Pularum Iniyum Naalegal

February 5, 2017 by Usha Pisharody 4 Comments

പുലരും ഇനിയും നാളെകൾ , a film by Shilpa Krishnan Shukla, that was screened at the 12th International Film Festival of Thrissur. Thrissur being Shilpa’s and quite a few of the main members’ home town as well 🙂

There is always tomorrow, would be a rough translation, according to the film, by this name, Shilpa Krishnan Shukla’s film. Shilpa has featured on this blog here (LINK)

Disclaimer: This is what I call a Non review 🙂 The note next to the blog on the right side with tell you there are only non-reviews here 🙂 So is this, of this charming film, just over an hour long, written, directed and produced by Shilpa.

The film is set in Abu Dhabi, the events of a day, in the accidental meeting of long lost friends, Antony and Durga, who decide to spend a day together, with Durga self appointed as a guide to show Antony the city, while catching up on the intervening 8 years since they last met, and in the process talking of their fears, their dreams, their changing identities.

They meet, Antony and Durga, at the coffee shop of the hotel where he is, or rather he recognizes her voice as she speaks on her cellphone, turns to see her, and slowly recognition dawns on her face too. That moment unfolded so beautifully, hauntingly, almost. I loved how the camera tenderly dealt with that moment, and the actors lent such a tangible feeling to the emotion welling up in them. Awkward, happy, relieved, guilty… all of these.

They get to talking, till Antony finally asks if he could ask her a frank question. She replies in the affirmative, saying she knows what it was going to be. Why she did not turn up, those 8 years ago as he waited at the railway station for her, to elope, as their parents were against their plans to marry. The reasons she gives may not be palatable to all, but there is that assurance, the certain ring of honesty in her words, a self deprecating evaluation of herself, the notions she carries, they carry.

They’ve moved on, both of them, into marriages they are happy in, each of them parent to a child too. Fantastical? Unreal? But then fiction is easy to believe, while reality is far more fictional sometimes right? So with this. The witty repartee, most often, bringing smiles to our faces, carries on through the film. A day long conversation between one time best friends, amiable, sharing of themselves, their wishes, their spouses, their children, where they seemed to be moving.

Antony is settled in Australia, in Sydney ( I loved that 😛 ) and Durga is in Muscat, having come to Abu Dhabi for a marraige. Serendipity that they should meet. Talk, and then at the end of the day… At the end of that lovely day, they have to part again, right? I’ll let you find out, when you watch 🙂

What struck me was how it reminded me of Before Sunset (part 2 of the trilogy ), the day long walk, drive, talking between the friends, nine years after they met. Of course, this one isn’t like that, but I was delighted to be reminded of that movie. There is, as I was telling a friend, a Linklateresque feel to it (yep!coined the word 😛 ). The music, how it began at just that apt moment in the conversation. The camera work, how it loved the passing scenery, the actors faces, the editing (errr… what little I know of the techniques, I’m trying to put down like I know everything 😀 ), and yes, the acting, the acting – quite quite , not acting. Balaraman Kunduvara and Gayathri Gopal have been wonderful.

Shilpa’s writing could never be faulted, all those 1000 days of Chronicling, I’ve never read anything that sounded off. And so too the scripting, a mixture of Malayalam and English, with subtitling that was so easy on the eye and did not take anything away from the screen, but added to it 🙂

Pularum Iniyum Naalegal has been part of different Film Festivals, all over, and brought in critical acclaim and awards too. I hope I shall be excused for not researching enough to tell you which ones, and I do hope Shilpa will fill us in, in the comments section 🙂

My generation might find “messages” in it, about how young people in love ought to be, but I think even that was handled in a sensitive yet practical manner. Something for everyone, and yet the story takes a stand. Well, you got to watch to understand. No spoilers here 🙂

The best part? How a gang of us teachers and former students, Shilpa’s batch, from Bhavan’s Poochatty, turned up to watch 🙂 Such a proud proud moment for us!

Did I say? I loved it. I shall definitely be watching it again 🙂

Mandatory Pic with the Star, for us, Shilpa 🙂

Shilpa, take a bow! We are wowed. Yet again! Waiting for the next one now 🙂

Edited to add: Here is the list of awards and screenings that Pularum Iniyum Naalegal has had 🙂 Research done 😛

http://shilpakrishnanshukla.com/latest-film-festival-news-for-pularum-iniyum-naalekal/

4 February, 2017