The Journey (2004 film)

The Journey (Sancharram)
Directed by	Ligy J. Pullappally
Written by	Ligy J. Pullappally
Produced by	Jerry Thomas
Starring	Suhasini V. Nair Shruti Menon K. P. A. C. Lalitha
Music by	Isaac Thomas Kottukapally
Distributed by	Wolfe Video
Release date	2004 (2004)
Running time	107 minutes
Language	Malayalam

The Journey (Malayalam: സഞ്ചാരം Sancharram) is a 2004 Malayalam feature film written, directed and produced by Ligy J. Pullappally, inspired both by her short film Uli and a true story of two lesbian lovers in the South Indian state of Kerala.

Plot

The film follows two young friends, Kiran (Suhasini V. Nair), a Hindu, and Delilah (Shruthy Menon), a Catholic, from their first meeting as young children to young adulthood, when they realize their love for each other.

At first, Kiran is asked to write love letters to Delilah for Rajan (Syam Seethal) a teenage boy who also has a long-standing crush on Delilah. Kiran does so as it allows her to express her love to Delilah without having to be ostracized by her family, friends and culture. Eventually Delilah discovers the truth behind the letters and poetry, and admits her mutual love to Kiran. This begins a delicate love affair, despite social taboos against homosexuality.

Their blossoming love affair is dampened severely when Rajan discovers Kiran and Delilah stealing a moment of intimacy in the jungle. He proceeds to inform Amma (K. P. A. C. Lalitha), Delilah's mother, of what he (briefly) witnessed. Amma confronts Delilah, who reveals her love for Kiran. In response, Amma arranged Delilah's marriage with a suitor who recently visited intent on seeking a bride. Delilah reluctantly consents to the marriage.

Comparisons to Fire (1996)

Sancharram has been compared to Deepa Mehta's 1996 film Fire, a movie which also touches upon lesbian relationships in India. However, where Fire is explicit in stating that the main characters enter their relationship due to the failure of their heterosexual marriages, Sancharram is clearly a film about two lesbians who fall in love with each other.

Cast

• Suhasini V. Nair as Kiran
• Shruthy Menon as Delilah
• K. P. A. C. Lalitha as Amma
• Valsala Menon as Ammachi
• Syam Seethal as Rajan
• Ambika Mohan as Kiran's Mother
• Joy Mathai as Ezhuthachan (Karyasthan)

External links

• Official Web site
• The Journey at IMDb
• After Ellen review of Sancharram
• After Ellen interview with writer/director Ligy Pullappally
• Distributor Wolfe's Web site for Sancharram