| | 7 | Following on from Sethumadhavan’s typical formula (cf. Odeyil Ninnu, 1965; Aranazhikaneram, 1970, Chattakkari, 1974) of viewing sexually deviant behaviour as being the consequence of the ‘tragic’ decay in feudal values, he tells a story here of a conscientious worker (Sathyan) who suspects his wife’s (Sheela) fidelity when she wants to go out to work. This becomes the reason for him getting involved in a murder, which forces him to abscond and thus to abandon his family. The wife survives with the help of a friend (Nazir). When the husband reappears, he now discovers his wife apparently living with his friend. Trapped between the decay of the feudal values he upholds and an equally oppressive legal system, he surrenders to the police. Based on a Thakazhy story, the film adheres to some of the detailed realism of the original, but the performances of the male leads remain extreme. Sathyan, in his last film, replays to some extent the tragic condition of being married to an unfaithful wife in Chemmeen (1965), also a Thakazhy story. This was also the last film by the Manjilas production group, responsible for memorable Malayalam films in the 60s (cf. Aranazhikaneram). |