Movie Name : Makaramanju

Script and Direction : Lenin Rajendran

Cast :

Raja Ravi Varma and Pururavas
The Painter and the epic: Both these characters are portrayed by Santhosh Sivan, the internationally known Film Maker/Cinematographer and marking his debut appearance in this film.

Anjali Bhai and the Apsaras
Anjali Bhai, the model and Urvasi, the apsaras: These characters are performed by a newcomer Karthika, daughter of yesteryear actress Radha.

Govardhandas Makhanji
Business partner of Ravi Varma who played a vital role in the painter’s career. Also he is ambitious in making profit and the character is portrayed by Jagathy Sreekumar, one of the finest actors in Malayalam film industry. This would be a different facet of acting in Jagathy’s film career.

Raja Raja Varma
The younger brother of Ravi Varma who too is a fabulous painter finds joy in giving finishing touches to his brother’s paintings. This character is being played by young actor Bala who is now a well known face to Malayalam and Tamil film industry.

Bhageerathi
Wife of Ravi Varma. She was a very beautiful woman and was disturbed with her husband’s relation with his models. Lakshmi Sharma plays this role.

Rukku Bhai
Mother of Anjali Bhai, the model who was once a renowned Kathak dancer. But now all are bygone memories for her and she now wants her daughter to become a great dancer. But Anjali’s dream was to become a model. Rukku Bhai is played by the popular playback singer Chithra Iyyer.

Story :
Makaramanju (The mist of Capricon) is a film about a mythical tragedy that occurred during the creation of a most celebrated painting- Pururavas and Urvashi, by renowned painter Raja Ravi Varma. It narrates the story of extreme love between two epic characters, which ended tragically. Through these characters, this film tries to depict the love between Raja Ravi Varma, the painter and his model Anjali Bhai.

The Myth

Pururavas, who was lived in the bosom of nature, was very much fond of birds and animals. He even knew a private language to communicate with them. The celestial beings were not happy with this and they didn’t like this kind of act by Pururavas. In order to break his charm, the celestial beings send Urvashi, the apsaras to the earth as a village belle. But at the first sight itself, Pururavas and Urvashi fell in love with each other. Urvashi, being send by the divine order had a mission to fulfill even she was in true love with Pururavas. As per the condition, it would be her last night in earth when she see Pururavas nude. One night, when their love was at the extreme, Pururavas revealed his nakedness to her and so that she had to follow the command. It was a heartbreaking situation and Ravi Varma, in his painting describes the painful moment of their partition

Likewise Raja Ravi Varma and Anjali Bhai undergoes such woes but with different hurdles. Our society never accepts their love even if it is divine. The film portraits the clear image of human conflicts and inner emotions with love as the backdrop.

Click here To view Makaramanju Photo Gallery

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