Pakshe
| Pakshe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Mohan |
| Produced by | Kairali Films |
| Written by | Cheriyan Kalpakavadi |
| Starring |
Mohanlal Shobhana |
| Music by | K. Jayakumar (Lyrics) |
| Cinematography | Saroj Padi |
| Edited by | G. Murali |
Production company |
Kairali Film Ltd. |
| Distributed by | Kairali Films |
Release date | 1994 |
Running time | 154 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Pakshe (Malayalam: പക്ഷേ; But) is a 1994 Malayalam romantic drama film written by Cheriyan Kalpakavadi and directed by Mohan. It stars Mohanlal and Shobhana in the lead roles. Though a usually repeated story in Malayalam films, the director is successful in saying the story in the most heart-touchable way. The film was critically acclaimed and was a box-office success. Mohan is a critically acclaimed director in Malayalam film and has directed many classic movies such as Isabella, Edavela, Angane Oru Avadhikkalathu etc.
Plot
"Pakshe" revolves around the tragic and sacrificial life of Balachandra Menon (Mohanlal), an IAS officer. Balan was brought up in a poor family whose properties were sold by his father (Karamana Janardanan Nair) to fund his legal cases. Unniyettan (Venu Nagavally) is Balan's teacher who motivates him to become an IAS officer Balan is in love with Nandini (Shobana), an aspiring writer and belongs to a rich family. Their relationship is accepted by both the families and a marriage date fixed. Bala successfully completes the IAS exams
Unfortunately, Balan's father commits suicide, after losing the long drawn out case for which he had sold all his family properties and borrowed heavily and incurring huge debts, which Balan has to repay and clear the dues
Balan who had passed the written exam also successfully completes the interview. In the meanwhile the private money lenders harass him, asking him to repay the loans incurred by his father, and abuse him publicly which leads to altercation between them and following these incidents, Nandini's family withdraw from the marriage arrangement and Nandini is not permitted to leave her house to meet with Balan. When the money lenders are about to take legal action for recovery of their dues, Vikaraman (Thilakan), a contractor is willing to offer Balan the money to settle the dues under the condition that he marries his daughter Raji (Shanti Krishna). When Balan speaks to Nandini about this, she insists that he marries the girl and rescue his family. With a heavy heart, they decide to split calling it a "sacrifice" for their family.
Balan, after marrying Rajeswari, aka Raji, repays all his debts. Raji is an arrogant woman and ill treats Balan and they endure a bad marital relationship. Vikaraman, his father in law, abuses Balan's position as an IAS officer to unscrupulously help his friends, and at one stage, when Balan refuses to cooperate, he is abused and criticized by his wife and father in law. Heart broken, Balan, who was so far living in his Vikraman's house decides to go and live alone, but Raji refuses to accompany. Feeling insulted, he leaves home.
He takes a week's leave from work and stays at a beach resort for a few days of relaxation and peace of mind, where finds an amusing middle aged man, named Eenashu (Innocent), who has a happy outlook to life and says he keeps himself young and spritful through liquor and women. A friendship develops between them, which makes Balan forget his miseries for a while.
One evening at the resort, he is shocked and surprised to know that Nandini is staying at the neighbouring cottage. He also learns that she is now an internationally acclaimed writer, and that she is still single, not having married anyone. After the initial hesitant moments, they gradually share their life stories, and gradually the old balettan-nandinikutty bond of yesteryears is revived. Due to Eanashu's influence on him, he has also slowly erased Raji from his mind.
Slowly the old romance is revived between them, and both decide to live together thereafter, but fatefully, on the day they are about to leave the resort, Rajeswari, his wife and their children turn up. In his absence, she has realised her mistakes and asks for him to forgive her and accept her and the children back into his life. Nandini, coming to know of his, with a heavy heart realises what is happening and Balan accepts Rajeswari and the children. Balan and Nandini suffer the pain of separation for the second time in their life
The film ends with Balan set to go back to his new life with Rajeswari and Nandini beginning a new life with memories of her life with Balan.
The excellent onscreen chemistry between Mohanlal & Shobana, who along with Shanti Krishna, have given an exemplary performance. The director has been handled the characters in a heart-touching way. Johnson who gave music to the film, has given some good numbers
Cast
- Mohanlal as Balachandra Menon aka Balan
- Shobhana as Nandini Menon ( Voice dubbed by bhagyalakshmi)
- Shanthi Krishna as Rajeswari
- Innocent as Eenashu
- Thilakan as Vikraman Contractor
- Soman as Shivadasa Menon IAS
- Jagathy Sreekumar as assistant of Vikraman
- Karamana Janardanan Nair as Balan's father
- Sukumari as Balan's mother
- Mamukkoya as Nanappan
- Ganesh Kumar as Ravi
- Venu Nagavally as Unniyettan
- Kozhikode Narayanan Nair as Nandini's father
Soundtrack
The film had successful soundtrack composed by Johnson with lyrics penned by K. Jayakumar.
| Track | Song Title | Singer(s) | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sooryamshuvoro | Dr. K. J. Yesudas, Ganga | Raga: Mohanam |
| 2 | Moovanthiyaay | Dr. K. J. Yesudas | Raga: Jog |
| 3 | Nirangalil | M. G. Sreekumar | |
| 4 | Get Me The | Malgudi Subha |