Odeyil Ninnu
Encyclopedia
Odayil Ninnu or Odeyil Ninnu is a 1965 Malayalam film directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan
based on the novel of the same name
written by P. Kesavadev. The film deals with the life and struggles of a rickshaw puller. It stars Sathyan
, Prem Nazir
, K. R. Vijaya
and Kaviyoor Ponnamma
in the lead roles with Master Dasarath playing the younger version of the protagonist.Suresh Gopi
, who was only six years old, appeared in a blink-and-you-miss-role as the feudal lord's timid son, who also becomes the root cause for the main protagonist running away from home.
The title of the film has been translated as From the Gutter. The film was a commercial success and also received critical acclaim for its raw energy and Sathyan's performance in the lead role. It received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards
. It was remade in Tamil as Babu (1971) with Sivaji Ganesan
playing the lead role.
He takes odd jobs but had to give them up as he cannot stand the iniquity meted out by his employers. Ultimately, he settles down as a rickshaw-puller. He takes care of a child from the gutter. That child became so arrogant and proud when she grew up. She did not even want Pappu's presence. Pappu became a patient due to hard work. The subsequent developments reveal him as an extremely affectionate human being, seeking pleasure in doing good to others and demanding nothing for himself. The film ends with the girl realising her mistakes.
K. S. Sethumadhavan
K. S. Sethumadhavan is an Indian director of Malayalam films. He has also directed films in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. Since the early 1960s he has directed over 60 movies...
based on the novel of the same name
Odayil Ninnu
Odayil Ninnu is a Malayalam novel written by P. Kesavadev in 1942. The protagonist of the novel is a rickshaw-puller named Pappu. The novel is one of the best known works of Kesavadev. Dev was in the forefront among the writers who employed new norms in the content and characterization in...
written by P. Kesavadev. The film deals with the life and struggles of a rickshaw puller. It stars Sathyan
Sathyaneshan Nadar
Manuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala State Film Award twice and is renowned for his acting skills...
, Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...
, K. R. Vijaya
K. R. Vijaya
K. R. Vijaya is a popular Indian actress who has starred in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She started her career in the 1960s. She has been acting for more than four decades now in South Indian cinema. K. R...
and Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Kaviyoor Ponnamma is a Malayalam film actress. She won the Kerala State Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1994.Ponnamma was born in Kaviyoor village, near Tiruvalla to a conservative upper-class family...
in the lead roles with Master Dasarath playing the younger version of the protagonist.Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...
, who was only six years old, appeared in a blink-and-you-miss-role as the feudal lord's timid son, who also becomes the root cause for the main protagonist running away from home.
The title of the film has been translated as From the Gutter. The film was a commercial success and also received critical acclaim for its raw energy and Sathyan's performance in the lead role. It received a certificate of merit at the National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
. It was remade in Tamil as Babu (1971) with Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...
playing the lead role.
Plot
Pappu is a relentless fighter for justice and equality from early childhood. He organises protest against his teacher who discriminates between the landlord's son and other children. The landlord is provoked to wrath, and Pappu is obliged to leave home. From now on, he has to lead a hard, tough life, fighting at every step to uphold his ideals.He takes odd jobs but had to give them up as he cannot stand the iniquity meted out by his employers. Ultimately, he settles down as a rickshaw-puller. He takes care of a child from the gutter. That child became so arrogant and proud when she grew up. She did not even want Pappu's presence. Pappu became a patient due to hard work. The subsequent developments reveal him as an extremely affectionate human being, seeking pleasure in doing good to others and demanding nothing for himself. The film ends with the girl realising her mistakes.
Cast
- SathyanSathyaneshan NadarManuel Sathyaneshan Nadar commonly known by his stage name Sathyan, was an Indian film actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema. He has won the Kerala State Film Award twice and is renowned for his acting skills...
as Pappu - Prem NazirPrem NazirAbdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...
as Gopi - K. R. VijayaK. R. VijayaK. R. Vijaya is a popular Indian actress who has starred in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She started her career in the 1960s. She has been acting for more than four decades now in South Indian cinema. K. R...
as Lakshmi - Kaviyoor PonnammaKaviyoor PonnammaKaviyoor Ponnamma is a Malayalam film actress. She won the Kerala State Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1994.Ponnamma was born in Kaviyoor village, near Tiruvalla to a conservative upper-class family...
- Adoor BhasiAdoor BhasiAdoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
- Adoor PankajamAdoor PankajamAdoor Pankajam was an Indian actress, in Malayalam movies. She hailed from Adoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state. Mainly, she was a supporting actress, and a comedian. Her sister Adoor Bhavani was also a Malayalam cinema actress....
- S. P. PillaiS. P. PillaiS. P. Pillai was an Indian film and stage actor, best known for his comic roles in Malayalam films.-Biography:S. P. Pillai was born in 1913 in Ettumanoor, Kottayam. His father Shankara Pillai, was a police constable. Pillai lost his parents at a young age itself...
- Thikkurissy Sukumaran NairThikkurissy Sukumaran NairThikkurissy Sukumaran Nair was a Malayali Indian poet, playwright, script writer, lyricist, orator, film director and actor, though he is best known as an actor in Malayalam cinema. He is the recipient of Padmashri from the Government of India, which is one of the highest civilian honours in India....
- Master Dasarath as Young Pappu
- Baby Padmini as Young Lakshmi
- Kalaikkal Kumaran
- Cheriya Udeswaram
- Kottayam Chellappan
External links
- Odayil Ninnu at the Malayalam Movie Database
- Suresh Gopi in Odayil Ninnu at the Old Malayalam Cinema Blog