Circa 1987. A decade since his debut. Mohanlal was on his way to straddling the stratosphere as Malayalam cinema’s most durable face. Director #VenuNagavalli made his debut with #Sarvakalasala ( University …. And at another level, the university of life).. casting Lal as Lalettan, the elder brother and the tag has stuck for over three decades now!
The thing about Malayalam cinema is that there is always a meta level to the story. In #Sarvakalasala, #Mohanlal plays Lal who is doing his third Master degree and refuses to leave the college. The flashbacks to his childhood help you understand how the search for security keeps the orphan there. It is as if his constant search for his mother has led him here and this is his safe haven. He acts as a mentor and a friend to the students and the teachers alike and is a popular figure on the campus.
Written by #CheriyanKalpakavadi and boasting a huge star cast, the film dispenses with a story structure and yet remains a superhit of its times. It is funny and poignant, the life on campus mirrors many shades of life and this is almost like a cauldron where everything comes together in a controlled experiment. And yet things can go wrong. Just like in life.
Lal’s lady love during his younger days joins back the college as a widowed professor. Things are awkward briefly but the big brother to the world makes it all up easily. His childhood friend played by #Sreenath is battling mental issues. Sreenath’s sister (#Lizzy) is studying at the college. #JagathySreekumar plays the indulgent father who is also a playwright. #Adoorbhasi is delightful as the principal. #Innocent is making his mark on malayalam cinema with his portrayal as the physical training master in awe of P T Usha. #Seema and #Sukumaran are professors at the same college and like each other. The film also boasts #Sankarady, #ManiampillaRaju, #Jalaja and #GaneshKumar in various roles.
Acting honors go equally to #NedumudiVenu, who plays Siddhan Aashan, an alcoholic bohemian poet. In a brief role, he mesmerizes you and leaves an indelible impact on the film. Venu was an integral part of the new theater movement of the times and his love for poetry both classical and modern made him stand out with impactful performances at that time.
The film is shot in picturesque locations at Government Victoria college, Mercy college and Chittoor college in Palakkad. Music by #MGRadhakrishnan and lyrics by #KavalamNarayanaPanicker stand out. Watch out also for the small twist at the end and how the tide turns against the elder brother. It takes a minor slip or a misunderstanding to take life into a tailspin, but it is equanimity and innate honesty that puts you on a pedestal and gets you back there. #Sarvakalasala is a metaphor for the university of life ! Watch it on #YouTube.
