Bhargavi nilayam is classic movie directed by A. Vincent and written by the legend mohammed basheer. The movie is romantic, musical and also horror. Classic movie lovers should watch this movie
7 Reviews
Evergreen classic movie !!
maheshraveendran-3636913 July 2020
A milestone in Malayalam horror
Jithindurden30 March 2023
1964 can still be considered the early stages in Malayalam films because, till 1960, the total number of Malayalam films that came till then was around 70-80 films. I mentioned that because of how dated this film feels in certain aspects. Many aspects of the direction and acting are definitely way behind for the time but not at all for the industry in particular. Yet, the cinematography, use of the soundscape and music is done extremely well and in such an unexpected way for the time in the Malayalam industry, that I can just attribute the flaws to this being the debut of A. Vincent as a director after a successful career as a cinematographer in various south Indian languages.
It's funny that the choice for the white saree of the ghost in this movie was purely plot-driven (also to make it family-friendly as I heard the ghost was actually nude in the original short story, which even today wouldn't be an easy choice in Indian cinema) and this became a milestone and being the first horror in Malayalam cinema, inspired everything that came after, that whenever a Yakshi, is portrayed it is in white saree now. And even the sad song and the laugh that has just become tropes. And even the term Bhargavi Nilayam has become such a concrete term for the Malayalam psyche as the synonym for a haunted house.
It was also surprising to see that this was where Kuthiravattom Pappu got his name from the comic relief character he played in this movie. I remember him from all his roles from the 80s and 90s that I would've never thought I'd see him here, let alone know the origin of his stage name.
Madhu playing the writer gives off a charming vibrance even if the acting is a bit over the top. But Nazir's romantic artist in the second half is even more animated. The friendship between the ghost and the writer in the first half helps in the unravelling of the typical love story in the second half. And the songs, the movie couldn't go into a dull moment because one of the greatest albums of all time exists through this movie and even if nothing else, that alone makes this movie worth every praise in the world. M. S. Baburaj's music and P Bhaskaran's lyrics together have made magic that elevates the movie.
This movie is not without its faults but the positives of this movie come along with so much heart and charm and being such an iconic milestone in the industry for so many things, I can't help but love it despite all its faults.
I'm now more apprehensive about the new adaptation of Neelavelicham coming next month. Ashiq Abu is a good director, but not always. And using the same songs didn't feel as bad when the first two songs came out but Thamasamenthe's new version didn't feel right somehow. It's just too modern and not enough modern while changing everything visual about the original song. Still, I'd hope for the best from the new version.
It's funny that the choice for the white saree of the ghost in this movie was purely plot-driven (also to make it family-friendly as I heard the ghost was actually nude in the original short story, which even today wouldn't be an easy choice in Indian cinema) and this became a milestone and being the first horror in Malayalam cinema, inspired everything that came after, that whenever a Yakshi, is portrayed it is in white saree now. And even the sad song and the laugh that has just become tropes. And even the term Bhargavi Nilayam has become such a concrete term for the Malayalam psyche as the synonym for a haunted house.
It was also surprising to see that this was where Kuthiravattom Pappu got his name from the comic relief character he played in this movie. I remember him from all his roles from the 80s and 90s that I would've never thought I'd see him here, let alone know the origin of his stage name.
Madhu playing the writer gives off a charming vibrance even if the acting is a bit over the top. But Nazir's romantic artist in the second half is even more animated. The friendship between the ghost and the writer in the first half helps in the unravelling of the typical love story in the second half. And the songs, the movie couldn't go into a dull moment because one of the greatest albums of all time exists through this movie and even if nothing else, that alone makes this movie worth every praise in the world. M. S. Baburaj's music and P Bhaskaran's lyrics together have made magic that elevates the movie.
This movie is not without its faults but the positives of this movie come along with so much heart and charm and being such an iconic milestone in the industry for so many things, I can't help but love it despite all its faults.
I'm now more apprehensive about the new adaptation of Neelavelicham coming next month. Ashiq Abu is a good director, but not always. And using the same songs didn't feel as bad when the first two songs came out but Thamasamenthe's new version didn't feel right somehow. It's just too modern and not enough modern while changing everything visual about the original song. Still, I'd hope for the best from the new version.
A landmark in horror films
rtoac129 October 2021
This is a 1964 Malayalam film starring Madhu, Vijaya Nirmala and Prem Nazir.
This is acclaimed as Malayalam's first horror film. And it's very different in that the ghost never touches or kills a human. It's presence in the home leads to the circumstances and events around it. Including the revelation of the true course of events of its life. And despite that, the camera work and direction ensure our hair stands on end in some scenes. The music and performances are excellent.
It is notable that a lot of elements including the theme of the story, the music and even song contexts in the best Malayalam horror film till date viz. Manichithrathazhu, are from Bhargavi Nilayam.
Madhu bags a more central role in the film than Prem. His realistic performance also justifies it. Vijaya Nirmala, with the big beautiful eyes is well cast. PJ Anthony, Pappu and Adoor Bhasi also stand out in their relatively shorter roles.
A definite must-watch.
This is acclaimed as Malayalam's first horror film. And it's very different in that the ghost never touches or kills a human. It's presence in the home leads to the circumstances and events around it. Including the revelation of the true course of events of its life. And despite that, the camera work and direction ensure our hair stands on end in some scenes. The music and performances are excellent.
It is notable that a lot of elements including the theme of the story, the music and even song contexts in the best Malayalam horror film till date viz. Manichithrathazhu, are from Bhargavi Nilayam.
Madhu bags a more central role in the film than Prem. His realistic performance also justifies it. Vijaya Nirmala, with the big beautiful eyes is well cast. PJ Anthony, Pappu and Adoor Bhasi also stand out in their relatively shorter roles.
A definite must-watch.
a beautiful movie about a dead girl
sowmya_2613 March 2006
This is one of Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's most beautiful novel ever. It tells the story of a writer who comes to a village with the intention of writing a story. He rents a small house named bhargavi nilayam, which is the spookiest topic of the villagers. Unthinking of what he might encounter at the house, the writer starts living there. This is where he first comes in contact with the ghost of a girl called Bhargavi whose death is shrouded with mystery. The writer is then inspired by the events to write a story about the girl and solve the mystery of her death. The story mainly revolves around just 4 characters. Although made in the year 1964, the script, the cast, dialogues, direction has so much style, that it is undeniably worth all the rewards it has received.
Bhargavi Nilayam- A friendly Ghost in White
anupviswanath8 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
*SPOILER ALERT*:
I recently had the pleasure to watch Bharagavi Nilayam (the most influential horror movie and one of the most famous and admired movie of all time) a 1964 movie by A Vincent, written by one and only Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and music scored by Maestro M S Baburaj Sir. I had been in search of the movie for a long time and finally I got the chance to watch this horror movie which I had been hearing a lot and now I am completely overwhelmed and happy that Vincent sir provided us with one of the most influential horror movies that made other movies follow its cult/path by setting a benchmark which all directors have been trying hard to reach.
The movie starts showing the haunted house and the ghost in white then after showing all the credits, the day arrives when the one of the protagonist of this movie the Veteran actor and well known actor of that time Madhu Sir takes this house for rent without knowing anything of being haunted. His dialog starts with Philosophical dialog that thanks the house for waiting for him. I found it quite amusing and laughable at that time but after watching it for a while understood the essence of movie lies in all the talks that he did from the start.
He takes walk around the village and everyone gets shocked and fearful after hearing he is planning to stay in Bhargavi Nilayam, but the character played by Madhu finds it quite thrilling and plans to stay there. This is where the story gets interesting. He learns little about the Male hating (Misandrist) she ghost whose name is Bhargavi from which the name of the house comes into life, so he talks to her calls her 'Bhargavi Kutti' as if he is treating a lady with love and respect and pleads her not to harm him as he is short on money and no where else to stay. Sun rises next day he wakes up goes to tea shop again all seemed shocked that he didn't end up dying or running away. I am not going much further into story. The movie goes on interesting with him talking to this ghost and getting her permission to write about her story (from her not that is heard from around the village).
I can surely say that has given every other movie after this a huge challenge. Only a handful of movies were able to break away to an extent from this movies storyline and one I could name is Manichitrathazhu, but it too has same sort of characters Dancer who falls in love with next door singer/composer who gets murdered by jealous guy(who wants her) and finally kills her too.
I wrote this review only because I am quite impressed by the film making and wanted to share what I could collect about the movie while watching movie.
This movie has set in a lot of things that has become common for all the movies taken after. What I loved about the making are: 1. They shot night scenes in the dark without much light, just enough light to show hero or heroine. I think they used flashlight to show hero in the darkness. 2. Blur technology is common but here blurring was used effectively to showcase ghost or hero-heroine scene. 3. Two mainstream heroes who had fame and stardom were used equally giving importance to both the characters according to me, and of course because they are my personal favourites Madhu sir and Prem Nasir sir. 4. The songs are super dooper hits by Maestro MS Baburaj Sir that I have heard but never knew belonged to this movie except for song in theatre where heroine does a show. 5. Ghost wearing white Saree has been given a convincing reason: Bhargavi falls for Sasikumar(Prem Nasir) who wears white a lot so she gave away all color clothes and started wearing white, which became symbol for female ghost in malayalam until now. 6. Intorduction of another legendary actor/comedian Kuthiravattam Pappu his character name is Kuthiravattam Pappu itself,who provides a lot of comedy. 7. Portrayal of idiotic person by Adoor Bhasi sir, another legend, which has been lend in many movies that came after this one to provide laughs. 8. A friendly ghost who needed attention, care, love and respect from someone and wanted to Rest In Peace after telling someone about her story. 9. A ghost who doesn't try to seduce men to kill them. 10. No bathing scene or anything which almost every other movie provides for viewers to stick on to their seats even if they fail to scare the audience. 11. Simple and pure love without much complications that provides good romance. 12. A ghost who doesn't talk at all but just sings. At least that is good. This too has become symbolism for ghost movies.
I hope you all watch this greatest of the great movies ever made and hope someday we will be able to see restored blu ray or at least DVD version of this movie.
I recently had the pleasure to watch Bharagavi Nilayam (the most influential horror movie and one of the most famous and admired movie of all time) a 1964 movie by A Vincent, written by one and only Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and music scored by Maestro M S Baburaj Sir. I had been in search of the movie for a long time and finally I got the chance to watch this horror movie which I had been hearing a lot and now I am completely overwhelmed and happy that Vincent sir provided us with one of the most influential horror movies that made other movies follow its cult/path by setting a benchmark which all directors have been trying hard to reach.
The movie starts showing the haunted house and the ghost in white then after showing all the credits, the day arrives when the one of the protagonist of this movie the Veteran actor and well known actor of that time Madhu Sir takes this house for rent without knowing anything of being haunted. His dialog starts with Philosophical dialog that thanks the house for waiting for him. I found it quite amusing and laughable at that time but after watching it for a while understood the essence of movie lies in all the talks that he did from the start.
He takes walk around the village and everyone gets shocked and fearful after hearing he is planning to stay in Bhargavi Nilayam, but the character played by Madhu finds it quite thrilling and plans to stay there. This is where the story gets interesting. He learns little about the Male hating (Misandrist) she ghost whose name is Bhargavi from which the name of the house comes into life, so he talks to her calls her 'Bhargavi Kutti' as if he is treating a lady with love and respect and pleads her not to harm him as he is short on money and no where else to stay. Sun rises next day he wakes up goes to tea shop again all seemed shocked that he didn't end up dying or running away. I am not going much further into story. The movie goes on interesting with him talking to this ghost and getting her permission to write about her story (from her not that is heard from around the village).
I can surely say that has given every other movie after this a huge challenge. Only a handful of movies were able to break away to an extent from this movies storyline and one I could name is Manichitrathazhu, but it too has same sort of characters Dancer who falls in love with next door singer/composer who gets murdered by jealous guy(who wants her) and finally kills her too.
I wrote this review only because I am quite impressed by the film making and wanted to share what I could collect about the movie while watching movie.
This movie has set in a lot of things that has become common for all the movies taken after. What I loved about the making are: 1. They shot night scenes in the dark without much light, just enough light to show hero or heroine. I think they used flashlight to show hero in the darkness. 2. Blur technology is common but here blurring was used effectively to showcase ghost or hero-heroine scene. 3. Two mainstream heroes who had fame and stardom were used equally giving importance to both the characters according to me, and of course because they are my personal favourites Madhu sir and Prem Nasir sir. 4. The songs are super dooper hits by Maestro MS Baburaj Sir that I have heard but never knew belonged to this movie except for song in theatre where heroine does a show. 5. Ghost wearing white Saree has been given a convincing reason: Bhargavi falls for Sasikumar(Prem Nasir) who wears white a lot so she gave away all color clothes and started wearing white, which became symbol for female ghost in malayalam until now. 6. Intorduction of another legendary actor/comedian Kuthiravattam Pappu his character name is Kuthiravattam Pappu itself,who provides a lot of comedy. 7. Portrayal of idiotic person by Adoor Bhasi sir, another legend, which has been lend in many movies that came after this one to provide laughs. 8. A friendly ghost who needed attention, care, love and respect from someone and wanted to Rest In Peace after telling someone about her story. 9. A ghost who doesn't try to seduce men to kill them. 10. No bathing scene or anything which almost every other movie provides for viewers to stick on to their seats even if they fail to scare the audience. 11. Simple and pure love without much complications that provides good romance. 12. A ghost who doesn't talk at all but just sings. At least that is good. This too has become symbolism for ghost movies.
I hope you all watch this greatest of the great movies ever made and hope someday we will be able to see restored blu ray or at least DVD version of this movie.
Good Movie
shaukshemi29 May 2006
I was looking for this movie for a long time since i heard the story about it.Atlast i got the movie and i have seen.Wow! i really enjoyed the whole movie.it is a story that explains true love.The story and dialog's of the movie is written by Vaikam Muhammad Basheer who was one of the greatest novelist in Malayalam.It tells the story of a girl named Bhargavi who was murdered without fulfilling her dreams.Meanwhile a person came to her house as tenant.His intention was to write novels, Then the spirit of Bhargavi comes and tries to make him write the true story of her that how she was murdered.At last the writer completed his novel and resolved the whole mystery behind her murder.
Wide range from the past
sudhakaranakhilan7 June 2020
Go back to the past and revisit cult classics have always been a pleasure for me. Now it's the time to talk something about a classic one from the Malayalam film industry, it's none other than Bhargavi Nilayam. The title is so familiar to every Keralites because of the vast influence of the movie. Bhargavi Nilayam connotes every dilapidated or even strange houses or buildings even now because it's been so tagged in the common front of Malayalis. Talking about the film, Bargavi Nilayam always relates to the atmosphere of horror concept but I would like to relate this film to a musical or somehow a romantically one. We know a spirit or a ghost might be the biggest element inside the plot but what finds me so interested in the film is the love between SK and Bhargavi. It was so poetical. How does their relationship begin? How it becomes so deepen? Everything was the soul concept that I can find in the movie. So apart from the classification of this film into the horror genre, I would like to add it as a musical, romance film. Baburaj's music we can't say anything because it's been taught, taught and taught a lot more from the past. The movie also has a current appeal. It talks about the power of art. Were P J Antony's character tries to kill Madhu's character only because he is afraid of the novel written by Madhu. It points out the current scenario of the Indian atmosphere where the privileged, higher class people especially politicians's afraid of the writers and journalists which were the result of the murder of Gawri Lankesh, M M Kalburgi, Govind Pansare. Bhargavi Nilayam has that kind of a wide appeal to the current atmosphere of our society.
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