Kaiyoppu

Cast: Mammootty, Khushbu, Mukesh, Nedumudi Venu, Mammukoya, Narayanan Nair, Jaffer, Neena Kurup, Ayisha
Language: Malayalam
Director: Ranjith
Producer: Ranjith
Camera: Manoj Pillai
Story: Ranjith
Screenplay: Ranjith
Dialogue: Ranjith
Lyrics: Shibu Chakravorthy
Music: Vidyasagar
Year: 2007

Kaiyoppu, meaning Signature is a marked departure from the typical Ranjith style of filmmaking. With the maker's signature all over, the film definitely engages and disturbs you with its strong but simplest narrative. Here the writer-director who has been the main theoretician of superhuman images for superstars in Malayalam cinema attracts us towards a man, one who can largely be considered a failure and never usually becomes the subject of commercial cinema.

The film's story described in one line is simply that of a talented writer fighting writer's block. It tells the story of Balachandran, who works as an accountant in a fertilizer company in Kochi and lives immersed in the world of books. He attracts everyone with his pleasant manners and sincere talkativeness. His room in the lodge is a treasure of world literature, where you could find even the rare copies of out of print books. As far as literature is concerned, he is an encyclopedia and the passion that he has for books and reading amazes almost everyone. Books which are his only friends have a great influence on him which forces him to scribble something occasionally. Still unmarried, he has been living alone for years in this run-down lodge.

Once at a public function, C.P. Vasudevan a noted writer mentions about an unfinished novel of Balachandran that had impressed him much. Sivadasan, the owner of Kilipattu books, a small time publisher and a lover of genuine literature who happened to hear the words of Vasudevan, finds it a better chance for him to publish this novel and thereby clear off his debts that incurred with his earlier publications. He follows Balachandran to his room and urges him to finish the book, hoping that he gets the publishing rights. Balachandran agrees and tries to make a beginning. But things don't move the way he wants to as is caught in the stifling grip of what is called a writer's block. His mind becomes as blank as the paper before him which prevents him to write even a single word.

At the same time Balachandran also regain one of his long lost friend Padma who was his classmate in college and a fan of his too. She, now divorced from her husband comes to stay in Kozhikode to forget her family strains. Padma gets Balachandran's number and calls him. The entry of Padma into Balachandran's life marks the beginning of a new chapter in Balachandran's life. Even though they communicate only through phone. These circumstances give enough vigor for Balachandran to finish his novel. And the plot follows events and incidents that make the story wholesome where the seemingly peripheral characters take centre stage in unexpected ways. The very touching and disturbing climax, even though deviates much from the main track, remains in our minds for a long time.

The sensitive approach of the director makes way to the characters which are built worthwhile. The way Ranjith has presented Balachandran and the world around him is just awesome! Mammootty as the introverted struggling author Balachandran is very impressive. The peppy dialogues keeps us engaged over the snailish pace in which story unfolds. Mukesh comes out with a brilliant performance. But Khushbu as Padma steals the show and she has done it with a bang. Narayanan Nair as Balachandran's estate-manager, Nedumudi Venu as C.P. Vasudevan and Jaffer as Babu who looks after things in the lodge, Mamukoya etc have done their respective roles very commendably.

The other highlights of Kaiyoppu are Cinematography by Manoj Pillai, editing by Bina Paul and art-direction by Sabu Ram. Manikanth and Vidyasagar has done the rerecording with energy and definitely heightens the tempo of the dramatic moments in the film. Ranjith has also included the immortal Hindi song "Jalte hein jiske liye (composed by S.D. Burman), this time rendered by Manjari which is blended very well with the situation in Kaiyoppu.

It is also to Ranjith's credit that he made a film which initially looks intensely personal in the first half but grows to universal lines as it goes on. It is definitely not to be missed by those who love good cinema.

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