One small filmis making headlines in Malayalam cinema for some big reasons. Ivan Megharoopan, which has opened to critical acclaim in Kerala, is the directorial debut of P. Balachandran, who scripted the notable Ulladakam, Pavithram and the award-winning Punaradhivasam.

What makes Ivan Megharoopan distinct is that it steers away from the new fad in filmmaking and is a bold attempt to portray the life of P. Kunjiraman Nair, an eminent Malayalam poet.

The film won four state awards recently including for best music by Shareth (the songs including a folksy number by actress Remya Nambeesan), best editor (Vinod Sukumaran) and best dubbing artist (Praveena).

Balachandran says that Ivan Megharoopan is not a biography nor is it a feature-film adaptation of the poet’s masterpiece autobiography Kaviyude Kaalpadukal.

What the director has attempted is to make a movie that does justice to the soul and spirit of the poet. Prakash Bare, who earlier acted in Sufi Paranja Katha, plays the poet and is supported by Swetha Menon, Padmapriya and Anumol (who also acted in Akam, a film screened at the Dubai International Film Festival last year).