Pranayam
| Pranayam | |
|---|---|
 Life is more beautiful than a dream |
|
| Directed by | Blessy |
| Produced by | P. K. Sajeev Anne Sajeev |
| Written by | Blessy |
| Starring | Mohanlal Jaya Prada Anupam Kher |
| Music by | M. Jayachandran |
| Cinematography | Satheesh Kurup |
| Editing by | Raja Muhammed |
| Studio | Fragnent Nature Film Creations |
| Distributed by | Maxlab Entertainments (Inside Kerala) Mohit Productions & Studio99 Films (Outside Kerala) |
| Release date(s) | 31 August 2011 |
| Running time | 139 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Pranayam (Malayalam: പ്രണയം; English: Love) is a 2011 Malayalam romantic drama film written and directed by Blessy.[1] The film revolves around the love bound between the characters of Mathews (Mohanlal), Grace (Jaya Prada) and Achutha Menon (Anupam Kher). The film's plot is similar to Paul Cox's Australian film Innocence.[2][3]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The film begins with Achutha Menon (Anupam Kher), a man in his late sixties arriving in the city to stay with his daughter-in-law and grand-daughter after suffering a heart attack. He was a football player who had got selected in the State team but could never play for the team. He moulded his life and career to accommodate the romance in his life.
One day Menon sees his former wife Grace (Jaya Prada) in the elevator and collapses. Grace, who is staying in the same building with her husband, daughter and son-in-law, arranges for him to be taken to the hospital and even pays the deposit for the emergency treatment. Slowly their relationship is revealed as she is very anxious about his condition.
Grace's husband Mathews (Mohanlal) is a philosophy professor who has his own philosophy of life. He is now bedridden and requires his wife's help to accomplish the most basic day-to-day tasks. Their physical intimacy is an indication that they may have led a fulfilling life as a couple before the tragedy struck.
The children start acting up as the old couple revive their acquaintance. In the later half of the film, even Mathews joins the former couple with Achuthan helping Grace in manoeuvring her husband's wheelchair in rough terrains. The three take a trip to a beach resort together.
At the resort, Mathews has a stroke and is rushed to the hospital. At the same hospital, Grace has a heart attack and dies, while Mathews survives.
[edit] Cast
- Mohanlal as Mathews
- Jaya Prada as Grace
- Anupam Kher as Achutha Menon
- Anoop Menon as Suresh Menon
- Niyas as Saji
- Aryan as Achutha Menon (junior)
- Niveda as Grace (junior)
- Sreenath as Arun
- Apoorva Bose as Megha[4]
- Dhanya Mary Varghese as Asha
- Navya Natarajan as Aswathy
[edit] Production
Blessy has gone through almost 25 years of hibernation for Pranayam. He says: "For so many years I have been carrying the subject in me as a writer, journeying with it as visuals and words. I have now transferred that to the characters. It's like letting go of something that was your own till now. And that is painful."[5] Blessy had discussed the storyline with writer-director Lohithadas, during the making of his Joker, in which he was the associate director. Lohithadas had told Blessy about how he had envisaged Mathews. After Bhramaram, Blessy had starting writing a story based on a few youngsters but didn't feel excited about it after a while as lots of similar stories were flooding theatres. Suddenly the story of Pranayam came back into his mind. About the scripting, Blessy says: "The interesting thing about this script is that even before I started writing it, what I had in my mind was its last frame. So I started developing the journey back from the last frame and completed it."[6]
P. K. Sajeev and Anne Sajeev are the producers of the film under the banner of Fragrant Nature Film Creations. Aneesh Jacob is the executive producer. The film's first schedule of shooting started on 16 February 2011 at Cheranallur in Kerala.[7] Mohanlal joined the set from 23 February.[8] The second schedule started on June first week in Kochi. The film was shot from various locations including Ernakulam, Fort Kochi, Valinokkam, Kullu Manali and Rewari.[9] Satheesh Kurup wielded camera for the film. "There is an invisible spark that flashes just seeing the look or a smile of a person and when the beauty within him is revealed to you. You don't need to see a bio-data or wade through his past work. You just connect with him," explains Blessy on his decision to hand over the camera to a novice like Satheesh Kurup.[5]
The film released on a credit as Mohanlal's 300th film. It is the third time Blessy and Mohanlal signing a bond together after Thanmathra and Bhramaram. The film will have credit of reuniting Mohanlal and Jayaprada as a couple after Devadoothan. Mohanlal and Anupam Kher are on the screens again after Praja and Indrajaalam.[9] Asked about his experience and challenges that he faced while working in an unfamiliar language, Anupam Kher said "Acting in a different language film is like being thrown into a swimming pool without knowing how to swim. Blessy being a good trainer, acting in Pranayam didn't pose a challenge."[5]
The movie's official website was launched by Anupam Kher on 29 August 2011 at a Meet the Press programme organised by the Trivandrum Press Club.[5]
[edit] Music
| Pranayam | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Soundtrack album by M. Jayachandran | ||||
| Released | 2011 | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Label | Manorama Music | |||
| Producer | PK Sajeev and Anne Sajeev | |||
| M. Jayachandran chronology | ||||
|
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The four songs in the movie were done by the rare combination O. N. V. Kurup (lyrics) and M. Jayachandran (music).[10] There is also an English song sung by Mohanlal, "I'm Your Man",[11] written by Dr. Leonard Cohen.[12] The singers are P. Jayachandran, Mohanlal, Shreya Ghoshal, Sharreth and Vijay Yesudas. The music launch of the film was held on August 9 in Kochi. The function was attended by the film's cast and also by the music director, M. Jayachandran.[13] Manorama Music has released a Music Special Website which welcomes reviews from the audience.
| Track | Song Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Paattil Ee Paattil" | Shreya Ghoshal |
| 2 | "Mazhathulli Palunkukal" | Vijay Yesudas, Shreya Ghoshal |
| 3 | "I'm Your Man" | Mohanlal |
| 4 | "Kalamozhikalayi" | Sharreth |
| 5 | "Paattil Ee Paattil" | P. Jayachandran |
[edit] Reception
The film released coinciding with the festival of Onam on 31 August 2011.
It received mixed to positive critical reviews. A critic from Sify.com said, "Pranayam is in an entirely different league, far above most films that we come across in Malayalam, but still it falls short of being a brilliant one. It has some fine moments, but you will need some patience to find those, in between!".[14] Shameem Faruque of Yentha.com said that the movie "is an experience in itself for those who connect with it."[15] Veeyen of Nowrunning.com said, "Pranayam does strain hard to achieve the nuances of an enchantingly sublime love, but ends up being a literal minded love tale, with one among the three lovers oddly left out."[16] Paresh C. Palicha of Rediff.com who published an overall negative review concluded it writing: "Pranayam, that claimed to be an unusual love story, has to depend on its protagonists to work as it lacks depth and is much below expectations from a director of Blessy's calibre."[17] A reviewer from Malayalamnet.in gave the movie a positive review 
and said "lack of entertainment and seriousness may let the movie down at the box office but still the movie is good.Serious movie lovers can have a definite go for this one. If you are looking for entertainment just stay apart from this serious good stuff."[18]
Anupam Kher, who has done more than 400 films, has chosen Pranayam as one of the seven best films of his career. He says: "Pranayam is one of the seven best films of my career. It has been a great learning experience for me.".[5][19] The film was widely appreciated for great performance made by Mohanlal, Anupam Kher, and Jaya Prada.
[edit] Accusations of plagiarism
It has been accused that a very similar script was originally written by music director Mohan Sitara based on his own life and he wanted to direct the film on his own. Mohan Sitara says: "I can only say I’m unlucky. But, I’ve no complaints against Blessy." Blessy replies: "I know Mohan had a similar experience in real life. But, I’d never seen his script. There’re no similarities."[20]
[edit] Awards
- Best Film
- Best Actor - Mohanlal
- Best Lyricist - O. N. V. Kurup
- Best Music Director - M. Jayachandran
- Best Female Playback Singer - Shreya Ghoshal
- Special Jury Award - Jaya Prada
- Viewers Choice Awards[22]
- Best Movie
- Best Actor - Mohanlal
- Vanitha Film Awards
- Best Lyricist - O.N.V. Kurup
- Best Actor - Mohanlal
- Mathrubhumi Film Awards[23]
- Best Film
- Best Lyricist - O.N.V. Kurup
- Best Actor - Mohanlal
- Best Music Director - M. Jayachandran
- Best Supporting Actress - Jaya Prada
- Nana Film Awards
- Best Actress - Jaya Prada
- Best Makeup Artist - Ranjith Ambady
- Special Jury Mention - Mohanlal
- Ramu Kariat Awards
- Best Actor - Mohanlal[24]
- Best Music Director - M. Jayachandran
- Vygha Media Best of 2011 Awards
[edit] References
- ^ "First Look: Anupam Kher and Jayaprada in Pranayam". http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/first-look-pranayam/20110614.htm.
- ^ "Blessy's Pranayam idea based upon an Australian film"
- ^ "Can copyright stop copycats in Malayalam film industry?"
- ^ Shruti Karthikeyan (23 August 2011). "Lessons from reel life". Deccan Chronicle. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/others/lessons-reel-life-719. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d e "Interview Of The Week: Blessy’s ‘Pranayam’". Yentha. 29 Aug 2011. http://www.yentha.com/news/view/4/13777. Retrieved 31 Aug 2011.
- ^ "A romantic interlude"
- ^ "Pranayanam start from tomorrow". http://www.kaumudiplus.com/news.php?nid=513a0fc4c27bd36b1330f0f7ead4b174&mcid=3&msid=.
- ^ "Mohanlal joins in 'Pranayam'". http://www.kaumudiplus.com/news.php?nid=295be282e8fc97c5ccedef9a7854dcf4&mcid=3&msid.
- ^ a b Sreejith (31 August 2011). "Pranayam: the bitter-sweet wine for all seasons". City Journal. http://www.cityjournal.in/Newspaper/20110831/metro/metro_7.html. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ "Pranayam details". http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/787/pranayanmohanlalblessy.jpg.
- ^ "I'm Your Man". http://www.leonardcohen.com/music.php?album_id=10&song_id=4.
- ^ "Mohanlal sings again". http://malayalam.webdunia.com/entertainment/film/cinemanews/1107/27/1110727033_1.htm.
- ^ Meghna George (10 August 2011). "Blessy's Pranayam gets ready for release". Rediff. http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-mohanlals-pranayam-with-blessy/20110810.htm. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ Movie Review: Pranayam"
- ^ "Movie Review: Are You Ready For ‘Pranayam’ (Mal)?"
- ^ "Pranayam Review"
- ^ "Review: Pranayam lacks depth"
- ^ "Pranayam Review". Malayalamnet.in. http://malayalamnet.in/index.php/reviews/30-pranayam-review. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
- ^ "It's festive time for Malayalam films". Rediff. 29 Aug 2011. http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-its-festive-time-for-malayalam-films/20110829.htm. Retrieved 31 Aug 2011.
- ^ "Musician Mohan Sitara's life inspired 'Pranayam'? No, says Blessy"
- ^ "നക്ഷത്രങ്ങള് മണ്ണിലിറങ്ങി; ഉത്സവമായി ഏഷ്യാനെറ്റ് അവാര്ഡ് നിശ". (in Malayalam). Mathrubhumi. 8 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "Viewers Choice Award - Malayalam 2011". http://filmcrack.com/malayalam/viewers-choice-award-2011/.
- ^ "Mathrubhumi Film Awards 2011". http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/252066/.
- ^ "Ramu Kariat Awards". http://cinemadoctor.blogspot.com/2012/01/ramu-karyat-award-for-mohan-lal-kavya.html.
- ^ "Vygha Media Awards". http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/405888_196362180459070_120029541425668_358705_1313923347_n.jpg.
[edit] External links
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