Anantaram

{{Infobox film

| name = Anantaram

| image = Anantaram.jpg

| caption = Poster designed by Gayathri Ashokan

| director = Adoor Gopalakrishnan

| producer = K. Ravindran Nair

| writer = Adoor Gopalakrishnan

| based_on =

| starring = Ashokan
Shobhana
Mammootty

| music = M. B. Sreenivasan

| cinematography = Mankada Ravi Varma

| editing = M. Mani

| studio = General Pictures

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|1987|10|21|df=y}}

| runtime = 125 minutes

| country = India

| language = Malayalam

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Anantaram (Malayalam: അനന്തരം, {{trans|Thereafter}}), also known as Monologue, is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language psychological drama film produced, written and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan. It stars Ashokan, Shobhana and Mammootty in the lead. The film is structured like a monologue. It develops through a commentary by the protagonist about himself in the first person. The attempt of the protagonist is to narrate how his undiagnosed psychosis led him where he is now. The film was an experimental film for its time as it did not have a linear narrative.{{Cite news|title=Experiments in Malayalam cinema|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/experiments-in-malayalam-cinema/photostory/29715198.cms|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The Times of India|date=29 August 2018 }}

The film won the 1987 FIPRESCI Prize at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and three National Film Awards- for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Audiography. It was included in an online poll by IBN Live listing 100 greatest Indian films of all time.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130425235149/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200-81.html "100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time"]. IBN Live. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130607012016/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mayabazar-is-indias-greatest-film-ever-ibnlive-poll/391184-8-66.html "'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll"] . IBN Live. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130501074840/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ibnlive-poll-vote-for-indias-greatest-film-of-all-time/387871-8.html "IBNLive Poll: Vote for India's greatest film of all time"]. IBN Live. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2620mv13.

The film was released on October 21, Diwali day.

Cast

Ashokan as Ajayan
Sudheesh as Young Ajayan
Shobhana as Sumangali and Nalini
Mammootty as Dr Balu
Bahadoor as Driver Mathai
Vembayam Thambi as Raman Nair
Azeez as the gambler
Kukku Parameswaran as nurse
Krishnankutty Nair as the ailing patient at the dispensary
Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Yogini Amma
Adoor Pankajam as Lakshmi Amma

Critical reception

The film upon release got mixed reviews from critics and the general consensus was that the film didn't meet the expectations of an Adoor Gopalakrishnan film. However, modern reception is more positive. The film is now considered way ahead of its time. It is regarded by critics to be one of Adoor Gopalakrishnan's best works.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2220/stories/20051007001508200.htm |title=A constant process of discovery |author=Gowri Ramnarayan |magazine=Frontline |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210115848/http://flonnet.com/fl2220/stories/20051007001508200.htm |archivedate=10 February 2010 }} Simran Bhargava of India Today wrote "The story is not complete. Perhaps it is not meant to be. Adoor makes no statement, which story is real, how much is Ajayan's experience and how much he has invested from the world of his imagination. The Nalini of Ajayan's second story could be a dream, but again, she need not. Adoor doesn't insult his audience by laying it out straight. He prods them to bring their own experience to his films. He is not an easy director to understand. But, then, he is not for everyone. He exists so that lesser filmmakers can learn how to make better films."{{cite magazine |last=Bhargava |first=Simran |date=15 October 1987 |title=Anantaram: After three years, another landmark from Adoor Gopalakrishnan|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/story/19871015-anantaram-after-three-years-another-landmark-from-adoor-gopalakrishnan-799372-1987-10-14|magazine=India Today |location=New Delhi |publisher=Living Media India Limited |access-date=1 May 2023}}

Awards

The film has been nominated for and won the following awards since its release:

FIPRESCI Prize (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)
Best Director - Adoor Gopalakrishnan{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/35th_nff_1988.pdf|title=35th National Film Awards|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=9 January 2012|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322020437/http://dff.nic.in/2011/35th_nff_1988.pdf|archive-date=22 March 2012}}
Best Screenplay - Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Best Audiography - P. Devadas, T. Krishnanunni, N. Harikumar

References

External links

{{Imdb title|id=0092557|title=Anantaram}}