Rathinirvedam again; a good 32 years later!
Rathinirvedam is still remembered as a film that set new standards in film making. Released in 1978, this coming-of-age film directed by Bharathan and wriiten by Padmarajan, was one of the boldest films in Malayalam till then. The film that told the story of a teenager who falls in love with an older woman, starred Jayabharathi and Krishnachandran in the lead roles.
Thirty two years later, T K Rajeev Kumar has remade the film, much to the surprise of many. Produced by Suresh Kumar under the banner of Revathy Kalamandir, the new ‘Rathinirvedam’ has Shwetha Menon essaying the role of Rathi chechi, while Sreejith plays the role of Pappu, the young boy who is enamored by her.
Skeptics wonder if the story of a teenage obsession still has a relevance in an age and time as this. They point out that the year is 2011, and that perhaps there aren’t teenagers like Pappu any more, and neither a Rathi chechi around.
Whether the story sill remains significant is another matter altogether, since the film has already been the cynosure of all eyes for a while now. Shwetha Menon is perhaps the only ideal substitute for the seductive Jayabharthi in the original, and from what we have seen till now from the stills of the remake, Shwetha seems right on track. The film is all set for a June release.
Tags: Bharathan, Jayabharathi, Padmarajan, Rathinirvedam, Shweta Menon, Sreejith, T K Rajeev Kumar
