Angadi was a film which took the theaters across the state by storm and this dialogue bagged maximum applause though most of them had no idea what it really meant. As Malayalis observe 35th death anniversary of the hero Jayan, who mouthed the dialogue, November 16, the dialogue remains eternal.
He died six six months after the release of Angadi.
Achan’s heroes did what common men really wanted to do. Long winding dialogues were his trait. The character Babu in Angadi had a shade of Krishnettan who was our neighbor. He used to bring rice to our home on his head. A gentleman, with clean habits and sharp features, he was quite unassuming. Once while waiting outside a house to collect money, he overheard a woman talking to her husband. She was cautioning him to have an eye on people like Krishnettan as they may be ‘robbers’.
He gave a befitting reply in accented English, unbecoming of a laborer. Later, we came to know that Krishnettan was educated in London and had to undertake the menial jobs after his family business went broke. People received it well because it went well with the character and expressed the common man’s desire for dignity. Later, a long-winding Hindi dialogue was used later in Inspector Balram. Though he had apprehensions, it too was received well.
Malayalis always had a fascination towards English and this reflected in it. The dialogue is fresh in our memory.
What did you say? Beggars? Maybe we are poor...coolies...trolley pullers...but we are not beggars! You enjoy this status in life because of our sweat and blood! Let it be the last time...if you dare to say that word once more, I will pull out your bloody tongue”
(penned by T Damodaran)
Angadi, April 18, 1980
Deedi Damodaran
(T Damodarn’s daughter and script writer)