Watch Chemmeen

Chemmeen is a timeless Malayalam romantic-drama film directed by Ramu Kariat and produced by Babu Ismail. The film was adapted from Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's famous novel of the same name. The film starred Sathyan, Sheela, and Madhu in the lead roles and was released on August 19th, 1965. The film is set in a small fishing village called Chellanam in Kerala. The film revolves around two central characters, Karuthamma played by Sheela and Pareekutty played by Madhu. Karuthamma, the beautiful daughter of a fisherman Chembankunju (Sathyan) falls in love with Pareekutty, who is from a rival fisherman family. However, Karuthamma is already engaged to Palani (Kottarakkara Sridharan Nair) due to a promise given by her father to Palani's father many years ago. Karuthamma's mother, Chakki (Adoor Bhavani) insists on fulfilling the promise and getting Karuthamma married to Palani. Meanwhile, Pareekutty is madly in love with Karuthamma and cannot imagine his life without her.

The film is a heartbreaking tale of love, betrayal, and the consequences of our actions. It explores the themes of love and caste, highlighting the harsh realities of life in rural India. The story of Karuthamma and Pareekutty's forbidden love is told with great sensitivity and depth.

The film's cinematography is breathtaking, capturing the scenic beauty of the Kerala coastline. The use of natural light and shadows creates a unique atmosphere and adds to the film's overall mood. The music and songs of the film, composed by Salil Chowdhury, are still popular among Malayali audiences today. The lyrics of the songs, written by Vayalar Ramavarma, are also highly regarded in the world of Malayalam literature.

The film was a commercial and critical success and is considered a masterpiece of Malayalam cinema. The movie won several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Malayalam. The film also won the International Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1966, making it the first Indian film to win an award at Cannes.

Overall, Chemmeen is a classic Malayalam film that will continue to be celebrated for generations to come. The film's enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless appeal and the power of love, even in the face of insurmountable odds.

Chemmeen is a 1965 romance movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 16 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8.