Azhakiya Ravanan
Encyclopedia
Azhakiya Ravanan is a 1996
Malayalam film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. Starring Mammootty
, Bhanupriya
, Sreenivasan, Innocent, Biju Menon
, Rajan P.Dev, and Cochin Haneefa
, the film is a rag-to-riches story of a person who eventually gets drunk on his success. The music is composed by Vidyasagar
.
) is a rich businessman who returns to his native village in (Alappuzha
). No one in the village is aware of his past. During his childhood he was a servant of the local feudal lord Chatothu Panickar (Rajan P. Dev
). He left the job after getting severely punished for kissing the lord's young daughter. He fled to Mumbai and there he became a successful businessman.
Now he has returned to his native village incognito. He is a very boastful man and revels in the praises showered on him by the sycophants. He reveals his identity to Ambujakshan (Sreenivasan), who is his childhood friend and an aspiring writer. He also confides in him his interest for Panicker's daughter Anuradha (Bhanupriya
), who was his childhood infatuation. Ambujakshan succeeds in convincing Shankar to produce a film by telling him that it would help him to earn the respect of the villagers and win over Anuradha. Thus the production of the film starts under the direction of Sharath (the character played by Biju Menon
), who is the love interest of Anuradha.
Shankar renders unsolicited financial help to Panicker's family. But, he later gets to know about the love developing between Anuradha and the film director and that leads to the stalling of the film's production. Later, Shankar proposes marriage to Anuradha, which she declines. However, the family which is indebted to him coerces her to marry him. Anuradha, who is infuriated, decides that she will not present herself as a virgin before Shankar and makes love with Sharath. After the marriage she learns from Shankar that Sharath had accepted money from him for not creating any trouble for their marriage. This causes another heartbreak for her and she confesses about her relationship with him to Shankar. In the end Shankar forgives her and their marital relationship resumes.
. The songs were very popular. Especially the song Vennila Chandana Kinnam, evokes nostalgic feelings. Lyrics are written by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. The soundtrack of this film won Vidyasagar the Kerala State Film Award for best Music.
Malayalam films of the 1990s
The following is a chronological list of films in the Malayalam cinema and language released in the 1990s.- Highest grossing films of the decade :*1990: His Highness Abdullah*1991: Kilukkam*1992: Yodha*1993: Manichithrathazhu...
Malayalam film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan. Starring Mammootty
Mammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
, Bhanupriya
Bhanupriya
Bhanu Priya is an Indian actress. She was a former leading actress of the Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam film industries from 1980 to 1993...
, Sreenivasan, Innocent, Biju Menon
Biju Menon
Biju Menon is an Indian film actor who has mainly worked in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. He appears mostly in supporting roles, but has also acted in antagonistic roles. He made his debut in 1995 in Mannar Mathai Speaking...
, Rajan P.Dev, and Cochin Haneefa
Cochin Haneefa
Mohammed Haneefa, better known by his stage name Cochin Haneefa was an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portraying villainous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians of Malayalam cinema...
, the film is a rag-to-riches story of a person who eventually gets drunk on his success. The music is composed by Vidyasagar
Vidyasagar (music director)
Vidyasagar is an Award-Winning Indian film music director and music composer in the Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi film industry. He is very popular in South Indian music industry and best known for his soulful melodies. His fast numbers to many films have earned him much fame too. He has...
.
Plot
Shankar Das (MammoottyMammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
) is a rich businessman who returns to his native village in (Alappuzha
Alappuzha
Alappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
). No one in the village is aware of his past. During his childhood he was a servant of the local feudal lord Chatothu Panickar (Rajan P. Dev
Rajan P. Dev
Rajan P Dev was an Indian film and stage actor. He was born in Cherthala in the Alappuzha district of the former state Thiru-Kochi . He had acted in over 140 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada language films. He was noted for his villain roles laced with a touch of humour...
). He left the job after getting severely punished for kissing the lord's young daughter. He fled to Mumbai and there he became a successful businessman.
Now he has returned to his native village incognito. He is a very boastful man and revels in the praises showered on him by the sycophants. He reveals his identity to Ambujakshan (Sreenivasan), who is his childhood friend and an aspiring writer. He also confides in him his interest for Panicker's daughter Anuradha (Bhanupriya
Bhanupriya
Bhanu Priya is an Indian actress. She was a former leading actress of the Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam film industries from 1980 to 1993...
), who was his childhood infatuation. Ambujakshan succeeds in convincing Shankar to produce a film by telling him that it would help him to earn the respect of the villagers and win over Anuradha. Thus the production of the film starts under the direction of Sharath (the character played by Biju Menon
Biju Menon
Biju Menon is an Indian film actor who has mainly worked in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. He appears mostly in supporting roles, but has also acted in antagonistic roles. He made his debut in 1995 in Mannar Mathai Speaking...
), who is the love interest of Anuradha.
Shankar renders unsolicited financial help to Panicker's family. But, he later gets to know about the love developing between Anuradha and the film director and that leads to the stalling of the film's production. Later, Shankar proposes marriage to Anuradha, which she declines. However, the family which is indebted to him coerces her to marry him. Anuradha, who is infuriated, decides that she will not present herself as a virgin before Shankar and makes love with Sharath. After the marriage she learns from Shankar that Sharath had accepted money from him for not creating any trouble for their marriage. This causes another heartbreak for her and she confesses about her relationship with him to Shankar. In the end Shankar forgives her and their marital relationship resumes.
Cast
- MammoottyMammoottyMammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
as Shankar Das - BhanupriyaBhanupriyaBhanu Priya is an Indian actress. She was a former leading actress of the Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam film industries from 1980 to 1993...
as Anuradha - Innocent as Karayogam President TPV Kuruppu
- Biju MenonBiju MenonBiju Menon is an Indian film actor who has mainly worked in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. He appears mostly in supporting roles, but has also acted in antagonistic roles. He made his debut in 1995 in Mannar Mathai Speaking...
as Sharath - Rajan P.Dev as Chathothu Panicker
- Valsala Menon
- Cochin HaneefaCochin HaneefaMohammed Haneefa, better known by his stage name Cochin Haneefa was an Indian film actor, director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portraying villainous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians of Malayalam cinema...
as Varghese - Sreenivasan as Ambujakshan
- Vineeth Kumar
Themes
The film was also a satirical take on the Malayalam film industry. It depicted how rich business men, who are craving for fame, are entrapped by struggling writers and directors to produce films. This phenomenon resulted in the churning out of mediocre films that lack artistic quality and commercial feasibility. The film also showed how money alone cannot win love and how money corrupts love.Soundtrack
The music of the film was composed by VidyasagarVidyasagar (music director)
Vidyasagar is an Award-Winning Indian film music director and music composer in the Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Hindi film industry. He is very popular in South Indian music industry and best known for his soulful melodies. His fast numbers to many films have earned him much fame too. He has...
. The songs were very popular. Especially the song Vennila Chandana Kinnam, evokes nostalgic feelings. Lyrics are written by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. The soundtrack of this film won Vidyasagar the Kerala State Film Award for best Music.
| Song Title | Singers |
|---|---|
| "Dilruba" | K. S. Chitra, Hariharan Hariharan Hariharan may refer to:* Hariharan , ghazal and playback singer from India* Hariharan , Malayalam film director* Githa Hariharan , Indian author and editor based in New Delhi... |
| "Pranaya Mazha" | K. J. Yesudas K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... |
| "Pranaya Mazha" | Sujatha Mohan Sujatha Mohan Sujatha Mohan , usually credited as Sujatha, is an award-winning Indian playback singer who is popular for singing in Malayalam and Tamil movies. She has also sung for Telugu, Kannada and Hindi movies. She is widely popular for her evergreen melodies and her sweet voice is considered to be her... |
| "Sumangali" | K. J. Yesudas K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... |
| "Vennila Chandana" | K. J. Yesudas K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... , Shabnam |