Crossroad

Crossroad is an anthology of 10 Malayalam films released in 2017 on the lives of 10 women. The short feature films of 15 minutes each look at life from the varied perspectives of these women.

Directed by Lenin Rajendran, Madhupal, Nemom Pushparaj, Pradeep Nair, Babu Thiruvalla, Ashok R. Nath, Sashi Paravur, Avira Rebecca Albert, Nayana Suryan , 

Oru Raathriyude Kooli, Padmapriya Janakiraman as Seema, V. K. Baiju, Suryakanth,

Kaaval, Priyanka Nair as Devi, Shibu Laban, Roslin, Pranav Nair as Devi's child

Pakshikalude Maanam: Mythili as Photographer, Vijay Babu as Husband, Joe, Sidhartha Siva as Resort Owner, Chethan Jayalal

Mounam Manasa Radhakrishnan as Sally, Seema G. Nair as Mariyamma, Sally's MotherAnu Mohan as Jomon

Badar Mamta Mohandas as Badarunneesa, Babu Annur as Madhavan Nair, Kailash as Unni

Mudra Isha Talwar as Gaya Parameshwaran, Anjali Aneesh as Padmavathi, Poojappura Radhakrishnan

Lake House Richa Panai as Aimy, Rahul Madhav as husband, Shobha Mohan

Kodeshyan Punnasserry Kanchana as Grandma

Chrerivu Al Sabith F as small son, Srinda Arhaan, Manoj K. Jayan as Driver

Pinpe Nadappaval Anjana Chandran, Joy Mathew, Sagar

I got attracted to it viewing the trailer of Mudra in Youtube. 

Like the name of the movie suggests, the film delves into important moments in the lives of a bunch of women and how they deal with these situations. Ten completely disconnected stories, they which are trials and tribulations that happen in protagonists lives.

The anthology starts with Oru Ratriyude Kooli, directed by Madhupal, which introduces a sex worker called Seema and her desire to be a mother. Dilemmas of Devi, a widow of a soldier, are portrayed by Priyanka Nair in the next one titled Kaval directed by Nemom Pushparaj. A womanphotographer’s love for the wild is the theme in Pakshikalude Manam directed by debutant Nayana Suryan. Actress Mythili returns to Mollywood through the film in the role of the shutterbug. Actor Vijay Babu supports her in the film as a control freak husband.

Maunam by Babu Thiruvalla revolves around a girl named Sally, played by Manasa, who is forced to become a nun. Mamta Mohandas is the protagonist in the fifth tale that looks at religion and human bonding.

The first half is relatively lukewarm but the second has heart-warming stories of womanhood. Mudra directed by Albert introduces Gaya Parameshwaran, a celebrated classical dancer (Isha Talwar) and how she empowers her friend Padmavathi (Anjali Aneesh Upasana). Lake House directed by Sashi Paravoor traces the memories of young airhostess (Richa Panai) and how she deals with the untimely death of her husband (Rahul Madhav).

What stands out is Pradeep Nair’s Kodeshyan which talks about the bond between a grandma and her pet street dog. Veteran actress Punasseri Kanchana proves her skill as the lonely lady in a luxury apartment with only the dog for company. Cherivu directed by Avira Rebecca talks about a woman (Srinda) who braves a journey with a stranger as driver (Manoj K Jayan). Tee final one is a directorial by Lenin Rajendran titled Pinpe Nadappaval which features debut actress Anjana Chandran as a Malabar girl who faces marital rape.

Worth mentioning is the work of debutante director Nayana Suryan. Young cinematographer Gowtham Lenin also seems impresses with his picturesque frames.

The anthology is like a story book that has something for every kind of viewer. If one disappoints, there is always another to make up.