Arabikatha Malayalam Movie

Jul 10, 2007 By Unni Nair

Director Lal Jose comes up once again with a fresh and rather relevant film that everyone, especially those who delve into politics and those who depend on politics and politicians directly or indirectly - and that means all of us - should see. Arabikatha focuses on relevant issues, told interlaced with a plot that holds our interest.

Arabikatha, as the name may suggest, doesn't speak about life in the Arabian deserts or problems faced by expatriates there, though most of the film is shot in Dubai. Rather, it discusses - and that too in a satirical vein - the lives of people in our own Kerala. The film begins in a small village in Kerala named Chemmanur, where lives Mukundan, a young political idealist. Mukundan is known by all and sundry as 'Cuba' Mukundan since he always speaks extolling communism as practiced in China and Cuba.

His father 'Society' Gopalan had been one of the pioneers of communism in Chemmanur. And as such both father and son enjoy a special kind of patronage and popularity in the village. Anvar, who is a staunch supporter of communism and who is an extremist too at heart, is full of admiration and respect for Mukundan. There are many others too who have a place in their hearts for him.

There are others however, who are not so idealistic, and who are in politics only to further their own interests. Karunan is one such. He knows which side of his bread is buttered, and is forever protecting businessmen and industrialists like Kunjunni, with whom Mukundan has constantly been clashing. When Mukundan leads an agitation against Kunjunni's leather factory for causing environmental hazards, Kunjunni and Karunan try to win him to their side by offering money to the party. But Mukundan refuses to accept such help saying that they are fighting not for the party but for the people. He manages to get the factory closed down.

Kunjunni and Karunan now conspire against Mukundan. By that time 'Society' Gopalan is hospitalized following a cardiac arrest. Kunjunni and Mukundan manage to make out that Gopalan had swindled some money from the bank which is under control of the cooperative society that is headed by Gopalan and others. Mukundan, being a disciplinarian, gets ready to initiate moves against his father at the party level. But Gopalan passes away and Mukundan, who takes upon himself the responsibility of clearing the liability incurred by his father, announces his plan to take leave from the party.

Karunan, who had been behind all this, suggests that Mukundan should go to Dubai and earn money to clear the debt and at the same time study about the problems faced by Keralites working there. Here begins a new chapter in the life of 'Cuba' Mukundan.

Sreenivasan has delivered a mesmerizing performance as 'Cuba' Mukundan, in his characteristic style, while all others in the cast, like Nedumudi Venu as 'Society' Gopalan, Jagathy Sreekumar as Kunjunni, Indrajith as Anvar etc have rendered able support. Chinese actress Zhang Shumin, who plays a Chinese girl whom Mukundan meets and gets intimate with in Dubai, has done her part convincingly.

All others in the cast too have lent credibility to their respective roles. Jayasurya, Saadique, Augustine, Atlas Ramachandran, Suraaj Venjaramoodu, Salim Kumar, Samvritha Sunil, Narayanan Nair etc have played their respective parts quite commendably. It is to be mentioned that scenarist Dr. Iqbal Kuttipuram and director Lal Jose have managed to come up with characters with individuality and portrayed them realistically.

The satirical vein that is employed too deserves mention. The scene in which there is a mention about the economy of Cuba and China contrasted with the economic growth of Dubai, the scene where Mukundan gives vent to his revolutionary fervour by shouting the slogan "Inquilab Zindabad' all to himself inside the toilet in his work-site in Dubai, the scene where Mukundan is pictured as being unable to use a laptop computer or do any kind of job s