Mathilukal (film)


Mathilukal is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language feature film written, directed and produced by Adoor Gopalakrishnan based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. The film focusses on the prison life of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and the love between him and Narayany, a female inmate of the prison, who remains unseen throughout the film. Mammootty plays the role of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer while K. P. A. C. Lalitha gives voice to Narayani. The film was screened at the Venice Film Festival, it won four awards at the National Film Awards in 1990.
On the centenary of Indian cinema in April 2013, Forbes included Mammootty's performance in the film on its list, "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema".

Plot

Confined to the narrow space of a prison cell, Bashir falls in love with a woman in the neighbouring prison compound. They are separated by a high wall so that they never see each other and have to devise ingenious ways for communicating. Narayani, Bashir's love is presented as a female voice and never appears in person in the film.

Cast

The film has won the following awards since its release:
; 1989 Venice Film Festival
; 1989 National Film Awards
; 1990 Kerala State Film Awards
; 1990 Amiens International Film Festival
; 2002 Aubervilliers International Children's Film Festival