Alphonsa (1952)
Alphonsa
Release date : 5 December 1952
This could easily be called the first “devotional Christian film” in Malayalam, which quietly left the cinemas as it came in. Released during the X’mas season with an eye on the box-office, it miserably failed at the box-office. Miss Kumari was on a guest role as Marykutty, the widowed sister of the lead character, Baby (R Surendranath). As per her official autobiography, this was also the onscreen debut of Jose Prakash, the upcoming playback singer who was also experimenting with onscreen roles. Alphonsa was no more than a ‘proxy documentary’ on Saint (Sister) Alphonsa. Interestingly, Sister Alphonsa, in real life, was Miss Kumari’s teacher , during her school days at Sacred Heart Girls’ High School Bharananganam.
Movie Handbill
“Alphonsa” was my next film after “Athmasakhi”. I agreed to be a part of the project under Vakkachan’s insistence, and was more of a guest role. It was the role of a widow through the film, and I recall this was also Jose Prakash’s debut in Malayalam cinema as an actor. He also played the brief role of my husband.
More about the Movie
| Annie | Miss Kumari |
| R Surendranath | PK Mohan |
| Rose | PK Kamalakshi |
| EC Jacob | Anselis |
| Abraham | Jose Prakash |
| CR Lakshmi Devi |
| Director | O Jose Thottan |
| Producer | NX Kurien |
| Story | O Jose Thottan |
| Screenplay | O Jose Thottan |
| Dialogues | O Jose Thottan |
| Banner | Geo Productions |
| Art Direction | Krishnachari |
| Audiography | Vimalan |
| Cinematography | O Jose Thottan |
| Lyrics | Abhaya Dev, NX Kurien |
| Music | TR Pappa |
| Playback Singers | TA Mothi, AP Komala, Jose Prakash, Janamma David, Nagayya |
| Choreography | K Thankappan, Mrs Patterson |
| Editing | NM Shankar |
Lilly, daughter of Thomachan & Maria is married off to Baby, son of Anthony. Baby’s mother is no more, and his father had remarried, out of which they had a daughter, Rosy. Baby also has a sister Mary, who is a widow with two children. During the honeymoon, Baby gifts Lilly a Parker pen. After honeymoon, when the couple returns home, Rosy and her mother start ill treating Lilly. However, being well behaved, Lilly does not complain and continues to work as per their instructions.
In due course, Lilly is infected with a wound which the doctor diagnoses as Polio. Anthony writes to Thomachan to take Lilly back to her house and get her treated. Meanwhile, Baby’s step mother shifts her to a dirty room, away from Baby.
Once, upon Rosy’s request, Lilly gives away the Parker pen, which Rosy gifts to her neighbor Francis. Baby chances to see this pen with Francis, and suspects Lilly of having gifted it to Francis. When Lilly comes to say goodbye to go for treatment, Baby does not even look at her.
Thomachan reaches Madras for Lilly’s treatment. However, most doctors return them back saying that this cannot be treated. As a last measure, they visit all churches before returning. Though the treatment was not working, what was saddening Lilly was the fact that none of her letters to Baby were replied to. Once when Mary comes to visit Lilly, she informs Mary about her sorrow. Mary decides to understand from baby about the reason. However, when she confronts Baby, she realizes that Baby has not received any of the letters. Moreover, she also realizes that Baby is not interested to hear about Lilly at all.
One day, on hearing about the healing powers of Alphonsamma, Thomachan & Lilly decide to travel to her place. Lilly dreams about a nun visiting her bed at night and blessing her. Miraculously, she finds that her wound is cleared. All of them are very happy.
Elsewhere, Rosy is sick with fever. When Mary opens Rosy’s cupboard, she finds all Lilly’s letters there. However, when confronted, Baby still has the doubt about the Parker pen.
The news about Lilly’s recovery becomes big news. On seeing this, one day, when Baby was not present, Mary decides to bring Lilly home. In the meanwhile, Rosy’s mother is bitten by a rabid dog. She becomes mad, and is confined to the same room that once she used to put Lilly in. Rosy passes away and is laid to rest by Mary who prays for her peace in heaven.
Songs from the Movie
In the Media
Release Announcement
