Meghamalhar

Meghamalhar
Meghamalhar
	Poster
Directed by	Kamal
Screenplay by	Kamal
Story by	Iqbal Kuttippuram
Produced by	M. V. Shreyams Kumar; Asianet
Starring	Biju Menon; Samyuktha Varma; Poornima Mohan; Siddique; Sreenath; Raghavan
Cinematography	Venugopal
Edited by	Beena Paul
Music by	Ramesh Narayan
Production; companies	Mathrubhumi; Asianet
Distributed by	Sargam Speed Release
Release date	25 December 2001;
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Box office	est. 1.5 crore

Meghamalhar is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language romance film written and directed by Kamal from a story by Iqbal Kuttippuram. It stars Samyuktha Varma and Biju Menon in the lead roles while Sreenath,Siddique, Poornima Mohan, Shivaji and Raghavan play supporting roles. The film was jointly produced by M. V. Shreyams Kumar for Mathrubhumi and Asianet. It won two Kerala State Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards South.^[1] The movie was reported to be inspired by the 1945 British movie Brief Encounter.^[1]

Plot

The film is the story of Rajeevan, an advocate, and Nandita Menon, a writer. Rajeevan is married to Rekha, a bank employee, and has two kids. Nandita is married to Mukundan, a businessman in the Persian Gulf, and has a daughter. Both lead their respective family lives happily. A mix-up in the cakes they ordered for their respective kids introduces the protagonists and their backgrounds. Both meet each other accidentally, and in due course, their relationship becomes intimate (mentally). Their tastes and thinking are almost alike.

When Rajeev narrates an incident in his childhood bearing uncanny resemblance to Nandita's short story, she realizes he is her childhood friend on whose shoulders she leaned in times of distress. A chemistry develops between them, which Rajeev mistakes for love, and he expresses his feelings to her. She responds predictably and tries to alienate him, ignoring him. Later, she gifts her book, "Megha Malhar", to him, revealing that she is his childhood friend.

Rajeev agrees never to meet her again and meets her for the last time. They travel together to Kanyakumari, where they spent their childhood together. They decide to part ways and live as strangers.

Cast

Biju Menon as Adv.Rajeev
Samyuktha Varma as Nandita Menon (voice dubbed by Bhagyalekshmi)
Poornima Mohan as Rekha Rajeev
Siddique as Mukundan(Nandita’s husband)
Sreenath as Advocate Bhoominathan, Rajeevan's senior and friend
Raghavan, Nandita’s father-in-law
Ranjini Menon as Seemandini Krishnan, Nandita's friend
Babu Samy as Manichayan,
Shivaji as Santhosh, Rajeevan’s elder brother
Ambika Mohan as Rajeevan's sister-in-law(Debut Film)
Jijoy Rajagopal as Prasad, the press photographer
Unnikrishnan Namboothiri as Pisharadi
Sanusha as Malavika (Malu), Nandita’s daughter.
Baby Ansu as Hridhya
Master Badrinath as Sourav (Kannan)
Salim Pandiyath as Adv Razak
Gomathy Mahadevan as Pisharadi's Sister
Jitesh as Gazal Singer
Bindhu Krishna as Office Staff
Sheeba as Servant

Soundtrack

The film's lyrics were written by O. N. V. Kurup and Nazim Akhtar, and the music was by Ramesh Narayan and Jithesh (Rangathu).

"Oru Narupushpamaayi" (M) - K. J. Yesudas
"Oru Narupushpamaayi" (F) - K. S. Chitra, Ramesh Narayan
"Ponnushassennum" - P. Jayachandran, K. S. Chitra
"Rangathu" - Jithesh

Reception

Box Office

This movie was a commercial success at the Kerala box office in the year 2001.

Critical response

A critic from Screen wrote that "It is, no doubt, that seeing Meghmalhaar would be a really different and unforgettable experience for the viewers who have been seeing dry, stale, meaningless stuff in the name of cinema".^[2] A critic from Cinesouth wrote that "May be, by ordinary standards, this movie might not become a grand hit, but it's a good attempt at making good movies. Something that speaks about the beauty of love and of family bonds".^[3]