Pathram

Pathram (Newspaper)

A 1999 Malayalam-language political thriller film directed by Joshi.  The movie starts with skipping of different news paper head lines  from different newspapers like Malayala Manorama, Indian Express, Times of India, Deepika, Kerala Kaumudi, Hindustan Times and Indian Express

• Freedom - Nation Awake to New Life
• Jawaharlal Nehru Sworn in as PM
• Gandhi Assasinated 
• First Atomic Bomb dropped in Japan                     
  
• Indira Gandhi Assasinated
• National Emergency in India
• Demolition of Babari Masjid 

 These headlines once changed our political and social life. Around two decades back, the newspapers were the only mass medium which brought us the updates about the happenings across the globe.  

As the name itself projects the movie is talking about the press organisations and journalists. The reason behind that story line is because the script writer of this movie is Renji Panikar who is not only an actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer but also a journalist. He owns a certificate in Journalism from the Press Club, Thiruvananthapuram and also earned a master's degree in Journalism from Kerala University, Karyavattom. He  was an active politician since his college days in SD College, Alappuzha.  

His movies contains  heroes  who have a political viewpoint and are opinionated. They rebuke corrupt higher officials, hegemonic structures and societal perversions. Dialogues are presented for making an impact, often with lengthy and spirited ones to carry the character through the plot conterminously.  He uses English words to deliver the impact with emphasis. 

Being a journalist. Renji Panikkar was successful in addressing many journalism related things in this crime thriller movie plot. The movie mainly answers the main questions like Why the media is downplaying certain news stories? Why the auto drivers are collecting fares more than the meter charges? 

Through Shekharan, Renji Panikker is stating that, the Kerala has a prominent number of readership for true stories irrespective of the main stream notion. The moral policing towards girls based on the social norms are criticized comically. The character of Madhavanji mentions about the wide number of advocates in politics particularly in the Congress party.  

In an incident in the Keralabhumi office, the movie shows the tendency of the management to downplay certain stories in the name of lack of news value, the managements lenience towards religion, caste, human gods, communities, political parties  and yellow journalism for increasing their circulation. 

All most all of the main characters in this movie  are portrayed as a representative of many groups of people that we see around us. 

Nandagopal  - Son of a political martyr

Devika Shekar - A Feminist and a bold lady

Viswanathan - A power center in the society, an MP as well as the head of a powerful media group

Firoz Muhammed IPS - A man who struggled and achieved the heights, who stand up for justice

DIG David Sabhavathi - Corrupted head of Police force

Joseph Vazhakkali - The police officer who will always be hated by the public

C I Haridas - A genuine and naive police officer acting indirectly to provide justice within the corrupted system.

As mentioned by the Nandagopal, "as a journalist never divide the newspaper pages based on religion, caste etc. If anyone is instructing you to do so  Don't ever let that set into your brains, Don't ever set your standards based on that and Don't ever that deceive your discretion.  Don't follow the Paparazzi style of journalism. Open your eyes towards the struggle of the common man".