5 Sundarikal (English: 5 Beautiful Women) is a Malayalam romantic anthology film. It contains five short stories on love[1] about five types of women.[2] The stories are directed by Shyju Khalid, Sameer Thahir, Aashiq Abu, Amal Neerad, and Anwar Rasheed,[3] and feature an ensemble cast.[4] The film was produced by Amal Neerad Productions.[5] The music directors were Gopi Sundar, Bijibal, Prashant Pillai and Yakzan Gary Pereira.[6][7] The film reached theatres on 21 June.[8] A promo song by popular Kochi-based rock band Black Letters was also released.[9]

5 Sundarikal
Promotional poster
Directed byShyju Khalid
Sameer Thahir
Aashiq Abu
Amal Neerad
Anwar Rasheed
Screenplay byShyam Pushkaran
Muneer Ali
Siddharth Bharathan
Sijoy Varghese
Abhilash S. Kumar
Unni R.
Hashir Mohamed
Story byM. Mukundan
Sijoy Varghese
Amal Neerad
Feng Jicai
Hashir Mohamed
Produced byAmal Neerad
StarringAnikha Surendran
Chethan Jayalal
Isha Sharvani
Kavya Madhavan
Reenu Mathews
Asmita Sood
Nivin Pauly
Biju Menon
Jayasurya
Jinu Ben
Dulquer Salmaan
Fahadh Faasil
CinematographyAlby
Shyju Khalid
Rajeev Ravi
Renadive
Amal Neerad
Edited byVivek Harshan
Praveen Prabhakar
Music byGopi Sundar
Bijibal
Prashant Pillai
Yakzan Gary Pereira
Production
company
Distributed byAugust Cinema
Release date
  • 21 June 2013 (2013-06-21)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

The featurette Sethulakshmi is an adaptation of M. Mukundan's short story "Photo" while Kullande Bharya is based on a Chinese story, "The Tall Woman and Her Short Husband", by Feng Jicai. It is narrated by Dulquer Salmaan.

List of short films

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Title Director Story Screenplay Cinematographer Music
Sethulakshmi Shyju Khalid M. Mukundan Shyam Pushkaran
Muneer Ali
Alby Yakzan Gary Pereira
Isha Sameer Thahir Sijoy Varghese Siddharth Bharathan
Sijoy varghese
Shyju Khalid Prashant Pillai
Gauri Aashiq Abu Amal Neerad
(story idea)
Abhilash Kumar Rajeev Ravi Bijibal
Kullante Bharya Amal Neerad Feng Jicai Unni R. Renu (renadive) Gopi Sundar
Aami Anwar Rasheed Hashir Mohamed Hashir Mohamed Amal Neerad Yakzan Gary pereira

Plots

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Sethulakshmi

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Sethulakshmi (Baby Anikha), a schoolgirl, collects the photos of newly married couples from newspapers and pastes them in a notebook. Her close friend (Chethan Jayalal) learns about her interest in photography. They decide to go to a studio nearby to take their photos and this changes their destiny. They go to the photo studio and have their picture taken only to find out that it will cost them Rs. 25. They are asked to bring the money in two days. They come up with only Rs. 6.50 and two eggs (the two eggs brought by Sethulakshmi's close friend). The studio owner tells them that he will go to their school and get the balance from their teacher. Both the children state that it is a bad idea. This sends the studio owner into a rage demanding his money. After a moment, he calms down and asks Sethulakshmi to come into the film room to take a picture. While there he asks her to strip; she cries wanting to go home. Sethulakshmi has nightmares of that incident that night but does not disclose anything to her parents. She is taken to school by her father the next day as she exhibits feverish conditions. After school, as Sethulakshmi and her friend walk home, they see the scooter that belongs to the studio owner. He hands the picture to Sethulaksmi's friend but pulls Sethulakshmi aside and threatens her that he will put her picture on the school wall if she does not immediately accompany him. Sethulakhsmi's friend demands to know where the studio owner is taking her, but the studio owner tells him to go home. Sethulaskhmi's friend is left alone as he watches the studio owner and Sethulakskmi leave on his scooter.

Isha

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This episode of love opens with a husband and wife preparing to leave for a party on New Year's Eve. While the man is non-chalant about it, the woman is concerned about leaving their daughter Theresa (Isha Sharvani) at home. She is concerned about her safety and her shenanigans. After the couple leaves, the daughter becomes aware of someone inside the house. By then, it is too late as she wakes up tied to a chair in her house. She then notices that the thief has on a mask and after a few attempts at trying to free herself, the thief asks her to calm down. After Theresa continues to struggle, it is revealed that she has asthma and asks the thief to get her the inhaler which is in her bag. While getting the inhaler, the thief (Nivin Pauly), inadvertently removes his mask. He threatens her to be quiet after she asks to be untied. As the thief begins to search drawers, Isha lets him know in which drawer the house valuables are. After taking all the jewels in the house, the thief is set to leave when Theresa proposes an idea. She tells the thief that if he were to spend New Year's Eve with her at home, she would show him more of the expensive stuff in the house (it is revealed here that Theresa's mother is really her step-mother and she harbours resentment against her). So, the thief releases Theresa. While she is excited about this stealing adventure, the thief is only interested in the valuables. As the night moves on, Theresa gets very comfortable with the thief, even seducing him. They celebrate the New Year on the terrace with some intimate moments. At this point, it is obvious that the thief is drunk from the wine that belonged to Theresa's father and Theresa uses this to her advantage and ties the thief to the very chair she was confined to. The true suspense is revealed to the audience after this as she is not the actual daughter. She is Isha, another thief who came before Nivin and tied up the actual daughter.

Gauri

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The short film tells the love story of a married couple living in a hill station. After legalising their love affair through a registered marriage, Gauri (Kavya Madhavan) and Jonathan Antony (Biju Menon) choose the place to begin their married life. Jo is crazy about trekking while Gauri is a dancer and teaches art to her students. On their anniversary, Jo leaves home before sunrise and goes for trekking. Gauri wakes up hours later to find a note on their bedside table which seems to be a fun scavenger hunt set up by Jo to get rid of her boredom. She sets out to find the clues while doing her daily routine. As soon as she finds the third note, Jo's guide knocks on the door and lets her know that Jo has fallen from a cliff. Gauri is devastated and is in denial of Jo's death. Years later, a man comes to look at the same property and learns that Gauri had killed herself that night and the bungalow has been empty ever since.

Kullante Bharya

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A newlywed couple comes to stay in an apartment. The husband (Jinu Ben), who is only 5 feet 1 inch while the wife (Reenu Mathews) is 6 feet tall. Their neighbours begin to gossip about them. As the couple lives happily, they expect their baby to add to the joy, but destiny has something else in store for them. The whole film is pictured from the point of view of a person who is bedridden after an accident (played by Dulquer Salmaan). It is reminiscent of the photographer in wheelchair observing his neighbours in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window.[10]

Aami

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A businessman, Ajmal (Fahadh Faasil), faces a row of events during his journey from Malappuram to Kochi. His affectionate wife (Asmita Sood) tries to keep him awake during the drive by asking a few tricky questions. The nocturnal journey becomes eventful and changes the course of his life.

Cast

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Sethulakshmi

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Isha

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Gauri

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Kullante Bharya

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Aami

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Production

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The first film Sethulakshmi was by cinematographer Shyju, debuting as a director.[11] The film was an adaptation of the story "Photo" by M. Mukundan.[7] Two child artists, Baby Anikha and Chethan, played the lead in his segment.[12] Tamil theatre actor Somasundaram, who acted in Aaranya Kaandam, was signed to play a photographer in the film, setting foot into Malayalam films.[13]

Sameer Thahir cast Isha Sharvani opposite Nivin Pauly in his segment.[14] Isha, who made her Malayalam debut with this film, said that Sameer's story - written by Sijoy Varghese - explores the love between two strangers.[15] This segment was completed in January 2013.[2]

Aashiq Abu's featurette Gauri (earlier titled Naayika) is a period film about a group of people going in search of a promised land.[16] Biju Menon and Kavya Madhavan were signed to play the lead. Singer Rimi Tomy stated that she would be acting opposite Tini Tom, making her acting debut.[17] In March 2013, Jayasurya was also signed up for a role.[18] The shoot of the portion was held in Munnar and other locales.[16]

Amal Neerad cast Dulquer Salmaan and Reenu Mathews, who acted in Lal Jose's Immanuel, as the lead pair for his portion. Debutante Jinu Ben was given a prominent role. Neerad said that the story was loosely based on an ancient Chinese short story, "The Tall Woman and Her Short Husband".[19]

Fahadh Faasil stated that he and Rima Kallingal would pair up in Anwar Rasheed's segment of the anthology.[20] Rima Kallingal was replaced, and Honey Rose and Asmita Sood played the lead female roles in this film. Anwar said that the story unfolds on an eventful night and can be called a road movie.[7]

The directors pitched in for each other as well. Anwar Rasheed's portion was filmed by Amal Neerad; Shyju Kahlid handled the camera for Sameer Thahir's film; Aashiq Abu's film was shot by Rajeev Ravi; Amal Neerad chose his assistant, Ranadive, to operate the camera.[21]

Soundtrack

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5 Sundarikal[22]
Soundtrack album by
Gopi Sundar, Yakzan Gary Pereira, Bijibal, Prashant Pillai
Released21 June 2013
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length26:22
LabelMathrubhumi Music
5 Sundarikal
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Ekantham" (Title Song)Rafeeq AhammedGopi SunderKunal Ganjawala, Sreya Raghav5:29
2."Manthara Kaatte" (Segment:Sethulakshmi)Rafeeq AhammedYakzan Gary PereiraNeha Nair2:30
3."Mazhaneer" (Segment: Gauri)Sunil Raj SathyaBijibalGayatri Asokan3:16
4."Theera Lahari" (Segment: Isha)Kavalam Narayana PanikkarPrashant PillaiPreeti Pillai2:21
5."Amor Amor" (Segment: Kullante Bharya) Gopi SunderAnna Katharina Valayil2:33
6."Thammil Thammil" (Segment: Isha)Kavalam Narayana PanikkarPrashant PillaiPreeti Pillai2:21
7."Kaanadooram" (Segment: Aami)Neha NairYakzan Gary PereiraNeha Nair4:31
8."You Say" (Promo Song)Black LettersBlack LettersSharath Iyer3:20
Total length:26:22

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ Liza George (6 February 2013). "A bit of luck and destiny". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Biju Menon and Kavya Madhavan in Aashiq Abu's next". The Times of India. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Anchu Sundharikal: An anthology of love stories". IBN Live. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  4. ^ "The spotlight is on women in Mollywood". The Times of India. Indiatimes.com. 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Five directors team up for 'Anchu Sundarikal'". Sify. 3 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  6. ^ "5 Sundarikal 2013-malayalam movie - movie-name-0 - 123musiq.biz". 123musiq.biz. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Vijay George (30 May 2013). "Fab 5". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  8. ^ "5 sundarikal shifted from June 14 - Malayalam Movie News". Indiaglitz.com. 6 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Anchu sundarikal - black letters ost". YouTube. 21 June 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Anchu Sundarikal Review". Timescity.com. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  11. ^ Sameer-Thahir (22 May 2013). "Unreeling spools of two-decade-old friendship". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  12. ^ "'5 Sundarikal' to release on June 14!". Sify. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  13. ^ "In pursuit of recognition". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  14. ^ "I've proved myself as an actress: Isha Sharvani". The Times of India. 9 January 2013. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  15. ^ "Isha is all praise for Nivin". The Times of India. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Rimi to dazzle on silver screen". Deccan Chronicle. 12 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  17. ^ "Rimi Tomy to make her film debut with Anju Sundarikal". The Times of India. 17 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  18. ^ "Jayasurya in Aashiq Abu's Naayika". The Times of India. 9 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  19. ^ "Dulquer, Reenu in Amal Neerad's 'Anju Sundarikal'". The Times of India. 9 February 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  20. ^ "Rima, Fahadh in Anwar Rasheed's love anthology". The Times of India. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  21. ^ Athira M. (23 January 2013). "Shot Cuts". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  22. ^ "Anju Sundarikal (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Gopi Sundar". 21 June 2014.
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