''Meghamalhar'' is a 2001 Indian

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of ...

-language

romance film Romance films involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their ...

written and directed by Kamal from a story by

Iqbal Kuttippuram Mohamed Iqbal Kompathayill, commonly credited as Dr. Iqbal Kuttippuram, is an Indian screenwriter and Homeopathy, homeopathy physician. He has written screenplays for popular films such as ''Niram'', Arabikkatha, ''Swapnakoodu'', ''Vikramadithya ...

. It stars Biju Menon and

Samyuktha Varma Samyuktha Varma (born 28 November 1979) is a former Indian actress who was active in Malayalam films from 1999 to 2002. She made her debut in 1999 as female lead in the movie '' Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal'' for which she won her first Keral ...

in the lead roles while Poornima Mohan,

Sreenath Sreenath Thoppil Inchora (26 August 1956 – 23 April 2010) was an Indian film and television actor. He has acted in many Malayalam films, including '' Shalini Ente Koottukari'', '' Ithu Njangalude Katha'', '' Sarvakalashala'', '' Oru CBI Diar ...

, Shivaji, Siddique, and Raghavan play supporting roles. The film was jointly produced by M. V. Shreyams Kumar for

Mathrubhumi ''Mathrubhumi'' is a Malayalam newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. It was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British. The word "Mathrubhumi" translates to 'mother land'. ...

and Asianet. It won two

Kerala State Film Awards The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Cha ...

and two

Filmfare Awards South The Filmfare Awards South are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, Malayalam cinema and Kannada cinema. They are presented by ''Filmfare'' magazine of The Times Group. When it was intr ...

. The movie was reported to be inspired by the 1945 British movie ''

Brief Encounter ''Brief Encounter'' is a 1945 British Romance film#Romantic drama, romantic drama film directed by David Lean from a screenplay by Noël Coward, based on his 1936 one-act play ''Still Life (play), Still Life''. The film stars Celia Johnson and ...

''.

Plot

The film is the story of Rajeevan, an advocate, and Nandita Menon, a writer. Rajeevan is married to Rekha, a bank employee, and has two kids. Nandita is married to Mukundan, a businessman in the Gulf, and has a daughter. They lead their normal family life happily. A mix-up in the cakes they ordered for their respective kids introduces the protagonists and their backgrounds. Both meet each other accidentally and in due course, their relationship becomes intimate (mentally). Their tastes and thinking are almost alike. When Rajeev narrates an incident in his childhood bearing uncanny resemblance to Nandita's short story, she realizes he is her childhood friend on whose shoulders she leaned in times of distress. A chemistry develops between them which Rajeev mistakes to be love and expresses his feelings to her. She responds predictably and tries to alienate him, ignoring him. Later, she gifts her book, "Megha Malhar", to him, revealing that she is his childhood friend. Rajeev agrees never to meet her again and meets her for the last time. They travel together to Kanyakumari where they had spent their childhood together. They decide to part ways and live as strangers.

Cast

Soundtrack

The film's lyrics were written by

O. N. V. Kurup Ottaplakkal Neelakandan Velu Kurup (known as O. N. V. Kurup; 27 May 1931 – 13 February 2016) was a Malayalam poet and lyricist from Kerala, India, who won the Jnanpith Award, the highest literary award in India for the year 2007. He received ...

and Nazim Akhtar, and the music was by

Ramesh Narayan Ramesh Narayan (born 3 November 1959) is an Indian Hindustani classical music, classical vocalist, composer and music producer who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema. Ramesh began his initial training in Carnatic music and later mastered t ...

and Jithesh (Rangathu). * "Oru Narupushpamaayi" (M) -

K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas ( /jeːʃud̪aːs/; born 10 January 1940) is an Indian playback singer and musician who sings Indian classical, devotional and film songs. He is widely considered one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian m ...

* "Oru Narupushpamaayi" (F) - K. S. Chitra, Ramesh Narayan * "Ponnushassennum" - P. Jayachandran, K. S. Chitra * "Rangathu" - Jithesh

Reception

A critic from '' Screen'' wrote that "It is, no doubt, that seeing Meghmalhaar would be a really different and unforgettable experience for the viewers who have been seeing dry, stale, meaningless stuff in the name of cinema". A critic from ''Cinesouth'' wrote that "May be, by ordinary standards, this movie might not become a grand hit, but it's a good attempt at making good movies. Something that speaks about the beauty of love and of family bonds".

Awards

;

* Second Best Film * Best Screenplay - Kamal ;

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards The Kerala Film Critics Association Awards are presented annually by the Kerala Film Critics Association to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Malayalam language film industry of India. The awards were instit ...

* Best Film – Kamal (director) * Best Editor – Beena Paul * Best Lyricist –

* Best Music Director –

;

* Best Actress - Malayalam –

* Best Film - Malayalam – M. V. Shreyams Kumar ; Asianet Film Awards * Best Film * Best Director - Kamal * Best Actress - Samyuktha Varma * Best Star Pair - Biju Menon and Samyuktha Varma * Best Cinematographer - Venugopal * Best Editing - Beena Paul ; Other Awards * Ramu Kariyat Award for Best Director - Kamal

References

External links

*
''Mehgamalhar''
at the Malayalam Movie Database {{Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam 2000s Malayalam-language films 2000s romantic musical films Indian romantic musical films Films shot in Thiruvananthapuram Films directed by Kamal (director) 2001 musical films