Arabikkatha
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Arabikkatha
| image = Arabikkatha.jpg
| alt =
| caption = DVD cover
| director = Lal Jose
| producer = Hassan Sainullabdeen
| writer = Iqbal Kuttippuram
| narrator =
| starring = {{Unbulleted_list|Sreenivasan|Indrajith Sukumaran}}
| music = Bijibal
| cinematography = Manoj Pillai
| editing = Ranjan Abraham
| studio =
| distributor = Balaji Movies
Sagar Release
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2007|07|5}}
| runtime = 150 minutes
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Arabikkatha ({{Literal translation|Arabian tale}}) is a 2007 Indian Malayalam-language satirical-drama film directed by Lal Jose and written by Ikbal Kuttipuram. The film was a critical{{cite news |title=Arabikatha takes the cake |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/15/stories/2007071550720200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026115031/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/15/stories/2007071550720200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-26 |work=The Hindu |date=2007-07-15 |accessdate=2008-03-06 }} and commercial success in India{{cite news |title='Arabikatha' turns out to be a success tale |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/18/stories/2007071851120200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622235127/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/18/stories/2007071851120200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-06-22 |date=2007-07-18 |work=The Hindu |accessdate=2008-03-06 }} and the United Arab Emirates.{{cite news|title=Hit Malayalam film showing in Doha today |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=178084&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16 |work=Gulf Times |date=2007-10-12 |accessdate=2008-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013231644/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=178084&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16 |archivedate=13 October 2007 }} It deals with differences within the Communist movement,{{cite news|title=Arabikatha a tale on Communism's strife |url=http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEE20070710010207&Page=E&Title=Startrek&Topic=0 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070422121608/http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEE20070710010207&Page=E&Title=Startrek&Topic=0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-04-22 |work=newindpress.com |publisher=New Indian Express Group |date=2007-07-10 |accessdate=2008-03-06 }} and was produced against a background of real-life splits in the ruling Communist Party in Kerala state, India.{{cite news|title=Movie throws light on split in ruling party |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=161196&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |work=Gulf Times |date=2007-07-16 |accessdate=2008-03-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607073546/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=161196&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |archivedate=7 June 2011 }} In the film, Mukundan, a hardcore communist, exposes the atrocities of Karunan, a cunning and corrupt politician.
Plot
The film narrates the story of "Cuba" Mukundan. He is a staunch leftist who lives for the movement. Machinations of a corrupt politician, Karunan, who perceives Mukundan as a threat to his political career force Mukundan to take up a job in Dubai. Even in Dubai, he finds that Kunjunni Muthalali who was in league with Karunan in Dubai, exploiting the helpless labourers who migrate to the Persian Gulf region, performing menial jobs and physical labor in order to support their families back home. He has always had a soft corner for People's Republic of China as a result of his leftist leanings. When he meets Zhang Chu Min, a Chinese girl, she quickly finds a special place in his heart as she symbolizes China to him. Later, even after realising that she is an anti-communist and is there to make money for the treatment of her boyfriend who fought against the Chinese Government, he gives her his earnings saying a communist never keeps money more than his requirements. Mukundan, with the help of his friends Anwar, Maya, Karim, and Abbas exposes the machinations of Karunan and Kunjunni Muthalali. Finally, Mukundan returns home to work for the political cause which has been his life and love.
The movie depicts Mukundan who lives in rural Kerala being catapulted into Dubai, the gleaming world of commerce and industry that gives employment opportunity to workers from Kerala. Mukundan who finds himself in present society where sticking to any ideology without any compromises is perceived as something of an anachronism.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Sreenivasan as Cuba Mukundan, a staunch follower of communism, Gopalan's son
- Balu Varghese as Young Mukundan
- Indrajith Sukumaran as Anwar
- Jayasurya as Sidharthan, Karunan's nephew
- Zhang Chu Mi as Shu Min
- Samvrutha Sunil as Maya
- Salim Kumar as Karim
- Sadiq as Abbas
- K. T. C. Abdullah as Abdullah, Karim's father-in-law
- Shivaji Guruvayoor as Karunan, Sidharthan's uncle and a cunning and corrupt politician of the communist party who becomes a minister
- Jagathy Sreekumar as Kunjunni Muthalali
- Nedumudi Venu as Society Gopalan, Mukundan's father and a veteran communist leader
- Suraj Venjaramood as James Thiruvananthapuram
- Moideen Koya as Vishwam Kathalikkadu
- Atlas Ramachandran as Coat Nambiar
- Kozhikode Narayanan Nair as Ravunni
- Assim Jamal as Labour
- Augustine as Varghese
- Satheesh Menon as Pakistani Supervisor
- Manikandan Pattambi
}}
Soundtrack
Arabikkatha's songs and background score are composed by Bijibal, who made his debut through this film. The lyrics were written by Anil Panachooran, also a debutant. The music album has seven songs:
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Track | Song Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Thirike Njan" | Dr. K. J. Yesudas |
| 2 | "Tharakaramalarukal" | Vineeth Sreenivasan, Sujatha Mohan |
| 3 | "Thaane Paadum Veene" | Rajeev Kodampally, Soumya Ramakrishnan |
| 4 | "Chora Veena" | Anil Panachooran |
Box office
The film was both a commercial and a critical success.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/sreenivasan-roped-in-for-lal-joses-next/articleshow/62095843.cms|title=Sreenivasan roped in for Lal Jose's next|work=The Times of India|date=16 December 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/report/first-look-joshiys-sevens/20110707.htm|title=First Look: Joshiy's Sevens|work=Rediff.com|date=7 July 2011}}
References
{{reflist}}