Narasimham (film)

Narasimham
File:Narasimham (film).jpg DVD cover
Malayalam: നരസിംഹം
Directed by	Shaji Kailas
Produced by	Antony Perumbavoor
Written by	Ranjith
Starring	Mohanlal Thilakan N. F. Varghese Aishwarya Jagathy Sreekumar Kanaka Sai Kumar
Music by	M. G. Radhakrishnan
Cinematography	Sanjeev Sankar
Edited by	L. Bhoominathan
Production company	Aashirvad Cinemas
Distributed by	Swargachitra
Release dates	26 January 2000 (2000-01-26) (India)
Running time	175 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Budget	₹3 crore (US$450,000)<>
Box office	₹21 crore (equivalent to ₹74 crore or US$11 million in 2020)

Narasimham (English: The Man-Lion) is a 2000 Indian Malayalam action drama film directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal in the lead role, along with Thilakan, N. F. Varghese, Aishwarya, Kanaka, Jagathi Sreekumar, and Bharathi in other pivotal roles. This was the first production of Aashirvad Cinemas which is owned by Antony Perumbavoor, a close associate of Mohanlal.

Upon release, the film broke almost all the box office records to become the all-time biggest blockbuster in Malayalam cinema until then. The film completed 175 days in three theatres and 200 days in one theatre and grossed around ₹21 crore (US$3.1 million) in total against a budget of ₹2 crore (US$300,000), making a ₹8 crore (US$1.2 million) profit to the producer. Narasimham generated around ₹7 crore (US$1.0 million) as distributor's share. The film is an all-time highest grossing film in Malayalam Cinema when adjusted to inflation, considering the high increase in number of releasing theatres, ticket rates and money value. It was remade in Telugu as Adhipathi (2001) with Mohan Babu and Nagarjuna appeared in a guest role. The film was re-released under the name Narasimham Returns in 2014, which premiered in Dubai. Later, it was re-released in Kerala at several occasions in time.

Plot

Poovalli Induchoodan (Mohanlal) is sentenced to six years prison life for murdering his classmate. Induchoodan, the only son of Justice Maranchery Karunakara Menon (Thilakan) was framed in the case by the state minister, Manapally Madhavan Nambiar (Narayanan Nair) and his crony DYSP Sankaranarayanan (Bheeman Raghu) to take revenge on idealist judge Menon who had earlier given jail sentence to Manapally in a corruption case. Induchoodan, who had achieved top rank in Indian Civil Service loses the post and Manapally Sudheeran (Saikumar), Manappally's younger son enters the list of civil service trainees. It is later revealed that Ramakrishnan (E A Rajendran) the son of Moopil Nair (Narendra Prasad) was the real killer. Six years passes by and Manapally Madhavan Nambiar, now a former state minister, is dead and Induchoodan, who is all rage at the gross injustice meted out to him - thus destroying his promising life, is released from prison. Induchoodan thwarts Manapally Pavithran (N F Varghese), Manappally's elder son from performing the funeral rituals of his father at Bharathapuzha. Many confrontations between Induchoodan and Manapally's henchmen follow.

Justice Menon and his wife returns to Kerala to stay with Induchoodan. There is an appearance of a girl named Indulekha (Kanaka), who claims to be the daughter of Justice Menon. Menon flatly refuses the claim and banishes her. Forced by circumstances and at the instigation and help of Manapally Pavithran, she reluctantly come out open with the parentage claim. Induchoodan at first thrashes the protesters. But upon knowing the truth from Chandrabhanu(Jagathi Sreekumar) his uncle, he accepts the task of her protection in the capacity as elder brother. Induchoodan decides to marry Indulekha to his good friend Jayakrishnan (Vijayakumar). Induchoodan confronts his father and prods him to accept mistake and acknowledge the parentage of Indulekha. Menon ultimately regrets and secretly goes on to confess to his daughter. The very next morning when Induchoodan returns to Poovally, Indulekha is found dead and Menon is accused of murdering her. The whole act was planned by Pavithran, who after killing Indulekha, forces Raman Nair (Menon's longtime servant) to testify against Menon in court. In court, Nandagopal Maarar (Mammootty), a close friend of Induchoodan and a famous supreme court lawyer, appears for Menon and manages to lay bare the murder plot and hidden intentions of other party. Menon is judged innocent of the crime by court. After confronting Pavithran and promising just retribution to the crime of killing Indulekha, Induchoodan returns to his father who now shows remorse for all his actions including not believing in the innocence of his son. But while speaking to Induchoodan, Menon suffers a heart attack and passes away. At Menon's funeral, Manapally Pavithran arrives to poke fun at Induchoodan and he also tries to carry out the postponed last rituals of his own father. Induchoodan interrupts the ritual and avenges for the death of his sister and father by severely injuring Pavithran. On his way back to peaceful life, Induchoodan accepts Anuradha, (Aishwarya), the strong willed and independent-minded daughter of Mooppil Nair,as his life partner.

Cast

• Mohanlal as Poovalli Induchoodan / Achu
• Aishwarya as Anuradha, the love interest of Induchoodan.
• Thilakan as Justice Maranchery Karunakara Menon, Induchoodan's father.
• Kozhikode Narayanan Nair as Manappally Madhavan Nambiar
• N. F. Varghese as Manappally Pavithran, the elder son of Manappally Madhavan Nambiar.
• Saikumar as Manappally Sudheeran IPS, Manappally Madhavan Nambiar's younger son and Pavithran's younger brother.
• Kanaka as Indulekha, Menon's illegitimate daughter.
• Jagathi Sreekumar as Chandrabhanu, Induchoodan's uncle.
• Bharathi as Induchoodan's mother
• Maniyanpilla Raju as CI Habeeb, Induchoodan's friend.
• V. K. Sreeraman as Venu Master.
• Kalabhavan Mani as Bharathan, Induchoodan's follower.
• Vijayakumar as Jayakrishnan, Induchoodan's friend and jail mate.
• Sadiq
• Irshad
• Narendra Prasad as Moopil Nair, Ramakrishnan and Anuradha's father.
• Rajendran as Ramakrishnan
• Spadikam George as Kalletti Vasudevan
• T. P. Madhavan as Raman Nair, Menon's longtime clerk.
• Mohan Raj as Bhaskaran
• Kollam Thulasi as Public Prosecutor.
• Jagannatha Varma as Judge.
• Bheeman Raghu as DYSP Sankaranarayanan, Pavithran's devoted officer.
• Augustine as District Panchayath President Ezhadi
• Mammootty as Adv. Nandagopal Marar (Cameo)

Box office

The film was released in 32 centres in Kerala and collected a share of ₹3 crore (US$450,000) from 20 days. Upon release the film broke almost all the box office records becoming a record breaking grosser and one of the all-time biggest blockbuster in Malayalam Cinema. The film completed 200 days in one theatre and 175 days in three theatres and grossed around ₹18 crore (US$2.7 million) in total making a ₹8 crore (US$1.2 million) profit to the producer with a distributor share of ₹7 crore (US$1.0 million). The film was made at a budget of ₹2 crore (US$300,000).

Re-release

Narasimham which was originally released on 26 January 2000 was re-released on 5 December 2014 in Dubai after 15 years. The re-release was part of a special programme organised under the title Narasimham Returns on the occasion of celebrating the 15th anniversary of the film. It premiered at Golden Cinemas, Dubai. The premiere was attended by the major cast and crew of the film and subsequent screenings was received well by public. Later, it was released in Kerala. In 2016, Narasimham Returns was re-released in seven districts in Kerala. The special screenings was held in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Kottayam, Kannur, Pathanamthitta and Kollam on 26 January.

Legacy

• The film's punch dialogue "നീ പോ മോനെ ദിനേശാ" ("Nee po mone Dinesha") has become an iconic Malayalam catchphrase.
• The mundu worn by Mohanlal in this film, popularly known as "Narasimhahm Mundu", became a fashion trend among youngsters.
• The film includes five songs composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, of which "Dhaankinakka/Pazhanimala" and Mohanlal's introduction song attained a high level of popularity.
• The film was a record breaking blockbuster and was the highest grossing film of all time.
• This was the 1000th movie of Jagathy Sreekumar.

Accolades

Asianet Film Awards

• Best Film
• Best Director - Shaji Kailas

National Film Academy Award

• Best Actor - Mohanlal

Soundtrack

Narasimham
Soundtrack album by M. G. Radhakrishnan
Released	2000
Genre	Film
Length	31:05
Label	Satyam Audios
Producer	Aashirvad Cinemas
M. G. Radhakrishnan chronology
Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999)Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu1999 Narasimham Pilots (2000)Pilots2000

This film includes 5 songs written by lyricist Gireesh Puthenchery. The songs are composed by composer M. G. Radhakrishnan.

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Notes
1	"Narasimham"	K. J. Yesudas, Chorus	Mohanlal's introduction song
2	"Manjin Mutheduth"	M. G. Sreekumar, Sujatha	End credit song picturised on Mohanlal and Aiswarya
3	"Aarodum Onnum"	K. J. Yesudas, Chorus	Romantic song picturised on Mohanlal and Aiswarya. Not included in DVD release.
4	"Amme Nile"	K. J. Yesudas	Title credit song
5	"Manjin Mutheduth"	Sujatha	Not picturised
6	"Amme Nile"	M. G. Sreekumar	Not picturised
7	"Aarodum Onnum"	K. J. Yesudas, Sujatha, Chorus	Not picturised
8	"Pazhanimala"	M. G. Sreekumar, Chorus	Raga: Madhyamavati

See also

• Aashirvad Cinemas

External links

• Narasimham at IMDb