Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam as a Metaphorical Soundwalk: An Analysis
Keywords:
Film Studies, Space, Sound Studies, Soundscape, SoundwalkAbstract
The article “Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam as a Metaphorical Soundwalk: An analysis” examines the 2022 Malayalam film directed by Lijo Jose Pelliseri and scripted by S. Hareesh as a metaphorical soundwalk. Soundwalk, a vital concept in Sound studies, is listening to one’s surroundings while walking. In this context, the researcher intends to read the film as a soundwalk considering its diverse soundscape. The protagonist, James, drifts into a midday slumber during his journey from Velankanni, setting the stage for a unique sonic experience. The study employs soundscape analysis to dissect various sonic elements, highlighting the immersive nature of sound in film. By bridging film analysis with sound studies, the paper offers fresh perspectives on how sound influences our perception of space and storytelling. This interdisciplinary approach contributes to the scarcity of sound studies research in India, making the study significant for scholars of film studies seeking innovative methodologies and insights.
References
Adams, M. D., Bruce, N., Davies, W., Cain, R., Jennings, P., Carlyle, A., Cusack, P., Hume, K., & Plack, C. (2008, April). Soundwalking as a methodology for understanding soundscapes [Conference session]. Institute of Acoustics Spring Conference 2008, University of Salford, Reading, UK. https://salfordrepository.worktribe.com/preview/ 1501904/Adams_etal_2008_Soundwalking_as_Methodology.pdf
Adhithya., Sreenivasan, S., & Deepauk, M. (Hosts). (2023, March 05). Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam [Audio podcast episode]. In The Other Banana. Spotify for Podcasters. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theotherbanana/episodes/Lijo -Jose-Pellisserys-Nanpakal -Nerath-Mayakkam-e1vsei1/a-a9ef7sr
Ahmed, A. (2023). Sounding spaces and walking spirits: Watching Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam. Maktoob media. https://maktoobmedia.com/more/film-and-tv/sounding-spaces-and-walking-spirits-watching-nanpakal-nerathu-mayakkam/
Akhilan, S. (2023). Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2022). IMDb website. https://www.imdb. com/title/tt15477504/
Behrendt, F. (2018). Sound walking. In M. Bull (Ed.), The Routledge companion to sound studies (pp. 249-257). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315722191-28
Berry, D. M. (2019). What are the digital humanities? The British Academy. https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/what-are-digital-humanities/
Bull, M. (2019). The Routledge companion to sound studies. Routledge.
Bull, M., & Back, L. (2020). The Auditory Culture Reader. Routledge.
Cage, J. (2023). Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2022) - Movie Review | Mammootty | Lijo Jose Pellissery [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr638q0CKHs
Devan, A. (2023, March 12). Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam features in The New York Times’ list of top five international movies. Cinema Express. https://www.cinemaexpress.com /malayalam/news/2023/mar/12/nanpakal-nerathu-mayakkam-features-in-the-newyork -times-listicle-40954.html
Digital humanities. (2023). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Digital _humanities
Jose, L. (Director). (2022). Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam [In this Malayalam-Tamil drama, an irritable James wakes up on a bus believing he is Sundaram, a man who disappeared from a quiet village years ago.]. Mammootty Kampany.
Lingold, M. C., Mueller, D., & Trettien, W. (2018). Digital sound studies. Duke University Press.
Mammootty Kampany. (2023). Chat with Lijo Jose Pellissery | Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam | Special Interview | Mammootty [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ZM83j091NzQ&t=10s
Mammootty Kampany. (2023). Mammootty & S Hareesh in an Open Talk with Ramesh Pisharody | Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam Special [Video]. YouTube. https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=UbCGT0n4GgMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbCGT0n4GgM
Merriam-Webster. (2023). Definition of sound. https://www.merriam-webster.com/ dictionary/sound
Merriam-Webster. (2023). Definition of sound. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary /sound
Miles, K., & Segall, R. (2023). Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam MOVIE REVIEW!!! | Mammootty | Lijo Jose Pellissery [Video]. OUR STUPID REACTIONS! | YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzWca8 ifMLg
Nair, S. (2023). Mammootty gets off a bus; Goes down a rabbit hole. Rediff. https://www. rediff.com/movies/ column/nanpakal-nerathu-mayakkam-mammootty-gets-off-a-bus-goes-down-a-rabbit-hole/20230317.htm
Nordquist, R. (2013). Definition and Examples of Corpora in Linguistics. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com /what-is-corpus-language-1689806
Pinch, T., & Bijsterveld, K. (2012). The Oxford handbook of sound studies. Oxford University Press.
Schafer, R. M. (1994). The Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World. Destiny Books.
Sreenivasan, S. (2023). “A letter to Lijo Jose Pellissery”. The Seventh Art. https://theseventhart.info/2023/01/25/a- letter-to-lijo-jose-pellissery/
Sreenivasan, S. (2023). “Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2022) – Part 2”. The Seventh Art. https://theseventhart.info /2023/01/31/nanpakal-nerathu-mayakkam-2022-part-2/
Sterne, J. (2003). The audible past: Cultural origins of sound reproduction. Duke University Press.
Sterne, J. (2012). The Sound Studies Reader. Routledge.
Westerkamp, H. (2001). Soundwalking. Hildegard Westerkamp - Inside the Soundscape. https://www.hildegardwesterkamp.ca/writings/writingsby/?post_id=13&title=soundwalking
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 ISHAL PAITHRKAM

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.