Yavanika — the mother of all Crime Thrillers from Kerala
A review in tribute to K G George who passed away recently.
I watched the highly recommended Yavanika on YouTube just a few years ago and I couldn’t believe when I came to know it was K G George’s film who passed away yesterday in Kerala. I was in awe of his films, “Panchavati Paalam”, “Lekhayude Maranam oru Flashback” and “Aadaminte Vaariyellu”. Considered to be a maker of offbeat Malayalam cinema, the comedy in “Panchavati Paalam” is brilliant and worthy of mention. Watching Yavanika (made in 1982) after all these years, literally blew my mind away.
The behind the stage scenes and the life of stage actors is captured well and told poignantly. The scenes where the artist after performing their parts on stage walk out to the backstage is ingrained in my mind for the perfection in which they were executed and captured on screen. Those scenes were master strokes from K G George. Amidst this theatre life K G George inserts a crime cleverly and we are sucked into the film. The hit “Oru CBI Diary Kurippu” was made 6 years later but “Yavanika” undoubtedly is the forerunner here for this genre of films.
Mammootty, coincidentally is the Police Inspector investigating a crime that takes place in the film. The other pivotal character is Bharath Gopi who simply excels in any role that is given to him. What a delight to watch the veteran. The supporting cast and crew are brilliant in their support too.
Definitely recommended if this is the first time you are watching a K G George film. For 1982 the pace of the film is very good and engaging.
Here is the YouTube link of the film in its entirety.
