While many film societies in the state, like Cochin Film Society, had tried out Malayalam subtitles much before MSone started its operations, they couldn’t take it forward like the Facebook group.Rather than doing word by word translation of English subtitles, many of the members, off late, have been experimenting.  Pramod Kumar, in an earlier interview that appeared in a vernacular magazine, is quoted as saying, “Bicycle Thieves is a film that belongs to the neo-realist wave which produced films that used common man’s language.

The film fetched Aravindan two State Film Awards – Best Film and Best Director – in 1979.  Thirty eight years since its release, all that remains of Esthappan in the public space is a copy that resembles a washed-out painting where the contrast of light that Shaji N Karun’s cinematography had weaved in is lost, and countless critique and analytical pieces in various languages.  With the passage of time, the film has come to resemble its protagonist, Esthappan, whom the audience learn of mostly through the accounts of people around him.

The public prosecutor, a sprightly woman named Valsala (Sheela) argues that the accused deserves the death sentence.  We only see the shadow of the accused on the wall, and then get a Bresson-ian shot of her trembling hand clutching the wooden rails during an  emotional outburst.   The film then moves to a flashback sequence, and you finally ‘see’ her; a spirited young woman happily dancing to “Bhoomi devi pushpiniyaayi”, a melodious number.