Chalakkudikkaran Changathi

Written and directed by Vinayan, Chalakudikkaran Changathi is Vinayan's heartfelt tribute to Kalabhavan Mani, an artiste and human being he loved and admired. This makes the film quite different from the rest of Vinayan's films. Two years since Mani's unexpected demise, Vinayan ventures to keep alive the memories of this sweetheart of Chalakudy. Without much mudslinging, blaming or shaming, he also attempts at answering the many mysteries surrounding Mani's death, as his life was but an open book to those of Chalakudy.

For a Vinayan movie, the film is tastefully subtle. With a unique nasal voice, and Thrissur slang, Rajamani looks, sounds and even laughs like Kalabhavan Mani by no accident. Rajamani's craft is evident from the very first frame he appears in. And he consistently stays in character for the length of the film. 

Dharmajan Bolgatty and Vishnu, both strong performers, support Rajamani's characters as friends and sidekicks of the protagonist. Salim Kumar, who plays Rajamani's often inebriated father Ramappan, offers comic relief. Kottayam Nazeer and Kochu Preman further add laughs to the narrative.

Chalakudikkaran Changathi doesn't emphasise much on music but Bijibal's background score keeps it true to the subject. Mani's folk songs are used in abundance and with class. 

The film concentrates on all the pivotal incidents in Kalabhavan Mani's life, right from his entry into Kalasadan (a mimicry troupe run by a priest), to his entry into cinema as an autorickshaw driver, and his tryst with the state and national awards. From there the film goes on to chronicle the life of a simpleton like Mani in a cut-throat and unsympathetic film industry riddled by lobbies. However, the film only manages to do a superficial survey there. It hurries through the actual "rise to stardom" and lends more screen space to the "fall". 

Vinayan also tries to make a ethical and political statement through Chalakudikkaran Changathi. He takes a stand against discrimination based on caste and colour. When it is often shown that Mani is ridiculed and looked down upon for his colour, the filmmaker promptly casts all his women fair. Except Mani's mother, not one of the female cast is even wheatish or dusky. 

However, the film also incorporates a few inappropriately crass and sexist jokes that add no value to the narrative. Not so subtly, Vinayan makes a statement on the association mafias that reign Malayalam film industry. All his antagonists are recognisable from the stand Vinayan has publicly taken against the individuals whom he bases his characters on.

Through Chalakudikkaran Changathi Vinayan has exercised his voice to tell the world his side of the story, but without much context. So unless you have been living under a rock, and didn't know about the various bans that associations have stamped on various artistes, you might feel a little lost.

Overall, it is Vinayan's finest film and a heartfelt tribute to the artiste who was most definitely a compatriot to every Chalakkudikkaran.