Amma Ariyan (അമ്മ അറിയാന്,Report to Mother, Malayalam; 1986)
Screenplay and Direction: John Abraham
It is a pure coincidence that at a time when I was watching this movie, certain leaders in the Malaysia are up in arms against the screening of a romantic historical drama set during the time of the Communist insurgence in Malaya. Watching a 2-minute trailer of 'The New Village', they were convinced that the movie was glorifying the communist terrorists and belittling the role of the armed forces!
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| The journey of a thousand miles starts with a singls step... |
Amma Ariyan has the reputation of being the only South Indian film to make it to the British Film Institute's Top 10 Indian film list. Well, I suppose you have to film maker to understand why such a stature was given to a seemingly low budget low lighting scruffy looking non professional looking quasi-documentary film commie linked people funded simple movie.
The story starts with Purushan, a village lad, leaving his house after a dip in a muddy river for Delhi after bidding farewell to his mother. He promises to write to her despite the fact that it was not his nature to write letters.
He starts his journey of a thousand miles through the remote jungle path from his humble abode. The jeep that he is travelling as a passenger is stopped and taken by the police to transport a dead body. Purushan has a strong feeling, more to the brink of obsession, that he had seen the dead man. The image of the dead man keeps on playing on his mind.
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| Rashid sure likes his drinks! |
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| John Abraham |
He inquires about the dead man who is told to have hung himself from the villagers. He gets patchy information about his name, Hari, and that he is a tabla player. Nobody actually knew about his whereabouts and background. He decides that he must find out more about this man and inform his mother about his death.
Purushan sets to inform his female companion about his change of plans, his earlier plans to leave for Delhi. (We are not told why he was going to Delhi!).
And off he sets on a crusade to find the background of the dead man and inform his mother.
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| Starts an entourage.. |
Along the way, in the background, in a narrative, as if he is writing a letter to his own mother, Purushan, tells about the happenings around him. He goes on a almost a wild goose chase trying to identify this Hari chap. He is sent from here to there to inquire about him. In the movie, you will find that most men are jobless and loafing around doing nothing. One by one the his party of one snowballs as more people join in the fracas. Potpourri of people of various religions join in.
Different people give different views on Hari, on his outlook of life, good ones and bad. Pretty soon, it comes to light that all these people are Naxalites. As they travel all the way down to Cochin City, Purushan talks about the rich heritage and fortune the State of Kerala had and how travelers from near and far had come to trade. Some brought religion and culture whilst some squandered its wealth. He also talks about how commercialization had set in every aspect of life - education, medical and pharmaceutical practice. Police brutality, bullying of the workers clan, hoarding of essential goods, of how workers become blind with cheap booze and how the people power uncovered these atrocities are highlighted. I sense a little mocking of religion and the Goddess who is supposed to protect the land.
The entourage finally reaches Cochin City. The bad news is finally broken to the mother who replies that she can never understand his son and shed a tear. The End.
This offering is not meant to allay the day to day anxiety of the workers (read poor) community but rather highlight their sorrows and tease them to do something about it. We know that both Bengal and Kerala are the two states in India with 100% literacy rate and that the Communist Party has a strong hold here. It is surprising that in spite of its good indicators in life expectancy, health, education and per capita expenditure, its inequality between the urban and rural haves and have not is dangerously apparent.
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Kerala, despite being one the poorest states in India, has exceptional rates of adult literacy, life expectancy and health.
Image by Shareen Brysac. India, 2009. |
