Director: Sibi Malayil
Cast: Jayaram, Jyothirmayi, Kalidas, Siddique, Nedumudi Venu
Malayalam/140 minutes/35mm/Colour
Vishwanathan’s family is picture perfect with his wife Meera and son Vasudev. Meera dotes on her son though she is his stepmother. Vishwanathan’s former wife had passed away when Vasu was an infant and he had married Meera when Vasu was two years old.
Vasu is well aware of these facts but it has never affected his relationship with Meera. They share an unusual bond and they are the best of friends. When Meera gives birth to a son, Vasu is happiest and he names him Appu. But slowly, Vasu feels that Appu is getting all the attention and he becomes restless.
One day when he feels neglected, he sprays the pesticide meant for gardening on little Appu. The baby dies leaving the whole family in a state of shock and despair. Vasu cannot get out of the shock and confesses to his mother. She forgives him.
But when the post mortem reports confirm that the death is unnatural, a shrewd and sadistic police officer Chandran investigates and takes Vasu into custody. He is taken for trial and sentenced to imprisonment in the Juvenile Home for a year and a half.
The parents are helpless, while Vasu goes through hell at the Juvenile Home. But the counselor at the home understands Vasu’s dilemma. The bond between the two and the letters and visits from home bring Vasu gradually back to his normal self. Meanwhile, Meera gets pregnant and the parents keep the news from Vasu. They plan to give him a pleasant surprise when he is back home.
As the time of his release draws nigh, Vasu is at ease with himself. Before going home, he gets the opportunity to participate in an elocution competition at the State Youth festival representing the Juvenile Home School.
But there he faces social rejection and that crushes him completely. He returns home with sense of deep hurt. At home, Meera waits for Vasu with the newborn baby. Everybody is apprehensive about how the boy is going to take the news in such a state of mind.
But to everyone’s delight, he wholeheartedly accepts and names him Appu.
As the time of his release draws nigh, Vasu is at ease with himself. Before going home, he gets the opportunity to participate in an elocution competition at the State Youth festival representing the Juvenile Home School.
But there he faces social rejection and that crushes him completely. He returns home with sense of deep hurt. At home, Meera waits for Vasu with the newborn baby. Everybody is apprehensive about how the boy is going to take the news in such a state of mind.
But to everyone’s delight, he wholeheartedly accepts and names him Appu.
CREDITS
Producer: Prem Prakash
Story & Screenplay: Bobby and Sanjay
Cinematography: Venugopal
Editor: L. Bhoominathan
Art: Boban
Music: Ouseppachan
Sound: Hari and A. Lakshminarayanan.