| Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Vinayan |
| Screenplay by | J. Pallassery |
| Story by | Vinayan |
| Produced by | Kabeer Latheef Vindhyan |
| Starring | Kalabhavan Mani Kaveri Praveena Sai Kumar |
| Cinematography | Alagappan N. |
| Edited by | G. Murali |
| Music by | Mohan Sithara |
Production company | Thriveni Productions |
| Distributed by | Sargam Speed Release |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Budget | ₹45 lakhs[1] |
| Box office | ₹3.85 crores[1] |
Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum (transl. Vasanthi, Lakshmi, and me) is a 1999 IndianMalayalam-languagedrama film directed byVinayan, based on a screenplay byJ. Pallassery. The film featuresKalabhavan Mani,Kaveri,Praveena andSai Kumar in the lead roles.[2] The film centers around Ramu, a blind poet and singer whose singing supports his family. HIs family's happiness dissipates after he gets cheated by a rich businessman-turned-politician.[3] The film is reported to be inspired fromDosti (1964).[4]
The film was a commercial success and ran for more than 150 days in theatres.[5] It won twoNational Film Awards, theBest Male Playback Singer forM. G. Sreekumar and theSpecial Jury Award forKalabhavan Mani and Mani also received theSpecial Jury Award at theKerala State Film Awards for his performance in the film. The film also won twoAsianet Film Awards:Best Actor for Kalabhavan Mani andBest Supporting Actress for Praveena.[6] The film was remade toTamil asKasi, inTelugu asSeenu Vasanthi Lakshmi and in Kannada asNamma Preethiya Ramu.[7]
Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum is a tale about the deception of appearances. Ramu is a blind poet and singer who supports his family by his songs. He has an older brother Meghanadhan, who is a drunkard; an abusive, crippled father; and a younger sister Vasanthi. When the local landlord Thomas Chacko returns to the district, he brings along with him Dinesh, the CM's son and his wife Radhika. Thomas Chacko has a reputation as a God in the area because of his charitable works, and when a specialist eye doctor arrives, he promises to pay the fees for an operation to give back Ramu's vision. Elated by this news, Ramu learns that he has to find an eye donor. His lover Lakshmi, who cannot speak, offers one of her eyes. Unfortunately, it is revealed that the 'God-like' Thomas Chacko is not what he seems to be. Blissfully unaware of the sadness of those around him, Ramu looks forward to his surgery. On the day of her wedding, Vasanthi is found dead and it is revealed that she committed suicide because of Thomas. When Thomas comes to attend the funeral, Ramu explains to Thomas of what he did as he kills Thomas by choking him.
| Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 1999 |
| Recorded | Sargam Speed Audios |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Label | Sargam |
| Producer | Thriveni Productions |
The soundtrack consists of a total of 10 songs. Thefilm score and all the songs were composed byMohan Sithara, with lyrics fromYusef Ali Kecheri. It was released on 20 May 1999 as an album on the Sargam Speed Audios label. The songAalilakkanna Ninte Muralika is picturized on Kalabhavan Mani. The songAalilakkanna Ninte Muralika is set in theSindhu Bhairavi raga, while the songKannuneerinum Chirikkanariyam is set in theYamunakalyani raga.[8]M. G. Sreekumar got theNational Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer the second time for the songChanthupottum Chankelassum for a heartwarming rendition of the song. All the film's songs were chartbusters and stayed in the charts for several months following its release. The film is known for revitalizing the folk music genre in Malayalam cinema.[9] The rights of the cassette were sold for ₹30 lakhs.[10]
| Song | Singer(s) | Raga(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Aalilakkanna Ninte Muralika" | K. J. Yesudas | Sindhu Bhairavi |
| "Prakrutheeshwari" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| "Thenanu Nin Swaram" | K. S. Chithra | |
| "Chanthupottum Chankelassum" | M. G. Sreekumar | |
| "Kattile Maninte Tholukondundakki" | Kalabhavan Mani | |
| "Thengapoolum Kokkilothukki" | K. J. Yesudas,Sujatha Mohan | |
| "Thengapoolum Kokkilothukki" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| "Kannuneerinum Chirikkanariyam" | K. J. Yesudas | Yamunakalyani |
| "Thenanu Nin Swaram" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| "Aalilakkanna Ninte Muralika" | K. S. Chithra | Sindhu Bhairavi |
The film received mostly positive reviews from critics. Noted directorHariharan, after watching the film in a theatre inKozhikode called Vinayan and appreciated him for his work in the film.[11]The Times of India praised Kalabhavan Mani's performance writing:" Ramu fromVasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njanum is undeniably one of the most challenging roles in Kalabhavan Mani's acting career. We have seen many actors playing the role of visually challenged individuals on screen, but Kalabhavan Mani's character Ramu stands out. Be it the way he controlled his eye movements or his acting chops especially in the intense emotional scenes, Kalabhavan Mani made the audience fall for him. The actor managed to ace the role with sheer determination and perfection." Kalabhavan Mani also won the Special Jury Award at the National Film Awards for a sensitive and realistic portrayal of a blind man complete with his behavioral and gestural distortions as he copes with difficulties in making life meaningful.[12]Sify writes, praising Vinayan's direction: "Vinayan began with a theme that has been common in the Malayalam films of 60's and an unbelievable story line. But he could present it in a touching way that even the most iron-hearted could not help burst into tears. The full credit goes to Vinayan from preventing the story turning into a melodrama."[13]
Expectations forVasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum was low. The film opened to near-empty halls and by the end of the first week, all theaters were houseful for every show. It had an extraordinary run, running for more than 100 days in many centers. The film was a commercial success. The film was made on a budget of₹45 lakhs and grossed around₹3.5 crores at the box office.[1]
Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum was remade in Tamil asKasi (2001),[14] in Kannada asNamma Preethiya Ramu (2003)[15] and in Telugu asSeenu Vasanthi Lakshmi (2004).[16]