Varthamanam
Directed bySidhartha Siva
Written byAryadan Shoukath
Produced byBenzy Nazar
Aryadan Shoukath
StarringParvathy Thiruvothu
Roshan Mathew
Siddique
Edited byShameer Muhammed
Music byRamesh Narayan
Hesham Abdul Wahab
Production
company
Benzy productions
Release date
  • 12 March 2021 (2021-03-12)[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Varthamanam is an Indian Malayalam-language social drama film directed by Sidhartha Siva, stars Parvathy Thiruvothu, Roshan Mathew[2] and Siddique. The film is produced by Benzy Nazar and Aryadan Shoukath under Benzy productions, written by Aryadan Shoukath.[3]

Plot

Faiza Sufiya joins Delhi University as a research student who is researching on Abdurahiman Sahib, a freedom fighter from Malabar. She gets acquainted with Amal and other students with a sharp political stance. Her roommate was a student from one of the scheduled castes, Tulsa and she is the first one from her community to acquire higher studies. The activists and the anti-fascists of the university are protesting for the rights of Rohan, one of the students from scheduled caste. Faiza also becomes a part of it. The friends then jointly go for the wedding of Tulsa's brother.

The Fascists of the university begin to go against them after the seminar conducted by Faiza. However, the dynamics of campus life take new forms after the killing of her roommate's brother, for killing a cow. The entire students of the university led by Faiza and her friends except for the anti-fascists support and stand for Tulsa, who had returned home after the tragic incident in her family.

Following the humiliation and injustice faced by the backward communities and with the support from Pothuvaal, they decide to perform a skit supporting them and to make the other students realise those difficulties.

As the other members of the team cannot be attacked, Faiza becomes the target of the anti-fascists. They fabricate accusations on her to be an anti-nationalist. Due to the accusations she is declared to be an anti-nationalist world wide. Soon they are on the run to save Faiza from those false accusations. Although they tried their best, Faiza gets arrested by the Police. But it was not officially recorded.

Amal, Aadarsh and Pothuvaal along with Faiza's grandfather, who was also a freedom fighter together take efforts to find Faiza. Due to mass media effect, the Police had to reveal Faiza's arrest and she produced in the court. In the last minute for the skit, the anti-fascists get the skit members arrested, so that the skit won't take place. To the utter dismay of the anti-fascists, finally the skit is partially conducted by Amal and Aadarsh. The police and the anti-fascists stop them from completing it. At that exact time Faiza reaches the stage and completes the skit.

Cast

Production

After directing Sakhavu (2017), Sidhartha Siva announced Varthamanam with Parvathy Thiruvothu and Roshan Mathew in leading roles. Rafeeq Ahmed and Vishal Johnson wrote the lyrics while Ramesh Narayan and Hesham Abdul Wahab signed to compose the music. Cinematography was handled by Alagappan and editing was done by Shameer Muhammed. The story and screenplay is written by Aryadan Shoukath while background scores are done by Bijibal.[4]

The filming of Varthamanam started in March 2020 and the major portions of the film were shot in North India and regions of Mussoorie.[5]

Release and Controversy

The regional body of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Kerala has denied the permission of screening to the film without citing for any reason for rejection.[6][7] Later V. Sandeep Kumar, an official of the CBFC who is also a BJP leader said that "he denied clearance for the movie as the movie's screenwriter and producer is Aryadan Shoukath" - who is a Muslim - and he found the theme of the film was "anti-national".[8][9] Kerala state film academy chairman and director Kamal demanded the removal of Sandeep Kumar for his controversial remarks.[10]

The film received clearance after the revising committee approval.[11] The film had theatrical release on 12 March 2021.[12]

Reception

The film had positive responses from audience and critics. The Update Rated the film 3/5 and stated that "The Writer makes a bold attempt to expose the political and racism issues we had today and he almost succeed in that".[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Parvathy-starrer 'Varthamanam' to release in theatres on March 12". The News Minute. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "Roshan Mathew and Parvathy Thiruvothu in the new poster of 'Varthamanam' is brilliance in a frame! - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "The first look poster of 'Varthamanam' is here". Sify. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "'വര്‍ത്തമാന'വുമായി സിദ്ധാര്‍ഥ് ശിവയും പാര്‍വതിയും: ഫസ്റ്റ് ലുക്ക്". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Parvathy Thiruvoth collaborates with Sidhartha Siva for 'Varthamanam' - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Kerala censor board rejects Parvathy-starrer movie 'Varthamanam' on JNU agitation". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  7. ↑ Kannada, TV9 (1 January 2021). "JNU ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ಆಧರಿಸಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ ಸೆನ್ಸಾ ಮಂಡಳಿ ತಡೆ". TV9 Kannada (in Kannada). Retrieved 11 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Staff Reporter (29 December 2020). "Row over denial of certification to Malayalam film". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "Parvathy film Varthamanam, set in JNU, rejected by Kerala censor board". The Indian Express. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Kerala Film Body Head Calls for Dismissal of CBFC Member Who Called Film 'Anti-National'". The Wire. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "Parvathy-starrer 'Varthamanam' cleared by censors". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Mathews, Anna. "Varthamanam cleared by Censor Board revising committee - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "വർത്തമാനം റിവ്യൂ; വർത്തമാനത്തിലെ യാഥാർഥ്യങ്ങൾ". The Update. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
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