Sreenivasan’s Vadakkunokkiyantram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala: Cinema beyond comedy

KOCHI: “Direction is something meant for those who know it well…” This is a famous dialogue by the character Pachalam Bhasi from the film 'Udayananu Tharam'. When Sreenivasan wrote this line for the character, one might feel it reflects his own thoughts. This is because Sreenivasan directed only two films in nearly four decades. However, a closer look at these films proves that such assumptions are wrong.

Sreenivasan made his directorial debut in 1989 with Vadakkunokkiyantram, followed by Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala in 1998. These are the only two films he directed, and both were superhits. They are considered fine examples of Sreenivasan’s creative brilliance.

Vadakkunokkiyantram won the Kerala State Award for Best Film. Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala received the National Award for Best Film on Social Issues and also won the Kerala State Award for Popular Film.

Dialogues with social relevance
The inner weaknesses of the human mind are a key feature of many Sreenivasan characters. Thalathil Dineshan in Vadakkunokkiyantram and Vijayan Mashu in Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala are no different. They represent the common man. In Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, the writer also gave strong importance to the female lead, which earned appreciation from the audience. Themes such as suspicion, withdrawal from family relationships and responsibilities, and excessive devotion were woven into the story, making them engaging entertainers.

Both films are rich with humorous and memorable dialogues that still make people laugh. The dialogues and scenes from these films continue to appear in conversations, social media posts, and trolls even today. However, what was shown in Vadakkunokkiyantram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala was not just comedy. The reality is that similar situations existed then and continue to exist in many families even now.