Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum

Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (transl. Vasanthi, Lakshmi, and me) is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Vinayan based on a screenplay by J. Pallassery. The film features Kalabhavan Mani, Kaveri, Praveena and Sai Kumar in the lead roles.[2] The film centers around Ramu, a blind poet and singer who supports his family. However, their happiness dissipates soon after he gets cheated by a rich businessman.[3] The film is reported to be inspired from Dosti (1964).[4]

Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum
Promotional poster
Directed byVinayan
Screenplay byJ. Pallassery
Story byVinayan
Produced byKabeer
Latheef
Vindhyan
StarringKalabhavan Mani
Kaveri
Praveena
Sai Kumar
CinematographyAlagappan N.
Edited byG. Murali
Music byMohan Sithara
Production
company
Thriveni Productions
Distributed bySargam Speed Release
Release date
  • 27 May 1999 (1999-05-27)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Budget₹45 lakhs[1]
Box office₹3.5 crores[1]

The film was a commercial success and ran for more than 150 days in theatres.[5] The film won two National Film Awards, the Best Male Playback Singer for M. G. Sreekumar and the Special Jury Award for Kalabhavan Mani and Mani also received the Special Jury Award at the Kerala State Film Awards for his performance in the film. The film also won two Asianet Film Awards: Best Actor for Kalabhavan Mani and Best Supporting Actress for Praveena.[6] The film was remade to Tamil as Kasi, in Telugu as Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi and in Kannada as Namma Preethiya Ramu.[7]

Plot

Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum is a tale about the deception of appearances. Ramu is a blind poet and singer who supports his family by his songs. He has an older brother Meghanadhan, who is a drunkard; an abusive, crippled father; and a younger sister Vasanthi. When the local landlord Thomas Chacko returns to the district, he brings along with him Dinesh, the CM's son and his wife Radhika. Thomas Chacko has a reputation as a God in the area because of his charitable works, and when a specialist eye doctor arrives, he promises to pay the fees for an operation to give back Ramu's vision. Elated by this news, Ramu learns that he has to find an eye donor. His lover Lakshmi, who cannot speak, offers one of her eyes. Unfortunately, something happens that shows that the 'God-like' Thomas Chacko is not what he seems to be. Blissfully unaware of the sadness of those around him, Ramu looks forward to his operation. One morning, on the day of her wedding, Vasanthi was found dead and it is figured out that she commits suicide because of Thomas and when Thomas comes to attend the funeral, Ramu explains to Thomas of what he did as he kills Thomas by choking him.

Cast

Soundtrack
Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum
Soundtrack album by
Mohan Sithara
Released1999
RecordedSargam Speed Audios
GenreFeature film soundtrack
LabelSargam
ProducerThriveni Productions

The soundtrack consists of a total of 10 songs. The film score and all the songs were composed by Mohan Sithara, with lyrics from Yusef Ali Kecheri. It was released on 20 May 1999 as an album on the Sargam Speed Audios label. The song Aalilakkanna Ninte Muralika is picturized on Kalabhavan Mani. The song Aalilakkanna Ninte Muralika is set in the Sindhu Bhairavi raga, while the song Kannuneerinum Chirikkanariyam is set in the Yamunakalyani raga.[8] M. G. Sreekumar got the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer the second time for the song Chanthupottum Chankelassum for a heartwarming rendition of the song. All the film's songs were chartbusters and stayed in the charts for several months following its release. The film is known for revitalizing the folk music genre in Malayalam cinema.[9] The rights of the cassette were sold for ₹30 lakhs.[10]

Track listing
SongSinger(s)Raga(s)
"Aalilakkanna Ninte Muralika"K. J. YesudasSindhu Bhairavi
"Prakrutheeshwari"K. J. Yesudas
"Thenanu Nin Swaram"K. S. Chithra
"Chanthupottum Chankelassum"M. G. Sreekumar
"Kattile Maninte Tholukondundakki"Kalabhavan Mani
"Thengapoolum Kokkilothukki"K. J. Yesudas, Sujatha Mohan
"Thengapoolum Kokkilothukki"K. J. Yesudas
"Kannuneerinum Chirikkanariyam"K. J. YesudasYamunakalyani
"Thenanu Nin Swaram"K. J. Yesudas
"Aalilakkanna Ninte Muralika"K. S. ChithraSindhu Bhairavi

Reception

Critical reception

The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. Noted director Hariharan, after watching the film in a theatre in Kozhikode called Vinayan and appreciated him for his work in the film.[11] The Times of India praised Kalabhavan Mani's performance writing:" Ramu from Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum is undeniably one of the most challenging roles in Kalabhavan Mani’s acting career. We have seen many actors playing the role of visually challenged individuals on screen, but Kalabhavan Mani’s character Ramu stands out. Be it the way he controlled his eye movements or his acting chops especially in the intense emotional scenes, Kalabhavan Mani made the audience fall for him. The actor managed to ace the role with sheer determination and perfection." Kalabhavan Mani also won the Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards for a sensitive and realistic portrayal of a blind man complete with his behavioral and gestural distortions as he copes with difficulties in making life meaningful.[12] Sify writes, praising Vinayan's direction: "Vinayan began with a theme that has been common in the Malayalam films of 60's and an unbelievable story line. But he could present it in a touching way that even the most iron-hearted could not help burst into tears. The full credit goes to Vinayan from preventing the story turning into a melodrama."[13]

Box office

Expectations for Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum was low. The film opened to near-empty halls and by the end of the first week, all theaters were houseful for every show. It had an extraordinary run, running for more than 100 days in many centers. The film was a commercial success. The film was made on a budget of 45 lakhs and grossed around 3 crores at the box office.[9]

Awards

National Film Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

Asianet Film Awards

Remakes

Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum was remade in Tamil as Kasi (2001),[14] Kannada as Namma Preethiya Ramu (2003),[15] Telugu as Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi (2004),[16] and Sinhala as Sooriyaa (2012).[17]

References
  1. Kuriakose, M. A. (20 May 2019). "വാസന്തിയും ലക്ഷ്മിയും വാരിയത് മൂന്നരക്കോടി; ആകെ ചെലവ് 45 ലക്ഷം". Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  2. "Vaasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (1999)". www.malayalachalachithram.com. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. "വാസന്തിയും ലക്ഷ്മിയും പിന്നെ ഞാനും". M3DB.COM. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. "A Sentimental Sob Story". Sify. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  5. "Vinayan". 24 August 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  6. "47th National Film Awards"
  7. "The Hindu : Kaasi". 2 October 2003. Archived from the original on 2 October 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  8. "Vaasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum [1999] | വാസന്തിയും ലക്ഷ്മിയും പിന്നെ ഞാനും [1999]". malayalasangeetham.info. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  9. "Manorama Music". www.manoramaonline.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008.
  10. "വാസന്തിയും ലക്ഷ്മിയും വാരിയത് മൂന്നരക്കോടി; ആകെ ചെലവ് 45 ലക്ഷം". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  11. "Raghuvinte Swantham Rasiya will release this Friday". Rediff.com. 19 May 2011.
  12. "Karumadikkuttan". The Times of India. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  13. "Welcome to Sify.com". 24 August 2018. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  14. "Kasi". Archived from the original on 15 December 2018.
  15. "Darshan: Top five movies of the superstar you should not miss". The Times of India. 16 February 2019.
  16. "Seenu Vasanthi Lakshmi". Archived from the original on 9 August 2019.
  17. "Kasi in Sinhala". The New Indian Express.
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