Prayanam

Savithrikkutty, eldest daughter of an aged poor Nambuthiri Brahmin is married off to an aged widower (a priest) of the same caste. The new family where she is received comprises two other members, Appu (the man’s son who is just a boy) and Amminiyamma. Amminiyamma’s son is working in a distant place. Until Savithri’s arrival she was the sole helper of the widower. The age disparity between the man and Savithri causes their sexual life to be without colors. The man soon engages himself in temple matters and the woman, finding no better way to kill her time plays with the man’s kid and does her chores without charm. One day a young man named Aravindan comes to his ancestral house in the village. On his way he meets aged people who stare at him as if they never have seen a young man lately. His uncle, Kizhakkethil Raman Menon receives him cordially who reminisces his (Menon’s) valiant efforts at a time when his elders would frown upon education, to send his sister, Aravindan’s mother, to her studies in the city. However we come to know that city culture has destroyed her soft sides and that she now lives an unorganized life of an addict to intoxicants. Meanwhile, Appu, the boy-child of the priest, easily makes friends with his new wife Savithri. Appu’s strange behaviors and restlessness, though he is just a boy compels us to wonder if he really is the priest’s son. Amminiyamma’s comments regarding the boy’s behavior, though not seriously strengthens the doubt. Strong child-mother affection develops between Appu and his stepmother Savithri. On some day, at a ritual performance, Aravindan and Savithri encounters each other for the first time. Aravindan, basically of a wandering nature does nothing significant after his arrival to the village. He then meets Savithri and their relationship develops sooner as the two can easily associate with one another’s sorry lives. Aravindan, who was not cared well by his mother and as somebody who earlier had many unfulfilled and failed relationships with other women was looking for somebody who could actually understand and resonate his feelings. He then realizes Savithri to be exactly the kind of person he should have met. Gradually their romantic dreams develop without anyone suspecting them. The priest who is now completely engrossed in his temple rituals does not suspect her in any way until one day when he catches her with him in an amorous act. As a cheated husband (though he does never even think that his marring a girl enough to become his daughter a sin) he thinks it is his dharma (now that the girl (Savithri) sinned), as taught by his guru to send her back to her home. He sends her back. Savithri’s father who was also the priest’s teacher strives really hard after her arrival. He finds it very difficult to feed and take care of his daughters and his senile father. Meanwhile, Amminiyamma decides to reconcile the two and arrives at Savithri’s house to request her father to ask the priest to receive Savithri back. The man is stubborn and makes it clear that he will not request his student (the priest) to do that. However Savithri herself returns promising she will not make the mistake again. Nevertheless, thoughts of Aravindan’s care and love start tormenting her one way or other. During the temple festival when every member of the family is off to the temple she decides to stay in the house, not wanting the people to gossip about her and the family. Holding the music box gifted by Aravindan, memories of the sweet days visit her. Unexpectedly Aravindan arrives there and the two embrace each other on the background of the sound and play of the temple fireworks. The two stare at the fireworks happy but confused and anxious about their future.