There is a Zen story. The prince had come to see the painter. Then the painter was drawing a single path. At the end, the princess wants to know where this single track leads, praising the beauty of the film. Silently, the painter set off on a journey with the prince, the journey was on that single track that stretched deep into the forest. But no one ever saw the painter and the prince who had gone on a journey. That path that extended into the forest was probably too beautiful to not turn back.
Some books and movies are like that. When we put it back after reading, or when we get up after watching it, we see the people who were in the story join us. They may become a part of our lives and some characters may even dominate our thoughts. There are many people who created such characters in Malayalam cinema. KG George is one of them.
A time when Malayalam cinema became more popular. With some classic shots, living stories and memorable characters, a person named KG George brought up the story of the film. This is the 40th time that Yavanika, the most popular of his films, has hit the silver screen and captures the one-step account told in the Senn Katha so beautifully. Over four decades on, this film remains a classic that is loved by movie buffs.
The story revolves around a theater troupe owned by Thilakan’s character named Vakkachan. The film clashes with the social system. A realistic film like Yavanika is coming out in an era when art films and commercial films were two. All the films of KG George had this character. The stories touched the common man. These films were also commercially successful. Not only Yavanika but Adam’s rib, Kolam, Lekha’s death in a flash back, Samdhi, Kakadal, Mela, Panchavadipalam, Iralam, Katha Naya, Anotheryam, which came out as KG George’s, and many other films left a deep mark on the minds of the audience.
The film revolves around a tabla player named Ayyappan. The story of the film is about his disappearance and the subsequent investigation. Through the character of Bharat Gopi named Ayyappan, KG George accurately portrays the patriarchy that existed in the society of that time. The strong female character Jalaja played by Rohini also became the strength of Yavanika. Mammootty’s character Jacob Erali, who comes as an investigator, also had an unaccustomed approach to Malayalam cinema. Venunagavalli, who came in as Joseph Kollappally, will remain so in the minds of the audience even after the end of the film. KG George himself has said that he felt his film had some similarities with Orson Wallace’s 1941 film Citizen Kane.
Yavanika shared the best film award in the state with Bharathan’s ‘Marmaram’. The film won the second best actor award in the state for Thilakan’s role as Vakkachan, the best supporting actor award for Mammootty’s role as Jacob Eirali and the best screenplay award. In 1982, Yavanika stood out from the 117 films released that year.
Most of George’s films spanning from Swapnatanam in 1976 to Elavankot Desam in 1998 are milestones in the history of Malayalam cinema. KG George’s films stand tall in this era where the boundaries between art films and commercial films are blurring. Time and again he has been hailed as the real master of Malayalam in the new era where realistic cinema is being celebrated. The story of the green men, their experiences, their helplessness, the wrongs and the right they go through will always have an audience, not just now.