KOCHI: The lead character of 'Thoovanathumbikal' played by Mohanlal is based on Padmanabhan's acquaintance with Irayath Unni Menon P Padmarajan's 'Thoovanathumbikal' enjoys an unparalleled fandom among the Malayali movie-going romantics. The lead character of the movie, Mannarathodi Jayakrishnan played by Mohanlal, has been etched on the minds of the public for his humour, eccentricities and devotion to love.
Many will not know that Padmarajan based his character on a person he knew closely - a man who lead a double life of a country farmer and an urban libertine, Irayath Unni Menon. 'Gaganachaari Pakshikal,' a new book by journalist K Sajimon, traces the many aspects of this versatile personality.
Sajimon first met Unni Menon for a feature he was doing on the latter for his magazine. "He liked the article, especially the few lines that came towards the end and appreciated me for those. Incidentally, Green Books (publishers of the book) was planning a book on him and they requested me to do it," says the author about the beginning of his project. As a writer who had closely associated with screenplay writing in films and an ardent fan of Padmarajan, he was also thrilled to meet and write about a person whom the legendary filmmaker has based his story on.
Many things about Unni Menon increased the author's awe for the person. "People might think that he did all the things he did because he was from a traditionally well off family. I found out that was wrong. Unni is a man who is deeply interested in literature and someone who could quote long paragraphs from great literary works. His close coterie of friends included such legends as Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, M T Vasudevan Nair and VKN. He has collected and compiled all the letters he wrote and received till date. His letters are works of literature in themselves," says Sajimon. The author was also moved by the love that Unni shares with his wife, Usha, after many years of marriage and the unfortunate deaths of their two sons.
As for the title of the book, the author says that it refers to migrant birds who travel long distances and stay in a community for a short while, only to fly off later.