Chitra Mela (1967)

Malayalam cinema’s first portmanteau film, consisting of three short films, is also Tamil/ Malayalam actor Muthaiah’s debut as director. Nagarathinte Mukhangal [Faces of the City] (38’) shows the tragic fate of children left at home by pleasure-loving parents who frequent nightclubs. Penninte Prapancham [A Woman’s World] (39’) is a Laurel and Hardy-inspired comedy speculating on life 50 years in the future when sex-change operations become commonplace. The longest story, Apaswarangal [Discordant Notes] (95’), is a tragic love story between a street singer and a blind woman. To achieve success, the street singer has to accept the patronage of a famous dancer, which estranges him from his girl. In the end she dies in his arms.