Agnisakshi (English: With Fire As Witness) is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language spiritual film written and directed by Shyamaprasad, based on the novel of the same name by Lalithambika Antharjanam. It stars Rajit Kapur, Shobana, Srividya, Praveena, Madhupal and Madambu Kunhukuttan. The film premiered at the Soorya Festival on 14 September 1998. Agnisakshi received numerous accolades, including the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam and nine Kerala State Film Awards. The film holds the distinction of being one of two films to get 9 Kerala State Film Awards.
Contents
Plot and themes
Unni accepts Devaki as his wife and brings her into the fold of his Namboothiri illam. Bound by a plethora of traditional beliefs, customs and rituals that constitute life within four walls of the joint family, Unni is unable to be the husband that he would have liked to be. Yet, they understand and love each other immensely. Guarded by the fortress of tradition, the family remains oblivious to the winds of change sweeping through society. Though Unni is aware, he shuts the door to everything that his family will never be able to comprehend or accept. But Devaki, who is essentially of a different mould, longs to step out into the world - and is finally forced to do so. Set in early 1930s, the story develops within walls of a Namboothiri Illam, in the South Indian state of Kerala, against the backdrop of the struggle for freedom from the British rule. The film opens in Haridwar, a holy city, where Thankam, Unni's younger half sister (of same father; Unni's mother was Namboothiri and Thankam's mother was Nair) has come to immerse Unni's ashes in the Ganga and trace Devaki, who now is an ascetic. The story is revealed through the reminiscences of Thankam, a mute spectator who is caught between these characters and the complexities of their relationship - complexities that can never be relegated to the realms of right and wrong.
Cast
Shobana as Devaki (voice by bhagyalekshmi)
Rajit Kapur as Unni (voice by murali menon & venmani vishnu)
Srividya as Thankam
Praveena as younger Thankam
Madhupal
Madampu Kunjukuttan
Sreenath
Krishna Kumar
Soundtrack
The album consists of 9 tracks all written (except Aathole and Sa virahe) and composed by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.
Awards
National Film Awards – 1998
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam - V V Babu
Kerala State Film Awards – 1998
Best Film - V V Babu
Best Director - Shyamaprasad
Best Actor - Rajit Kapur
Second Best Actress - Praveena
Best Cinematographer - Azhagappan
Best Sound Recordist - Krishnanunni, Hussain
Best Makeup Artist - P. Mani, Vikram Gaekwad
Best Dubbing Artist - Murali Menon, Vennmani Vishnu
Best Processing Lab - Gemini Lab
Kerala State Film Critics Awards
Best Film - V V Babu
Best Director - Shyamaprasad
Best Lyrics - Kaithaprom
Best Actress - Shobana
Best Cinematographer - Azhagappan
Best Art Director - Premachandran
Other awards
Aravindan Puraskar for Best Director - Shyamaprasad
Gollapudi Srinivas Award for Best Director - Shyamaprasad