Watch Jaalakam

Jaalakam is a 1987 Malayalam psychological drama directed by Harikumar. The movie stars Parvathi, Srividya, M.G. Soman, and Innocent in prominent roles. The film revolves around the story of Nalini, played by Parvathi, who is married to a wealthy businessman Prathap, played by M.G. Soman. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Vincent, played by Nedumudi Venu, who is a writer.

The movie opens with Nalini and her husband Prathap heading towards their new house in the countryside. Nalini, a young and vulnerable woman, struggles to cope with her husband's dominant personality and begins to experience loneliness, despair, and confusion. She yearns for someone to share her feelings with and eventually meets Vincent, who happens to rent a room in their house. Vincent is a writer and a sensitive person who has a keen understanding of human emotions.

Vincent and Nalini soon develop a close relationship, and she begins to confide in him about her problems. Through their conversations, Vincent provides Nalini with a new perspective on life and helps her to confront her fears. However, their friendship soon turns into an obsession, and Nalini begins to lose control of her emotions. She becomes increasingly dependent on Vincent and stops communicating with her husband, which results in their marriage hitting a rough patch.

As the story unfolds, Nalini becomes more and more overwhelmed by her feelings for Vincent, and her behavior becomes erratic. She starts to live in a fantasy world and struggles to differentiate between reality and imagination. Her obsession with Vincent begins to affect her personal and professional life, and she soon realizes that she has lost control of her own life.

The film's major theme is the exploration of the human psyche and the consequences of uncontrolled emotions. The director has beautifully captured the psychological trauma of a woman who is torn between her love, dreams, and responsibilities. The film also delves into the complexities of human relationships and how an obsession can have disastrous consequences.

Jaalakam stands out due to the brilliant performances by Parvathi and Srividya, who plays the role of Prathap's sister. Both the actresses have delivered some great performances, with Parvathi stealing the show. Her portrayal of a woman struggling with complex emotions is realistic and empathetic. The film's cinematography by Ramachandra Babu adds to the movie's overall impact, with breathtaking visuals of Kerala's countryside.

The background score by Johnson and the soundtrack by Raveendran are excellent and add to the mood of the film. The film's script is tight, and the direction is impressive, making Jaalakam a must-watch for lovers of psychological thrillers.

In conclusion, Jaalakam is an excellent psychological thriller that explores the complexities of human relationships and the struggle of a woman trying to balance her emotions, love, and responsibilities. The film's brilliant performances, cinematography, background score, and tight script make it one of the best Malayalam movies of the 1980s.

Jaalakam is a 1987 art house & international movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.