Pakal
Following the realistic portraits of Kerala life in Vaasthavam and Karutha Pakshikal few films are in the making that tell the stories of Kerala society with little frills. One of the prominent among them is `Pakal' directed by debutant director M.A.Nishaad, who has also the produced a few films like Oraal Maathram, Gaandhiyan, Dreams and Thillan Thillana, before.
The director who is also a political leader of a Kerala party tries to through light into the growing suicides among the farmer of the hilly areas of the state. Farmers in the Malabar area of Kerala are in the grip of a crisis that has been compounded by crop failure, low prices for their products, and the growing interests on bank loans and other borrowings .The film with Prithviraj in the lead is the story of a young and energetic TV reporter, who live up to his ideals and commitments to the society.
Nandakumar, a top ranker in the IAS selection process, gave up what would have been a brilliant career and chose to be the chief reporter of, Kerala Today TV channel, only due to his commitment to the society around him. He firmly believed that an ideal reporter must be a adamant crusader of downtrodden. . His news coverage and in-depth analysis made the most popular items on the channel and also made his organization more appealing to the masses .
Though suicide among farmers in the hill ranges of Kerala was on the rise, successive governments had done nothing to solve the problems that affected the farmers, apart from finding cheaper reasons for mass suicides. Nandakumar sets out for the hills along with his cameraman Abu .Their first point of acquaintance in the village of Panackamkkudy was with Joseph, a poor farmer who survives with his four daughters. Their all expectations was on the elder daughter Selina who was doing M.B.B.S. house surgeon. Slowly the media team becomes a part of the village, and their serialized investigative reports on Kerala Today, starts to cause many people in the government circles lose their sleep.
Nandakumar in his journey through the village find the atrocities and horrifying tales about the blade and fodder mafia that grips the villagers. His stories create such a revolution in the power circles that the media management even ask Nandakumar to stop reporting on the issue and to return to the city. But he turn down the request and continue there, with the support of Selina and other villagers, in the path to rescue the villages from the chaos that they are facing. Veteran actor Thilakan plays the role of 87-year old Kunjappan, one of the early settlers of the region, who has been demonstrating before the village office for the past 14 years seeking justice. Director Nishad tries to throw light on what is at the root of their problems, and in the process brings to light several alarming facts in his debut directorial venture The film has scripts by debutant Susmeth Chandroth who has been awarded many times for his short stories.
Pakal has Prithviraj in the lead role as Nandakumar, while Sudhish plays the role of Abu the cameraman. Jyothirmayi appears as Seline. The film has a big cast including T.G. Ravi, Ibrahim Vengara, Chaali Paala, Sreejachandran, Seema G. Nair, Swetha Menon, Mayaviswanaath and Seenath.Vipin Mohan wields the camera after a long time . The music department of the film is handled by Gireesh Puthancheery and M.G.Raadhakrishnan. The film which was shot in and around Thodupuzha is scheduled for release this December.