A throwback to the yesteryears . A story of guilt, depression, ultimate redemption and absolution, way ahead of its times. And a performance that is emotive brilliance and truly understated and writing and direction that was head and shoulders above any of its contemporaries. Some say that #Mohanlal should have won an award for that one scene where under the burden of depression and guilt he injects drugs into his thigh - there are no dialogues and minimal expressions; it is almost as if his taut body and his weary muscles are doing the heavy duty acting performance! I am talking about the #MTVasudevanNair - #THariharan combo led #AmrutamGamaya, released in 1987. The film is available on #YouTube.
The film plays out as a flashback when Dr Haridas (#Mohanlal) comes to a village after graduating as a medical doctor. As the car drives past the river Nila, the people there are performing the Karkidaka Vavu Bali, a Hindu rite to appease the departed souls. He is from a poor background and his education has been funded by his uncle (#Thialakan). He sets up his practice at a government hospital but soon finds himself at the mercy of the casteist, feudal set-up of his uncle’s family. Thilakan lives in the village with his four sons, one daughter and a daughter-in-law (Haridas’s sister). The family proposed to wed their daughter Bhanumati (#Geetha) to Dr Haridas. Interestingly, Lal uses plenty of English when he is talking to Geetha; i don't know if that was how the script was designed but it sounds rather stilted.
Dr Haridas is wedded to his hippocratic oath and is a man of principles. He feels suffocated in this environment and moves out to a humble abode. His poor neighbors are Ilethu (#BabuNamboodiri) and his daughter Sreedevi (#Parvathi). He gets to know that their son Unnikrishnan (#Vineeth) died while studying medicine at the college. Dr Haridas is overcome by remorse as he realizes that Unniirshnan is none other than his junior and whose demise was owing to a seemingly innocuous incident of ragging perpetrated by none other than Haridas himself.
#Mohanlal is exceptional as the guilt ridden doctor. When a Muslim trader is flogged for refusing to vacate his shop, Haridas decides that he has had enough and moves out. His cousins are all influential - #CaptainRaju is a real estate contractor, #Devan hob-nobs with political bigwigs and the youngest owns a medical shop. As things have it, Dr Haridas’s past catches up with him as he discovers who his neighbors are. The depression and guilt trigger him to start using drugs. His former professor ( #KaramanaJanardhananNair) comes to his rescue once again and motivates him to stay strong. However, the death of a pregnant woman results in him being made the scapegoat. A mob attacks his house and burns down his scooter.
Director #THariharan is brilliant in the manner in which the camera focuses only on the destruction. There is not a single shot of the crowd. And that is because it is synonymous with the karmic cycle catching up ; the individuals are nameless and not important.
#AmrutamGamaya is a film ahead of its times. The themes of depression, guilt and ultimate redemption are captured brilliantly. In a particularly poignant scene, Dr Haridas slits his wrists and when Sreedevi comes to his rescue, he asks her “What if I offer you my life in return for your brothers?”, it is as if he is imploring life to grant him redemption. I also found the scenes where Harisdas explains his dilemma to Geetha particularly endearing and superbly executed.
The film is produced under the banner of Shirdi Sai creations and is produced by #PKRPillai. Music is by #MB Sreenivasan and editing by #MSMani. Cinematography by SCPadi captures the Bharatapuzha location near Thirunnavaya temple beautifully.
The chant goes “Mrtyorma amratam gamaya” (from death, lead me to immortality). When Dr Haridas goes through his karma of guilt and grief to an eventual choice of death ahead of his life and so choosing eventual inner peace and absolution, it is like a journey to immortality. Hence, the name Amrutam Gamaya. A masterprice by #MTVasudevanNair !
