Pakal

Heart wrenching tale of how circumstances drive helpless farmers and their families to end their lives. Nandakumar (Prithviraj) is a reporter for a Kerala news channel assisted by cameraman Abu (Sudheesh). He covers a recent suicide by a farmer in Kerala. His editor decides to do a feature for which Nanda and Abu go to that village for a couple of months. There they meet a veteran Kunjappan (Thilakan) who has been fighting for justice against bank debt and money lenders for past 14 years. They also learn about Joseph (T.G.Ravi) and his family. Joseph is a poor farmer who has lost all his land to money lenders and bank and now all he is left is with a small piece of land and his house. His wife is no more and he lives with his four daughters. The eldest daughter, Merlin works in the city. Celine (Jyothirmayi), the second daughter is studying to be a doctor. The bank sends him a notice to seize his house. Meanwhile there is an evil moneylender who eyes the daughter in lieu of the loaned amount.

Learning of the bank notice and unable to arrange for the money, Merlin is forced towards prostitution but in a tragic twist she meets with an accident and is killed. Joseph unable to bear the grief also dies. Nanda meanwhile is trying his best to find a solution and also meets the collector of the region.

Celine after being advised by the father of the local church meets the bishop for help but to no avail. Finally she realizes that the solution lies not in begging for help but standing up and making things work. The villagers get together and get rid of the evil money lender and start small scale enterprise.

The movie is almost a documentary but that’s not the reason it sank without trace. It could have found critical acclaim but is too superficial and obvious while exploring the pathos in the lives of people. Its definitely not commercial.

Prithviraj, Jyothirmayi and T.G.Ravi have acted well for their parts and but I think the screenplay needed more research and a harder look at this social problem.

(Can Skip)