Avarunarunnu (1956)
They are a-rising !
Release date : 16 November 1956
N Shankaran Nair’s debut movie as an independant director in Malayalam cinema, Avarunarunnu, had all the established tropes and cliched’ characters that told the common class struggle onscreen. Miss Kumari was Janaki onscreen, a firebrand factory worker who escapes a molestation attempt thanks to the timely intervention by one of her comrades Madhavan (Sathyan). and eventually become a couple. The staid menu never even made a ripple at the box-office. The mid 1950’s also began to see the gradual formation of a box-office triumvirate onscreen in Malayalam film industry- Miss Kumari, Sathyan & Prem Nazir.
In between some of the most satisfying projects, I also completed “Avarunarunnu.” I think ‘completed’ would be the appropriate word.
Movie Poster
More about the Movie
| Miss Kumari | Sathyan |
| Prem Nazir | Prema |
| Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair | S P Pillai |
| Aranmula Ponnamma | TS Muthaiah |
| Adoor Pankajam | Bahadoor |
| Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai | Chengannur Janaki |
| S R Pallatt | Kuttan Pillai |
| AK Seth | NC Krishna Pillai |
| Master Hari | Master Ramachandran Nair |
| Padmini Priyadarshini |
| Director | N Sankaran Nair |
| Producer | G Govinda Pillai |
| Story | Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai |
| Screenplay | Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai |
| Dialogues | Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai |
| Banner | Prasanna Pictures |
| Distribution | Unavailable |
| Art Direction | MV Kochappu |
| Audiography | Unavailable |
| Cinematography | PB Maniyam |
| Lyrics | Pala Narayanan Nair, Vayalar Ramavarma |
| Music | V Dakshinamurthy |
| Playback Singers | Jikky, AM Raja, Kamukara Purushothaman Nair, Lalitha Thampi, LPR Varma, Shyamala, Sarada |
| Choreography | Padmini Priyadarshini |
| Editing | KD George |
Kamalamma’s two children, Madhavan & Leela get separated during the epidemic in their village. Leela is adopted by Thambi, a landlord who has a son Ravi. Ravi’s classmate Bhasi is farmer Kunju Pillai’s son. After education, Ravi becomes a business man, while Bhasi becomes a farmer. In due course, Leela starts liking Bhasi.
Ravi, whose character is loose, had set his sights on Leela. He was supported in all his nefarious activities by his mother Bharathi, his servants and friends. He even stopped Bhasi from visiting his house, after he came to know that Leela liked Bhasi.
Madhavan, who has been searching for his sister Leela, joins Ravi’s factory as a worker. There, he saves Janaki, an orphan, from Ravi’s clutches. This act endears Ravi to Janaki. In due course, they get married. Madhavan becomes a leader and protests against Ravi’s misdemeanors. He even speaks to Bhasi and asks him to join the protest. But Bhasi, being a friend of Ravi, decides against it.
One day, Kunju Pillai ends up having a fight with Thambi, in which he loses his life. This incident changes Bhasi, who joins Madhavan in the protest against Ravi & Thambi.
Leela, fed up of the torture at home decides to leave. However, she is kidnapped by Ravi, who locks her in a room. Bhasi decides to liberate Leela, and is joined by Madhavan and his colleagues. In the fight that ensues, Madhavan is shot by Ravi. Leela and Bhasi come to help Madhavan, when madhavan notices the tattoo on Leela’s hand and realizes that she is his long lost sister. However, madhavan passes away, after giving Leela’s hand to Bhasi. Ravi and her associates are arrested by law.