MB Rajesh and Unnikrishnan Namboothiri
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Mr. Unnikrishnan Namboothiri, the grandfather of all through Malayalam cinema, had personally given me the love of a grandfather beyond cinema. So his demise is so much personal grief and loss to me. I had a close relationship with him for 12 years.
This is the love affair that started in 2009 when one of his phone calls came to me. When I first ran for Parliament. He is tapping my number and calling. I could not believe it. Some of his relatives are in Palakkad constituency. I had unknowingly told them to vote for me. They are calling me by tapping the number to tell me that I should call them directly and request a vote. Called several times and made sure I called them. Then he said to me- “I can’t come to Palakkad and work. I am doing my best by staying here.”
I used to go home every time I went to events in or around Payyanur. When there was a long break in it, he called me once and said, “I think I should see one. I have to come here one day. I do not have the health to travel there.” I assured him that I would come anyway. Payyannur’s journey was getting longer due to my busy schedule. In the meanwhile he was constantly calling. He once called and said, “I’m 95 years old.
It was a sentence that stuck in my mind. I felt great guilt. The next morning he went to the intercity. Payyannur went only to see him. Ignoring the difficulty of walking, he came to the door of the house and received a warm embrace. He spoke a lot, saying that he had only come to see me, so he was not in a hurry. He talked endlessly about Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Mammootty. The group commented on the channel discussions. About the news given by the newspapers against the party. I am confident that the movement will not be discouraged by any of it. It is mandatory to show me the whole house adjoining the house where I live. It was the house that kept many communists from falling into the trap of the police during the party’s ban and emergency. At the age of ninety-five, his eyes lit up as he spoke of protecting his comrades from being handed over to the police. During the conversation, a question suddenly came to my mind. “May I put my hand on my head and bless you?” I did not say no. He said not to do without asking consent! He used to put his hand on his head and recite mantras in Sanskrit for some time. Then good words and greetings in Malayalam through Sneha Valsalyams. Deep hug again before landing. No more need to bring wife and children. I could not fulfill it. It is now a great sorrow for his wife and children.
Unnikrishnan Namboothiri was a staunch communist till his last breath. He always reminded me of my grandfather Krishnan Nair Mash, a communist who I do not remember seeing. Unnikrishnan Namboothiri was my communist grandfather whom I met. I could not get a last look at him because he was on an urgent trip. That phone call that used to come with welfare inquiries, that affectionate smile of the grandfather in the head, that love-kiss when we met is no longer a great emptiness.
My salutations to that whole life that has illuminated commitment, courage, love and creativity alike!
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