Nirmalyam (1973)

Interesting facts

• Awards: 2 · Nominations: 0. Including: National Film Award for Best Feature Film; Kerala State Film Award for Best Film

Nirmalyam is a 1973 Indian Malayalam-language film written and directed by M. T. Vasudevan Nair in his directorial debut. It stars P. J. Antony, Sumithra, and Ravi Menon. P. J. Antony won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1974 for his performance as a velichappadu in this movie. The film received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and Kerala State Film Award for Best Film in 1974. It is one of the classics in Malayalam cinema. The film was based on M. T. Vasudevan Nair's short story Pallivaalum Kaalchilambum.

Production

According to Nair, casting was done "against everyone else's suggestion". Veteran actor Sankaradi was recommended for role of Velichapad by several crew members, however, other members of the crew opposed the proposal saying that his physique wouldn't suit the role. Nair was looking for a man who looked "skinny and weak." Nair himself suggested P. J. Antony for the role and met him.

Ramachandra Babu had met M. T. Vasudevan Nair for the first time in 1970, while a student at the Poona Film Institute. He had been there as visiting Professor to take Screenplay classes. Following that, he met Nair twice in Madras. Prior to Nirmalayam, Babu had only done three films.

The film marked the debut of M. T. Vasudevan Nair as director and also, Sukumaran and Sumithra as actors. During his tenure teaching English at Scott Christian College in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, Sukumaran got an offer to act in the film. It marks the second film of Ravi Menon who acted earlier in a Hindi film. This film was a breakthrough in Ravi Menon's acting career. Ramachandra Babu, M.

The film's major shooting location was a small village near Edappal called Mukkola (Mukuthala). The film was produced by M. T. Vasudevan Nair under the banner of Novel Films. There were no lodges in the area to accommodate the crew members. Actor Sukumaran's uncle, Edappal Kuttan made arrangements in his relative's houses for Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Sumithra etc. to stay.

During filming the crew faced several challenges with power supply. Since, they did not have generators for power supply, they had to depend on KSEB. For power they needed Temporary 3 phase connections with separate meters in all locations where power is needed. However, they only needed power in two locations only, the Temple and velichappad's house which happened to be near the temple.

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