Piravi - 1988
(The Birth)

Shaji's directorial debut, Piravi was acclaimed nationally and internationally. This visually engrossing film is based on the real life incident of disappearance of an engineering college student, allegedly a Naxalite sympathiser.

Raghu, the only son of Raghava Chakyar was born late for him. So he poured his entire love and affection on him. Raghu, studying in an engineering college in a far away city has to arrive at his home to attend the engagement ceremony of his only sister. But he doesn't. The father starts his endless wait for his son. He daily waits at the bus stop till the last bus from the town also returns. Raghava Chakyar comes to know from newspapers that Raghu was taken into custody by the Police for political reasons. He reaches the capital and meets the higher Police officials. But they pretended helpless as there is no proof that Raghu was taken into custody. Raghu's sister comes to understand that he probably would have died in police custody after being tortured, but cannot bear to tell this to her father. The old man's grip on reality slowly slips and he starts dreaming that his son is with him.

Rain is an important character in Piravi. Rainy day times and wet evenings, which fills the entire film, sets the sad mood of the film. The river in the village and the boat and the boatman too become important characters in the film. The only one who understands the pain of the father is the boatman, who tries to console him. The boat takes the father from the shore of hope to the other shore of pain, the reality.

Piravi won about 12 international awards including the Camera-d'Or at the Cannes film festival, award for the second best film at the Chicago film festival, Silver Leopard grand jury award at the Lacorno film festival and Charlie Chaplin award at the Edinburgh festival. It also won the National film award for best film and Permji won the National film award for best acting for his role as the father in Piravi.

Direction & Co-Screenplay: Shaji N Karun
Co-Screenplay: S Jayachandran Nair, Raghunath Paleri
Cast: Premji, Archana, Lakshmiamma, C V Sreeraman
Cinematography: Sunny Joseph
Music: G Aravindan, Mohan Sitara

Other films by Shaji N Karun:

| Swaham | Vaanaprastham | Nishad |

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