Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu

Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu (transl. Gazing as far as the eye can see) is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Fazil, and starring Padmini, Nadhiya Moidu and Mohanlal. The film features original songs composed by Jerry Amaldev and background score by Johnson. Nadhiya made her Malayalam and acting debut through this film. The film also marked the comeback of Padmini after a hiatus. Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu was the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year at the box office and ran for more than 200 days in theatres. It won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value. Nadhiya won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam. The film was remade in Tamil titled Poove Poochooda Vaa (1985) by Fazil himself, in Telugu as Muddula Manavaraalu (1986) by Jandhyala^[1] and in Hindi as Paayal (1992).

Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
Poster
Directed by	Fazil
Written by	Fazil
Produced by	Ousepachan Valakuzhy
Starring	Padmini Nadhiya Moidu Mohanlal
Cinematography	Ashok Kumar
Edited by	T. R. Sekhar
Music by	Jerry Amaldev Johnson (Score)
Production company	Bodhichitra Films
Distributed by	Dinny Films
Release date	1 February 1984 (1984-02-01)
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Plot

Kunjoonjamma Thomas is a widow living in the village all by herself. People always make fun of her because she is grumpy and depressed due to the deaths of her husband and her only child. Children irritate her by ringing her door bell and running away. One day, her granddaughter Girly, who she had never met, visits her. Initially, Kunjoonjamma does not like Girly, but they soon become close to each other. Kunjoonjamma takes down the door bell, saying to Girly that its only purpose was for Girly's return. Now that Girly is with her, she does not need it.

Kunjoonjamma's neighbor, Sreekumar, falls in love with Girly. One day, Sreekumar's friend, Alexi, comes to his house and sees Girly. He identifies her as a girl missing from Delhi, and immediately informs her father about her whereabouts.

Girly had run away from Delhi because she had brain tumor and does not have much time to live. She wanted to enjoy the rest of her life. When her father comes to take her back to Delhi for an urgent operation, she refuses to go, claiming that even the doctors are not sure whether the operation will be successful. initially, the reason Girly had been separated from her grandmother aligned with her mother wanting to distance herself from her grandmother, following her mother's death after the pair left for abroad, girly's grandmother blames her father, thinking he is the cause of her daughter's death, they end up rekindling due to girly, and finally towards the climax, Her grandmother mixes sleeping pills in soup and gives it to Girly, and her father takes her to Delhi while she is unconscious.

with sreekumar finding a picture of himself in girly's room while packing her things for Delhi, and realizes she must have reciprocated his feelings for her

The movie ends with an ending open to interpretation, the ambulance slowly fading away into the darkness. Sreekumar watches it leave,with sadness and hope, and when he turns away he sees Kunjoonjamma refixing the door bell with the hope that Girly will return one day.

Cast

• Padmini as Kunjoonjamma Thomas, Girly's grandmother
• Nadhiya Moidu as Girly Mathews
• Mohanlal as Sreekumar
• K. P. Ummer as Mathews, Girly's father
• Nedumudi Venu as the priest
• Thilakan as Alexander, a school headmaster staying in the neighborhood
• Maniyanpilla Raju as Abdu, Sreekumar's friend
• Sukumari as Sreekumar's mother
• Usha as Child Artist, In Song Lathiri Poothiri Punchiri
• Master Sam as Jacob Alexander
• Master Asif as Unni Alexander
• Master Cherian as Jo Alexander
• Fazil as Alexi (Cameo appearance)
• Ragini as Manikutty (Girly's mother) (photo)

Production

Some portions of the film was shot at the Udaya Studios in Alappuzha, such as the dance sequences of the song "Lathiri Poothiri Punthiri Cheppo" and a Christmas scene. During that scene, Nadhiya Moidu's hand was burnt with a sparkler from a fellow dancer, which left a scar on her hand since then.^[2] Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu was the debut film of Nadhiya Moidu and the comeback film of Padmini onscreen. It is also the acting debut and the only film appearance of Fazil as of 2017, who did a minor role until 2019 film Lucifer.^[3] Nadhiya Moidu's voice was dubbed by Bhagyalakshmi in the film.^[4] This film marked the film debut of director duo Siddique-Lal, who worked as assistant directors to Fazil.^[5][6]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Jerry Amaldev and lyrics was written by Bichu Thirumala. The songs sung by K. S. Chithra in the film gave her first break in her career.^[7]

No.	Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length
1	"Aaraadhana Nisha Sangeethamela"	K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra, Chorus	Bichu Thirumala
2	"Aayiram Kannumaay"	K. S. Chithra, Chorus	Bichu Thirumala
3	"Aayiram Kannumaay"	K. J. Yesudas, Chorus	Bichu Thirumala
4	"Aayiram Kannumaay [Pathos]"	K. J. Yesudas	Bichu Thirumala
5	"Kiliye Kiliye"	K. S. Chithra, Chorus	Bichu Thirumala

Reception

The film was the second highest grossing Malayalam film of the year and was the longest running Malayalam film of the year, running for 175 days in theatres.^[2] The performances of Mohanlal, Nadhiya, and Padmini were critically acclaimed.

Awards

Kerala State Film Awards

• Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value - Bodhichitra (Ouseppachan, Khayas, Kurian) and Fazil^[2][8]
• Best Female Singer - K. S Chithra

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam - Nadhiya Moidu

Remakes

A Tamil remake was made by Fazil himself as Poove Poochooda Vaa, in which Nadhiya Moidu and Padmini reprise their roles. Mohanlal's role was done by S. V. Shekhar. The film was a commercial success.^[9] It was also remade in Telugu as Muddula Manavaraalu (1986), directed by Jandhyala.^[10]

Sequel

Fazil once planned to make a sequel for the film, which did not materialise.^[3] He had a plot of Girly after the operation and Sreekumar searching for her. He said in an interview with Vanitha.