Mathilukal (മതിലുകൾ)

Doordarshan Presents

Adoor Gopalakrishnan Productions

THE WALLS

Cast: Mammootty, Thilakan Karamana, Murali

Sreenath, Ravi, J. Varma Babu Namboodiri

B.K. Nair, Azeez, Vempayam, P.C. Soman

Aliyar, K.K. Nair, P. Ganga, P.l. Jacob

Raghu, Gopakumar, Gopalakrishna, Kaladharan

Studio: Chitranjali Processing: Vauhini

Subject Consultant: Raghavan Nair, Retd. I.G. (Prisons)

Camera Chief Asst.: Sasi Direction Asst.: N.H. Prasad

Direction Chief Assistant Meera

Production Controller: M.P. Sukumaran Nair

Art and Costume Sivan

Music: Vijaya Bhaskar

Sound: Harikumar

Image: Ravi Varma

Based on Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's novelette MATHILUKAL

Script, Direction, Production Adoor Gopalakrishnan

Hello, how are you, Basheer?

Fine. Absolutely fine

How goes your writing?

I've lots and lots to write

But the paper is finished

Lucky you are inside here

Out there a war is raging

Soaring prices for rice, cloth and kerosene

And paper not to be had at all

Make your letters small and tight

It is illegal!

Don't keep the MSS(Manuscripts) with you

Give it to me. It'll be safe in my custody

You would read it

Why not? Policemen too enjoy literature!

Sir, how long is it since I've been locked up here?

I've lost count of days and months

When will this unaccounted confinement end?

The boss wants you

Have you know starvation?

Yes sir. Habitually so

But you are a famous writer!

A writer to ask for payment? No!

That would be prostituting literature So say editors and publishers

Then it's simple

Start a hunger strike in the lock-up

At critical stage magistrate'll come and charges will be framed

Then the trial, and the suspense ends

All right. Here I am starting right away

It's the day of my judgement

What's the charge? Murder or theft?

I'm the town Congress secretary here

Charge? Housebreaking!

All right. It'll be done

He is the villain

He was a Congressman once

Then he turned approver and now a corrupt businessman

A wheeler dealer

I don't seem to have seen him before

Get going

Aren't you charged with treason? - Yes

Plays or essays?

Everything. My entire self!

I recognised you the first day itself

We were in the adjacent rooms

How is it that cruel inspector is soft on you?

It's strange. But some are like that

Do the detinue hate me for that?

It's not hatred It's envy

What can I do?

How long were you in the other lock-up?

Two months

Did they beat you up there? - A little

I was tortured even as they were bringing me here

Whose house did you break in?

That guy I showed you his house!

When they arested me. I had only this #mundu#(Dhoti) on me

I was on the way to my bath

It was dusk and my wife was in the kitchen

They whisked me off before she came out

They didn't let me get even my shirt

I've no money, no 'varsity degree

But I've been a Congressman for 11 years

I organised labour under the Congress flag

But you are charged for housebreaking!

It's all fabricated

I haven't broken into any house

All this is for organising the labour in his factory!

We hardly lived together for a month after my marriage

Do you have a wife? - No. I have nobody

Have you been in a jail before?

Yes, a couple of times

If they send me to jail My wife...

She'll be heart broken

As the accused Vaikom Muhammad Basheer son of Adbul Rahiman...

...is proved guilty beyond doubt...

as per Penal Code Sect. 111

he is hereby sentenced to 2 years of R.l. and a fine of Rs.1000

If the fine is not paid, the term of the R.l. is to be extended...

by six more months

We are almost there

Don't forget us

Never my dear friend, never

Only a few months for me to retire

May I?

The rule insists on the handcuff

Please don't take it ill

Some minor lapse... I could lose out on my pension

Behind that iron gate are the gallows

The only time the gate opens is to hand over the corpse

Are you the same Basheer? - Yes

May we take leave of you?

May God Bless you

Did you note him? He is Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

A very original writer Exceptionally brilliant

Who's it? A new convict

Not permitted in the jail

Take it off

Five and nine, fourteen plus four, eighteen...

Eight plus one makes it nine! Lucky number

What did you say?

Numerology says it's a lucky number

Can't you walk fast?

What's the hurry?

You want to hole me up somewhere and rush to your trade?

Policemen are wretched

No, they're not!

How many kids do you have?

Five girls and a boy

Five girls?

Are they allright? The mother and kids?

Yes, yes. Now get going

What about them if you die? - God is there

I doubt - Why?

Divine sense

I'll tell you

I was a #Sanyasi#(hermit) once

There's no holy mosque or temple in India where I haven't been

No sacred river where I haven't had a dip

So?

God won't spare you

I haven't done anything

What about today's loot?

Loot? Today? Me?

Imagine you are dead

and your soul is in God's presence

God questions, 'Hey, wretched warden

where's the blade, the matches and beedis that you looted from poor Basheer?

Come on. Cage me in and hurry to your shady trade

You are good

I gather that Gandhiji is in his death bed

Did you hear anything?

He broke his fast with orange juice

Really? - Yes

Long live Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi!

How many political prisoners do you have here?

There will be 18 when you join them

Where was that woman's laughter from?

Aren't you married?

No. What has that got to do with my question?

Why listen to all that?

Inside the desolate central jail

around the eerie premises of the gallows...

One hears a woman laugh!

I should get married

...if I want to know where it comes from!

Some logic!

That's from the women's jail You'll be staying near it

Isn't No. 10 vacant? - Yes, sir

In the name of Allah the beneficient, the merciful

Let it be with the right foot

No dinner for this poor subject?

You're not in today's roll Wait till tomorrow

Then release me I'll come tomorrow

What's the crime? - Writing... treason

Treason? God almighty, save him!

Salutations, my world!

Came in yesterday?

It's better to get up late

The rush infront of the latrine can be formidable

So you starved last night?

Starvation is nothing new to me

Red cap for both of you. Convicted for murder?

He's deaf and mute

Delieious #Kancho#(Porridge)! The solids of gruel with chutney

Salaam, leaders

I'm a humble infantry soldier in the war of independence

Name... Vaikom Muhammad Basheer

Incidentally a writer

You're well known

I want to ask something serious

Have any one of you got tea?

The only thing not available here!

If bowels is your problem we've Enos fruit salt

No. I must have tea

Black tea would do

Come on, we'll try the adjacent cells

DAS CAPITAL Will this do?

No. It won't digest

Shall we try the next room?

Don't bother