I never thought I would end up writing an eulogy on what is essentially a teenage romance. But Thatathin Marayathu, which I saw recently, in my late forties, still managed to cut its way through the skepticism and the cynical crustiness of middle age, to bring back my teenage years. With it, the flames of raging passion and overwhelming emotion, I felt then.
To deconstuct what happened. It appears that it was some very true and sensitive scenes and songs, which did the near impossible.Wake up the romantic in me!
Payyanur College Interlude and song Anuragathan Velayil Varamayi vannoru sandhyayil..
This scene is possibly true of nearly every romance that blossoms in college campuses in Kerala. (The song of course is fantasy and variations of it possibly would have played in your mind if you were blessed with a fertile imagination :D.)
In Kerala,where boys and girls are segregated and not allowed to mingle freely, most of the romantic exchanges happen in subtle ways and are often unspoken. Long walks with shoulders brushing at times would count for intimacy. Braving stares, smirks, giggles and the heckling calls of "panchara adi nirthede" "diabetics pidikum sookshicho" etal..would be part of the journey.It is never a private, intimate passage. All the sweetness and ache of that time of growing up, with its episodes of ridiculous idiocy,clumsiness, possessive jealousies, insecure pettiness and pathos has all been captured in its essence by Vinneth Srinivasan. It was a pleasant surprise. Technically well made, great photography, smooth editing, memorable music...thoroughly enjoyable bit of film making.
Songs:
This song is one of my favourites. Absolutely love it.
Muthu chippi poluru kathinulil
I heard this one before in a movie in the 80's. called Noketha Doorathu Kannum Natu. This rendition makes it come alive again.
Aayuram Kannumayi kathirunnu nine njan...
The rest of the songs were not bad either..
Shyamambaram
Swethambare Devi Namosthuthe
Vande Mukunda Hare
