Mankolangal - 2000
(Guardians of the Earth)
Subrahmanyam Shantakumar's debut film Mankolangal meanders into the world of the Kumbhars, the potter community of Kerala.
Alagiri is sort of a maverick among the potters. The story begins when Alagiri brings home a young girl Sita as his new wife. There had been many women who had stayed with him, but none had stayed for long. Sita, who has already suffered much, reconciles herself to her new life with Alagiri. But still her past haunts her.
In the neighbourhood, live Kumaran and his wife Maalu with their daughter Mallika. Kumaran, a drunkard and his family has got nothing out of their family profession, i.e., pottery, except poverty and debts. The story of Kumaran and his family is told on a parallel track with that of Alagiri. In the meantime Sita is thrashed and thrown out of the house by Alagiri on a rather trivial matter. Alagiri brings in another girl, Vishaalam, whom too he later drives away.
Mankolangal won Subrahmanyam Shantakumar the State award for best debut director.
Direction: Subrahmanyam Shantakumar
Screenplay: Viju Verma, Manikantan
Cast: Manikantan, Beena Antony, Seema G Nair, Baby Seena
Cinematography: Praveen Panicker
Editing: B Ajith Kumar
Music: Madhu Dev
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