The life story of Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, our own poet Akkitham, is fit enough for a novel or movie. ‘Arikil Akkitham’ is a documentary film on the illustrious life of one of the most revered poets of Malayalam from the perspective of his daughter, Sreeja Unnikrishnan.
The documentary, directed by cartoonist E. Suresh for ViCTORS TV, was screened in Kozhikode on Saturday under the aegis of the Kerala Sahitya Samithi. The film captures the life and memories of the poet through his own words and that of his family members.
The poet, nearing his 90th birthday, recalls various incidents that led to his poetic career and the role of poets like Edasseri in shaping his talent.
Interest in art
His brother and artist Akkitham Narayanan recalls the role of the poet in kindling his interest in art. An endearing feature of the documentary is the recitation of various works of Akkitham in the voice of Sreeja Unnikrishnan, who had rendered voice to his poems in various audio albums. She is the narrator of the film as well.
Mr. Suresh said that he had read the poems of Akkitham only after he was assigned to do the film.
The cartoonist feels that his outlook towards the world would have been different if he had read those poems at an earlier stage.
Inaugurating the screening, writer P. Valsala pointed out that Akkitham’s use of simple language to convey serious issues was what endeared him to the readers.
Writer P.P. Sreedharanunni was present.
