Enippadikal (1973)

Classic Thoppil Bhasi socialist realism backed by the official CPI, continuing his agit-prop stage and screen work starting from Ningalenne Communistaki (You Made Me A Communist, 1970). The film adapts a Thakazhy story set in the oppressive pre-Independence bureaucracy of the diwan C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyer. Erstwhile farmer Kesava Pillai (Madhu) gets a clerical job in the government secretariat advocating and administering the savage repression of the popular CPI uprising. Although married in his village to Karthiyani, in the city he has an affair with Thankamma (Sharada), the daughter of an influential bureaucrat. Thankamma eventually discovers his selfish hypocrisy and becomes a sanyasini. The strength of the people’s movement forces his voluntary retirement when his family, personal and professional relationships are all in ruins.