It was in 1978 that Rathi chechi appeared on the Malayalam screen in Rathinirvedam to seduce Pappu, a teenager. In the process, she seduced an entire generation in Kerala.
Some 33 years later, T K Rajeev Kumar has remade the 1978 classic. The film will hit the theatres this week. The industry is waiting to see how a new generation of viewers will receive the film and Rathi chechi.
Some 33 years later, T K Rajeev Kumar has remade the 1978 classic. The film will hit the theatres this week. The industry is waiting to see how a new generation of viewers will receive the film and Rathi chechi.
An unconventional story of a young boy-older woman love
Rathinirvedam was originally written by the late Padmarajan and directed by the late Bharathan. It was an unconventional love story between a teenager and an older woman.
Jayabharathi played Rathi chechi while Krishnachandran did the role of Pappu, who is smitten by her ample charms.
Swetha Menon and Sreejith Vijay are playing the roles of Rathi and Pappu respectively in the current version.
'The story is being narrated in a subtle manner'
Rajeev Kumar, who has directed films such as Chanakyan, Pavithram, Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu and Shesham, among others, says that "we are not just recreating the scenes from the earlier version. The story is being narrated in a subtle manner and the focus is on relationships. Of course, the basic storyline of a young man falling for an older woman remains the same in the new version, but this is being done in a different way which will appeal to contemporary viewers."
According to Swetha Menon, "Every boy goes through an adolescent love in his life, which is perhaps one of the purest forms of human emotions. And the important thing is that there is a thin line that separates adolescent love and lust."
Swetha says that she made a deliberate decision not to see the earlier version of the film. "I wanted my character to have the mannerisms and body language that were in sync with the environment where we were shooting the film," she explains.
According to Swetha Menon, "Every boy goes through an adolescent love in his life, which is perhaps one of the purest forms of human emotions. And the important thing is that there is a thin line that separates adolescent love and lust."
Swetha says that she made a deliberate decision not to see the earlier version of the film. "I wanted my character to have the mannerisms and body language that were in sync with the environment where we were shooting the film," she explains.
'My family was unsure about me doing an unconventional role'
Sreejith, an engineering graduate who played a small role in Fazil's Living Together, says his family was not sure about him doing the controversial role initially. "But as an actor, I have to experiment with varying roles, which prompted me to accept this character," he says.
Rathinirvedam is being produced under the banner of Revathy Kalamandir. The cinematographer is Manoj Pillai and the music director is M Jayachandran.
Rathinirvedam is being produced under the banner of Revathy Kalamandir. The cinematographer is Manoj Pillai and the music director is M Jayachandran.
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