Those good old Malayalam movies...

‘Kalangiyilla’ “Ambattan’ ‘Akasotto’ ‘Kuttimama njan njetti mama!’ All of these will stir up laughter in all those who have watched the super-hit action fantasy movie Yoddha directed by Sangeeth Sivan. Written by Sasidharan Arattuvazhi, the story is based on the English movie ‘The Golden Child’(1986) starring Eddie Murphy. I once happened to watch this movie and immediately noticed the similarities. This movie, however, has a lot more supernatural elements than Yoddha. And of course there is no Mohanlal and Jagathy! I remember that Yoddha came out at the same time as the Mammootty starrer ‘Pappayude Swantham Appoos’. A Mammooty and Mohanlal showdown during the Onam season! (Wikipedia tells me that the release dates were 3rd September and 4th September 1992, respectively). In school our class was divided into two groups: Mammootty and Mohanlal supporters. You can imagine which group I supported!  Anyways both movies were superhits and will be remembered by Malayalis in their own rights.

'നിൻ്റെ അച്ഛനാടാ പറയുന്നത് കത്തി താഴെ ഇടാൻ!'  There won't be many Malayalis who haven't heard this dialogue. While it is used with a humorous touch in trolls and whatnots, this dialogue was part of the most touching scenes in the movie Kireedam. The actors, Mohanlal and Thilakan had clearly given their 100% in this climax scene. Kireedam tells the story of a young man whose dreams are shattered because of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sethumadhavan, affectionately called Sethu, is the eldest darling son of Achuthan Nair, played superbly by Thilakan, a police constable. Achuthan's greatest wish is to make Sethu a Sub Inspector of Police. Sethu, who loves his father very much, tries his best to live upto his expectations and bring his father's dreams to fruition. He is in love with his cousin, and everyone has given their consent for the marriage. So far so good. But then everything turns around as Achuthan is transferred to an obscure village