Kanchanamala (kanchanamma)

Kanchanamala (kanchanamma) Biography

Kanchanamala is a social worker from Mukkom, Kozhikode, whose real-life love story has been made to reel life by newcomer R. S. Vimal. The movie titled Ennu Ninte Moideen is running in full-packed houses since its release in September 2015 and has already become an all-time blockbuster. Though several love stories have been made onscreen, the peculiarity about this movie is that it’s a real-life tragic love story which happened 30-50 years ago and its heroine is still alive, living as the widow of her beloved though unmarried. The tragic story touched millions of audience and hundreds of people are reaching Mukkam daily to see Kanchanamala. The director has earlier made a documentary film on her – Jalam Kondu Murivettaval in 2006, based on the book written by P. T. Mohammed Saddiq. Their love story happened in 1960s when inter-caste marriage was a taboo to Indian society.

The love story of Kanchanamala and B. P. Moideen happened around 60 years ago in a small beautiful village Mukkom of Kozhikode District. Kanchanamala belonged to a conservative Thiyya Family while Moideen belonged to a conservative Muslim family and both these families were rich. Though belonging to different castes and religions, both the families were good friends. Kanchanamala and Moideen studied in the same school and it was only during the college days, love blossomed between the two. Moideen was a social activist then, associated with leftist movement in Kozhikode. He was not interested in studies. His father Unni Moideen Sahib, Mukkom Panchayat president was a congress leader. For the same reason, there existed a tensed relationship between father and Moideen.

As soon as their families came to know about the love matter, Kanchanamala was forced to stop her studies while Moideen also faced huge objection from his father. Both the fathers were not in a condition to let them marry, only because both feared that such a marriage may result in an inter-religious conflict in Mukkam. As Kanchanamala was not willing to marry someone whom her parents wished, she was kept under home arrest while Moideen was asked to leave home by his father.

Moideen, who was a local hero then, was a good football player too. He published Kerala’s first sports magazine, that too by the hands of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was associated with social activities and theatre plays as well. As lovers were not able to meet, they communicated through letters (in the 1960s and 1970s). Often servants played the role of messengers. When their letters got caught, they discovered a new coded language to write letters, which only Moideen and Kanchanamala could understand. Kanchanamala was kept under home arrest for long 22 years, which is indeed unbelievable and they got opportunity to meet only a few times in this long interval. One long interval was 10 long years!!!

Though Moideen several times persuaded Kanchanamala to flee from Mukkom, she decided to wait till all her sisters got married and it took a long time! Though they decided several times to run away, fate prevented it in the form of father’s death, brother’s death etc. At last, when they finally decided to fly to Gulf, death took him away. He was drowned in a boat mishap in the river Iruvazhinjippuzha in July 1982 while returning with the passport of both. As a hero, he saved many, but drowned himself. It was a big news in local newspapers then.

Though Kanchanamala tried to commit suicide, her family prevented her from it. She was welcomed by Moideen’s mother as daughter-in-law ending her home arrest and she still lives as the unmarried widow of Moideen sacrificing a whole life for him. She currently runs B.P Moideen Seva Mandir, a charitable organization started by Moideen’s mother to continue the social activities started by Moideen. Once ran in prosperity serving hundreds of unsheltered women, serving education and a huge collection of books, she lost the property to Moideen’s relatives as she is not his wife!!! With the movie’s release she came to limelight once again. Now many people including celebrities like actor Dileep are coming forward to help her. Kanchanamala is now 74 or 75, busy taking classes and welcoming everyone who wants to visit her at Mukkom. It has been long 33 years since she lost her beloved Moideen.

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Updated: November 11, 2015