10 BOOK-TO-MOVIE ADAPTATIONS IN MALAYALAM worth your time

film Akam

Films that are adaptations of literary classics have never been received as well as those ones with original scripts. One major reason is the limitations that one man’s perception puts on the wild imaginings of countless readers that have already constructed the visual language individually in their minds. So it inadvertently has to be something that trumped these divergent visualizations. It only gets trickier when the literary works are more popular, as the success of its film adaptation heavily relies on appeasing a wider imaginative spectrum. Movie adaptations of famous books were a major draw in the Malayalam cinema since the 1950s, and it only grew rampant in the 60s. Although the fad slightly waned by the 70s, a few good adaptions graced us with their ingenuity every once in a while ever since. Following is a list of a handful of such book-to-movie adaptations in the Malayalam language that are worth your time.

10. Kanamarayathu 1984

based on “Daddy-long-legs” by Jean Webster

Jean Webster’s coming of age story of an orphan girl and her imagined relationship with her benefactor whom she had never met was adapted for the screen by Padmarajan and directed I.V. Sasi featuring Shobana as the protagonist.

9. Akam 2013

based on “Yakshi” by Malayattoor Radhakrishnan

Malayattoor Ramakrishnan’s psychological novel was once before adapted for the screen in 1968, but debutant director Shalini Usha Nair’s contemporary retelling of the novel is way ahead of the black and white version, and far subtler too.

8. Ore Kadal 2007

based on “Hirak Deepti” by Sunil Gangopadhyay

Bengali write Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel about the reckless abandon of a bored housewife who knowingly drifts into an adulterous affair with an intellectual neighbor was adapted for the screen by Shyamaprasad winning the National Award for best regional film.

7. Koodevide? 1983

Based on “Moongil Pookkal” by Vasanthi

Tamil writer Vasanthi’s novella that is a deep exploration of the psychological aspect of possessive love was adapted for the screen by Padmarajan introducing Suhasini to Malayalam as well as Rahman to acting.

6. Paleri Manikyam- Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha 2009

based on “Paleri Manikyam- Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha” by T.P.Rajeevan

Rajith’s adaptation of this murder mystery by T.P. Rajeevan dissecting the layers of the first recorded murder case in Kerala, was a treat to watch, for various reasons including the brilliant recreation of the 50’s rural Kerala and great casting.

5. Namukku Parkan Munthiri Thoppukal 1986

based on “Namukku Gramangalil Chennu Raaparkam” by K.K. Sudhakaran

Padmarajan’s classic love story is an adaptation of K.K. Sudhakaran’s novel that has strong and numerous Biblical allusions that with its unconventional interpretations only adds to its poetic premise.

4. Daivathinte Vikrithikal 1992

based on “Daivathinte Vikrithikal” by M. Mukundan

Mukundan’s complex tale of Mahe’s dispossessed was adapted for the screen by Lenin Rajendran with admirable outcome that in addition to the vivid recreation of the crumbling Anglo Indian family, boasts of a mind blowing performance by Raghuvaran.

3. Vidheyan 1993

based on “Bhaskara Pattelarum Ente Jeevithavum” by Paul Zacharia

Although the writer was not especially thrilled about the adaptation of his novella, there is no denying the fact that this Adoor film is a masterpiece that brilliantly explores the caustic dynamics of the master-slave liaison.

2. Chemmeen 1965

based on “Chemmeen” by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai

Thakazhi’s Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award winning novel that was later added to UNESCO’s collection of representative works in the Indian series, was a huge success when Ramu Kariat adapted it for the screen, also winning President’s Gold Medal for Best Film of the year.

1. Mathilukal 1989

based on “Mathilukal” by Vaikom Muhamad Basheer

Basheer’s ill fated love story between two prison inmates forever separated by the titular wall won the Kerala State Film Award for Best story when it was adapted for the screen by Adoor Gopalakrishnan in 1989.