supports her father and two siblings, but receives nothing but ingratitude. The only man in her life marries her sister, her brother refuses all responsibilities to the family when he completes his education, and her father prevents her marriage for fear of losing his only source of income. Eventually she dies of tuberculosis, sad and lonely, apparently loved only by her dog (the pet featured prominently in the poster campaign for the film). The film is designed to show off Padmini’s melodramatic talents and remains one of her best-known Malayalam weepies.

Film