Kerala - Kochi

‘Sufi Paranja Katha’ on celluloid

KOCHI: Priyanandan, who recently bagged the national film award for his ‘Pulijanmam’, will make a film on ‘Sufi Paranja Katha’, written by K.P. Ramanunni.

The book, a fascinating story of the subtle relationships that existed between the Hindu and Muslim families, had won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award and Edasseri award.

Priyanandan chose the book after he was impressed by the novelty of the theme depicted in the book, Mr. Ramanunni told The Hindu.

‘Sufi Paranja Katha’ means the story as told by Sufi. The Sufis are Muslim mystics. Set in the early 19th century Kerala, the story is a narration of events that underline the fact that irrespective of the religion that one is born into, the individual fails to free from the cultural bonds that transcend generations.

According to N. Gopalakrishnan, who wrote an introduction to the English translation of the book, Sufis have a liberal outlook that verges on pantheism.

The background of the novel is that of northern Kerala a few decades after the British had established their authority.

The Nair society that existed there was matrilineal. A child belonged to its mother’s family. In the story, a character called Muthassi is the oldest living member of the family.

The family consists of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In this set-up, known as a Tharavad, the oldest man is the administrator or the Karanavar. Sanku Menon is the Karanavar of the Melepullarath Tharavad. He is the grandson of Muthassi. Muthassi’s daughter is Sanku Menon’s mother.

Sanku Menon’s sister Ammalu is the mother of Karthy, the principal character.

The children did not inherit the property of their father. The inheritance was through the women of the family.

In certain parts of Kerala, Muslims also give special importance to the wife’s house. ‘Sufi Paranja Katha’ develops the theme from this complex background.

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