Kathapurushan or The Man of the Story (1995) is an award-winning feature film directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The film is in Malayalam. It stars Mini Nair, Aranmula Ponnamma, Narendra Prasad, Urmila Unni and Vishwanathan. It won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Film at the National Film Awards in 1996. Kathapurushan is a journey exploring the recent history of the state of Kerala in India.

[edit] Plot

Kunjunni's (Vishwanathan) parents separate soon after his birth, and he's left to be cared by his mother, void of paternal care and affection. He is brought up by his mother with the help of his grandmother, an estimate manager and his friend Meenakshi (Mini Nair), the daughter of a maid servant working in Kunjunni's house. Inspired by his Uncle (Narendra Prasad), who was initially a Gandhian, and eventually a Marxist, Kunjunni finds himself drawn to left-wing ideologies during his studies at college, believing that communism is the answer to healing all social hardships and inequalities. Eventually he joins an extremist Marxist group, and his affairs land him in trouble. After an attack at a police station, Kunjunni is arrested and taken to court, but later acquitted of all charges. Kunjunni finds himself maturing with experience, yet he feels lonely and disillusioned. Kunjunni tries to turn his life around, and sets off on a quest to try and find his childhood friend Meenakshi.

[edit] Awards

The film has won the following awards since its release:

1996 National Film Awards (India)

• Won - Golden Lotus Award - Best Film - Kathapurushan - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
• Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Supporting Actress - Aranmula Ponnamma

1997 Bombay International Film Festival (India)

• Won - FIPRESCI Prize - Adoor Gopalakrishnan

[edit] External links

• Kathapurushan at the Internet Movie Database