The Guard (2001 film)

The Guard (Malayalam:ദി ഗാർഡ്) is a Malayalam language movie with a single actor in the cast.[1][2] Released in December 2001, the Indian Malayalam feature film has Kalabhavan Mani, the only actor on screen, playing the role of a forest guard in a lonely, isolated dense forest.[1] Directed and written by debutante Hakim Rawther, it is jointly produced by Sabitha Jayaraj (Green Dragon Movies) and Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC).

The Guard
Film poster
Directed byHakim
Produced bySabitha Jayaraj
KSFDC
Screenplay byHakim
Story bySabitha Jayaraj
StarringKalabhavan Mani
Music byBiju
Shyam Dharman
Rajesh
CinematographySaloo George
Edited byVenugopal
Production
company
Green Dragon Movies
Release date
  • 12 December 2001 (2001-12-12)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Box office1cr

Yaadein (Hindi, 1964), which featured two actors, previously held the Guinness World Records in the category Fewest actors in a narrative film. The crew of The Guard made an attempt to replace the former record but failed.[2] Later, The Last Letter (French, 2002) and Shanti (Kannada, 2004), both featuring only a single actor, made their entries.

The film features cinematography by Saloo George, editing by Venugopal and artwork by Nathan Mannoor. The background score has been provided by Biju and songs featured in the film are composed by Shyam Sharman and Rajesh with lyrics written by Arumughan Vengidang. All the songs are sung by Kalabhavan Mani himself.[3] An experimental film in all aspects, it released to critical acclaim and did a moderate business at the box office.[4]

Plot
Kalabhavan Mani, playing the role of Appukuttan in the film

The story in a nutshell is how a poor man, Appukuttan Nair (Kalabhavan Mani) gets a job as a forest guard. His first appointment is in a lonely, isolated dense forest. His predecessor there was one Thomachan, who was supposedly trampled to death by a tusker. Anyhow, Appukuttan takes charge and in the dense forest he is left all alone, save the innumerable animals and birds around him and the frightening sounds of the jungle. But life in the jungle teaches him many things about men and human society and he gets a new perspective to look at things.

Cast

Soundtrack

The film features 7 songs composed by Shyam Dharman and Rajesh with lyrics penned by Arumughan Vengidang. All the songs are based on folk music and are sung by Kalabhavan Mani himself.

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Ee Kaattil Puliyundo"Kalabhavan Mani 
2."Kaattukurumbathi Karineelakannaale"Kalabhavan Mani 
3."Kunjathoone Ponnu Kunjathoone"Kalabhavan Mani 
4."Naadodikkaattil"Kalabhavan Mani 
5."Thaa Thakkida Nammal Naalalu"Kalabhavan Mani, Chorus 
6."Thana Thina Thaanana Dhimi"Kalabhavan Mani 
7."Thekkan Malaakhayirangi"Kalabhavan Mani 

References
  1. "Top honours elude Mani". The Hindu. 9 February 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  2. Unni R. Nair (11 January 2002). "The Guard: Commendable effort". Screen India. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  3. "The Guard (2001)". Malayalam Movie Database. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  4. "Movie Review: The Guard". Sify. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
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