Noted filmmaker Bharathan and actress KPAC Lalitha first tied the knot on May 22, 1978, and the marriage registration was held on May 23. Another round of ‘pennu kannal’ was held on May 26 and they got married on June 2 again.
Their wedding was as dramatic as a movie script as it had all the elements such as opposition from family, elopement, wedding and register marriage.
Lalitha got married during the shooting of 'Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham', directed by Shashikumar. She played the role of a princess in the film. Celebrations broke out at the film set after hearing the news about the wedding. The presence of M G Radhakrishnan, Padmarajan and other film stars added to the merrymaking. But Lalitha was in the throes of anxiety until the moment of wedding.
Curiously, Lalitha had played cupid to Bharathan's romantic affair with noted actress Srividya. Bharathan then lived at Paramgushapuram in Chennai. He used to go to Swamiyar Mathom where Lalitha resided to phone Srividya. Only if a woman’s voice was at the other end, Srividya would be given the phone. Bharathan was then working as an art director after a short interval post directing a film 'Prayanam'. He was working on several films simultaneously.
Lalitha had later written about how she and actress Jayabharathi slyly kept track of the romance between Bharathan and Srividya at the film sets. That was not out of jealousy or envy in anyway; just curiosity. But during the shooting of 'Rajahamsam', Bharathan and Srividya fell out with each other.
Bharathan and Lalitha were closely acquainted even before this. Bharathan had invited Lalitha to watch the preview of his first film. However, this led to rumours of them being in love.
When Bharathan returned to Chennai after completing the shoot of 'Rathinirvedam', he went to meet Lalitha. He began that heart-to-heart conversation by saying, "Let's take this serious." And Lalitha agreed but she said she would not commit to this without the approval of Thoppil Bhasi, who was like a guru to her. Thoppil Bhasi who knew Bharathan also gave his blessing.
But Bharathan's parents were annoyed when they came to know about this. They directly came to Chennai from Wadakkanchery. But no matter how much he explained, his parents refused to give in. And Bharathan did not have the courage to oppose them.
"I will not get married to another person. Let's continue like this," an emotional Bharathan told Lalitha, who was by then on the verge of suicide. To pacify her, Bharathan placed a big, round bhindi on her forehead. He pleaded with her to not to do anything rash, and that they would continue to remain as friends for a long time and by then all problems would be resolved.
Lalitha was in Thiruvananthapuram on May 21, 1978, for the shoot of the 'Mukkuvane Snehicha Bhootham'. Bharathan along with Padmarajan were camping at Nikunjam Hotel at Pulimoodu then. After holding discussions, they decided that the marriage should not be delayed any further. And Bharathan summoned for Lalitha that day. They decided to conduct the marriage the very next day. To keep the wedding under the wraps, they picked the Kumarankovil near Thakkala for the wedding. They travelled to the venue in the car of Nikunjam Krishnan Nair. As they had not sought prior permission, the wedding had to be held outside the temple. As the wedding had to be registered the next day itself, they decided to discreetly call the registrar to the house.
Director Shashikumar was also informed as his permission was needed for the actress to leave the set. He gave his blessings and also asked her to return with Bharathan after the wedding. When they returned during the night after the function, the shooting had been stopped and the wedding celebrations were going on in full swing at the film set. When she left for Nilambur the next day for shooting, Bharathan also joined her in the train journey. But he got off at Shoranur to inform his family.
However, the family had already learned about the wedding from the newspaper reports and photos, and they were furious. Bharathan managed to pacify his father. And thus another wedding celebration was held at Guruvayur on June 2.
