Not all matches are made in heaven. For many, marriage is a world of turbulence where egos clash, values contradict and priorities are at odds. It’s the changing dynamics of matrimony that forms the backdrop of Salim Ahammed’s ‘Kunjanandante Kada’, a film which zooms into the life of an emotionally separated couple. “We live in a world of fast-paced divorces. Wedlock turning dysfunctional and the stability of marriage going for a toss is a common sight,” says Salim Ahammed about the theme of his second directorial outing.
The lead characters, Kunjanandan and his wife, have different attitudes and outlooks and when they start living under one roof it turns out to be a house of never-ending dissonance. Salim says his film is inspired by the escalating divorce rates in Kerala. ‘Kunjanandante Kada’ also breaks the myth that rural regions are almost immune to this phenomenon. “This is one area where there is no class difference, it’s no more something that happens among the urban affluent.” Salim, who bagged the national award for his debut film ‘Adaminte Makan Abu’, says while his first film is an intimate and personal account, ‘Kunjanandante Kada’ has an issue-based storyline. “It deals with the problem of a whole society.”
Mammootty plays the title character, a grocery store owner. The only thing he is emotionally attached to is his shop, and there is an air of insensitivity when he interacts with everything else including his family. “He is a man married to his trade who lives a drab and uneventful life. The shop belonged to his father and for him running the shop is the sole purpose of his existence,” says the director.
Debutant Nyla Usha plays the female lead as Kunjanandan’s wife Chithira, an employee of the Cooperative Bank. Her marriage might have hit the rocks, but Chithira is not the weepy wife you expect her to be. “She is disillusioned, but she doesn’t compromise with her destiny,” says Salim.
The film has an interesting cast and the director says he couldn’t imagine any other actor playing the lead. “I zeroed in on Salim Kumar after a long and tenacious search, but Mammootty was the first and final choice for Kunjanandan. I wanted him from the very beginning,” he adds.
Siddique and Balachandra Menon appear in key roles while a group of theatre artists including Yavanika Gopalakrishan are also part of the cast.
The film, canned in and around Palakkad, has its camera cranked by Madhu Ambatt. Another highlight of the film, which uses sync sound, is the presence of Resul Pookutty as sound designer. ‘Kunjanandante Kada’ is expected to reach theatres soon.
