In ‘Alorukkam’ Indrans plays the character of Pappu Pisharody and does complete justice to it.Pappu Pisharody is an aged Ottamthullal artist, who is baffled by the hard questions life has posed to him. He is continuously plagued by haunting memories and anxieties of death. Besides, he is weighed down by the guilt pangs, weariness and desolation of old age, and finally his transition from stark reality to an unknown realm.
Aalorukkam narrates the journey of Pisharody, played by veteran actor Indrans, whose life is devoted to the traditional solo dance and poetic art. Indrans does complete justice to the character. The role fetched him Kerala government’s best actor award.
Director VC Abhilash has crafted a simple film beautifully by handling a powerful contemporary theme.
A black-and-white photo of his son, who had run away from home years ago, and an old radio are Pisharody's companions. That’s all he keeps as a hope for the years to come. Death snatched his wife all of a sudden. His relatives are around, but no one can fill the void left by his son. As age has caught up with him, Pisharody has little hope he will ever see his son again, but he ventures out to trace him down. How would anyone find a lost man with an old black-and-white photo? How would an old man locate his long-lost son in a world where no one cares?
As twilight fades Pisharody’s eyes are enveloped by darkness, much like the darkening city. He collapses, but in the dark he can find hands reaching out to him. His pursuit is now on with a few noble souls with whom he shares his life's ups and downs.
Indrans' brilliance as an actor is manifested in several frames - the passive look when talking of his daughter’s death; during his constant roaming as an Ottamthullal artiste as well as while frantically looking for his son on a rainy night on a hospital verandah; when his face brightens up with the occasional dawn of hope and rare humour; and the unforgettable reaction when the son finally comes in through the rain. These moments remind you why Indrans was the unrivalled choice for the best actor honour.
If the first half of the film is all about the search for his son, the second part is totally different. The story flows in the same style in both the halves. Most of the artistes are new faces, except for Indrans, Aliyar, Narayankutty and Kunju Mohammed.
Director Abhilash, who is totally new to the art, has shown remarkable skill in casting and scripting. Other main artistes he has presented are Sreekanth Menon, Vishnu Agasthya, Seetha Bala, Shaji John, Sreeshma, Deepak Jayaprakash, Baby Thraya, Sajit Nambiar and Sajitha Sandeep. Most characters in the film are important, irrespective of the time that every artiste got before the camera.
Samlal P. Thomas has done magic with the lens, especially in scenes where he has shot the thoughtful expression of Indrans, the rain and the occasional appearance of the sea. There’s only one song, and it has gelled well with the poetic tone of the movie. The rendition is by Vidyadharan Master. Aalorukkam handles a familiar subject, but the narration touches our hearts deeply and tells a poignant tale in a simple way.
Pisharody’s glances, dialogues, the dreams that rudely awaken him from his sleep at night: all that silently convey to us the depth and extent of that subject.
The movie won’t leave our minds easily.
