Parinayam (1994 film)

Parinayam (1994) is a Malayalam–language film directed by Hariharan and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. The key characters are played by Mohini, Vineeth and Manoj.K.Jayan. The film also has a cast of character artists including Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Oduvil Unnikrishnan, Jagathy Sreekumar, Sukumari, Jagannatha Varma, Valsala Menon, Bindu Panicker, Bahadoor, Anila and Shanthi Krishna.

Parinayam won 2 national awards (Best Screenplay and Best Film on Other Social Issues), also won several Kerala State Film Awards. This film deals with the mental and physical agony that a young Namboothiri widow had to undergo for loosing her chastity. Parinayam was loosely based on Smarthavicharam of Kuryeddath Thathri, that created a shock among Kerala in early twentieth century that led to the reformation of Namboothiri community.

Plot

Unnimaya, a teenage girl is ,married to an old Namboothiri as his third wife. Unnimaya, an educated girl hailing from a progressive family was forced to marry an old man due to various social factors and she finds it hard to adjust with the severe orthodox practices. The sudden death of her husband makes her face the brutal rituals practiced among Namboothriri community. She is made to live a lonely life, away from all colors and celebrations. She in meantime meets up with Madhavan, an upcoming Kathakali artist, with who she fells in love. He seduces her and gets her laid. The orthodox community suffered a shock when they knew about this incident and decides to excommunicate her through Smarthavicharam. A group of senior Namboothiris arrived under the leadership of Moothedath Bhattathiri. But the brutal ways of torturing is questioned by Kunjunni, a progressive young Namboothir youth, the elder son of Unnimaya's late husband. The rest of the story is his fight to save her from the clutches of Namboothiri orthodoxy

Cast

• Mohini as Unnimaya
• Vineeth as Madhavan
• Manoj K.Jayan as Kunjunni
• Thilakan as Moothedam
• Nedumudi Venu as Aphan Namboothiri
• Jagathy Sreekumar
• Oduvil Unnikrishnan
• Sukumari as Kunjikavu
• Shanthi Krishna
• Bahadoor
• Jagannatha Varma
• Bindu Panicker
• Valsala Menon