Asif Ali – Anaswara Rajan starrer Rekhachithram (literally translated as Composite Sketch) is creating quite a buzz among followers of Malayalam cinema these days. It is not a standard whodunnit murder mystery or an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Nevertheless, it emotionally connects with the audience and it is impossible to watch the second half without a smile on one’s face. In many reviews it has been claimed that Rekhachithram is Malayalam’s first attempt in the alternate history genre. Essentially, it is this claim that has triggered the attempt in this article to explore this genre in general and especially in relation to Malayalam cinema.
Alternate History in Movies
Alternate-history is often understood as a sub-genre that takes the creative liberty of reimagining historical events by diverging from and giving a different interpretation to actual historical facts. This divergence allows storytellers to explore different “what if” scenarios, weaving tales that portray how things would have been under different circumstances.
In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino successfully exploited this unconventional technique more than once. Inglourious Basterds, set in France during World War II, explores the Nazi – Jew conflict through different fictional sub-plots. The film deviates from history by portraying Adolf Hitler’s assassination at the hands of the female protagonist as part of her personal revenge. Another movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, revisits the tragic end of renowned international filmmaker Roman Polanski’s pregnant wife Sharon Tate and some of their friends at the hands of the followers of cult leader Charles Mason. The movie developed an alternative angle where it raises the hypothetical question about someone intervening to save the Polanski household from Manson family murderers. Both these imaginative deviations from real life incidents were intellectually stimulating and highly convincing.
In the case of Rekhachithram, the debate about whether it qualifies as alternate-history has different layers. The filmmaker does not rewrite any well-documented historical incident here. Rather it is designed as an imaginative extension of a rather unknown incident related to a well known Malayalam cinema from the 1980s, Kathodu Kathoram. More than revisiting the history, it is the nostalgia factor which takes center stage evoking a sentimental connection to cherished memories of a classic from the past.
Analysing the box office trends of Malayalam cinema over the past two years reveals a clear pattern: Nostalgia has become a powerful selling point. The inclusion of the hit song “Devadhoothar Paadi” from the same classic movie Kathodu Kathoram significantly helped the success of the movie Nna Thaan Case Kodu.
Similarly, Poomaname… a retro track from the 1985 film Nirakkoottu played an important part in the success of last year’s blockbuster ‘Abraham Ozler’. The makers of ‘Manjummel Boys’ took this strategy to another level by incorporating the Tamil song “Kanmani Anbodu,” and the film became the highest-grossing blockbuster in Malayalam cinema history.
Malayalam film industry is recently witnessing a wave of resurgence with re-release of classical films of 1980s and 1990s. The remastered versions of classic movies like Sphadikam, Devadoothan, Valliettan and Manichithrathazhu have already hit theatres leading to impressive returns to the film makers. It is learnt that more such films are getting ready for re-release.
The makers of Rekhachithram have realised this trend and have taken it to yet another level. Instead of reusing a retro song or a tested formula, they have brilliantly developed a sub-plot from one of the most popular cinema of yesteryears.
Malayalam Cinema and the Track Record Of Alternate History Themes
A closer look at the Malayalam film industry’s history reveals earlier instances that might also qualify as alternate history or, at the very least, reimagined narratives.If the legends of Vadakkan Pattu can be viewed as historical accounts, then the perfect alternate-history movie in Indian cinema would undoubtedly be Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha. This 1989 classic reimagines a folklore surrounding Chathiyan Chanthu, (literally translated as Cheat Chanthu) a character traditionally depicted as evil. With M.T Vasudevan Nair’s brilliant screenplay and Mammootty’s immortal performance, this masterpiece portrays Chanthu as a tragic hero rather than as a treacherous villain.
Indeed, one cannot imagine a better example of alternate history crafted through creative writing in the Malayalam sub-context. Today’s generation might not understand the immense influence this movie had on the contemporary social psyche of Kerala during the late 1980s and 1990s. The movie went on to grab State and national level accolades and attained a cult status. It is also learnt that this movie is also getting ready for a re-release.
Another underrated Malayalam movie in this genre is Urumi. While most of the characters in this film are fictional, the 2011 film created an engaging narrative around the historical figure of Vasco da Gama. It is for this aspect that the movie is still remembered by many. By recreating an alternate scenario where Vasco da Gama is killed by the protagonist, the film provides a striking “what if” twist to actual history. The movie had a decent run and had high production quality when one takes into consideration the period in which it was produced.
Rekhachithram brilliantly creates a police procedural drama in a nostalgic mood with interesting real life references from film personalities such as Jagadeesh and John Paul. These interactions provide a compelling layer of authenticity to the fictional narrative of the main plot. Superstar Mammootty’s presence is felt everywhere in the film which is carefully crafted into the script and executed by the director. And the use of Artificial Intilligence in creating this Mammootty presence is indeed commendable.
It is also worth mentioning that the performances of very many actors, including that of lead characters, and especially Zarin Shihab are superb. Rather than celebrating it as an alternate history movie, it would have been better (or it would have done greater justice to the movie) if reviewers had credited it as a work that capitalizes on the prevailing nostalgia trend in Malayalam cinema. Even so, Rekhachithram is a milestone film in the Malayalam industry’s history.
Watch the trailer for the movie Rekhachithram below:
