Classmates (film)
Encyclopedia
Classmates is a 2006 Malayalam musical
mystery-thriller film directed by Lal Jose
and written by James Albert
. The film has an ensemble cast
starring Prithviraj
, Narain
, Indrajith
, Jayasurya
, Kavya Madhavan
, Jagathy Sreekumar
, Balachandra Menon
and Radhika
. The music is composed by Alex Paul
with the lyrics by Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma
. The cinematography was by Rajeev Ravi
and the editing by Ranjan Abraham.
The story revolves around the college graduate class of 1992. In 2006, working in different corners of the world, the friends get together for a class reunion
to revive the joy and laughter of their student days. Shockingly on the night of the reunion one of the classmates gets almost murdered and goes into a coma.
It is known as one of the biggest blockbusters in the Malayalam film industry and is frequently referenced in Keralite popular culture. The film went on to win the Kerala State Film Award
s for Best Popular Film
(Prakash Damodaran and P. K. Muralidharan) and Best Story
(James Albert).
) has a beautiful voice and is the college singer. P. Sukumaran (Prithviraj
) is a firebrand student leader with empathy towards the left front. Satheesan (Jayasurya
) leads the opposite faction, and is sympathetic towards a more capitalist outlook, and Vasu (Vijeesh) is his trusted friend. Pius (Indrajith
), a rich and spoiled brat and son of Gulf settled parents, is the campus Romeo and Sukumaran's best friend. Thara Kurup (Kavya Madhavan
) is the daughter of Muvattupuzha
MLA and a danseuse who keeps on winning awards for the college with her performance. Fr. Esthappanachan (Jagathy Sreekumar
) is a professor.
It was Murali's dream that these classmates should have a reunion ten years from the date of graduation. However, Murali dies under mysterious circumstances. His parents, Prof. Iyer (Balachandra Menon
) and Lakshmi Teacher (Shobha Mohan), who both teach at the college, decide to fulfill their departed son's dream and bring his classmates together for a reunion. Sukumaran is now a diamond dealer in Mumbai. He had married but later got divorced for personal reasons. Satheesan is now an MLA, following his dreams to become a political leader while Vasu continues to be his sidekick. Pius is now settled in the Middle East, while Thara, still unmarried, now runs a dancing school.
The coming together of these classmates is an occasion for the participants to relive the past and go nostalgic. It also brings out the story of the friend's death and subsequent events lead to the suspicion that the death of the classmate might not have been an isolated incident.
theatre multiplexes. The film went on to gross 23 crores with a 125 day run.
, with which most of the target audience were able to identify. Many viewers responded that the movie was almost like a walk down memory lane. Also, the technique of flashback, used throughout the movie, added to the suspense and visual charm that Lal Jose had managed to maintain.
Rather than giving importance to a pivotal character, the movie incorporated many prominent young actors of Malayalam cinema
and was a mix of various aspects of a campus
movie, such as romance, politics, songs, action and comedy
. All of the songs in this movie were popular, especially "Ente Khalbile".
The performance of actress Radhika (Raziya) was highly appreciated. Classmates has been remade in Tamil as Ninaithale Inikkum
, with Prithviraj
playing the lead again. Narain is replaced by Shakthi Vasu and Kavya is replaced by Priyamani.
and Telugu Classmates (2007 film)
with sumanth
playing the lead, sada
in place of kavya
in 2007.
and composed by Alex Paul
.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
mystery-thriller film directed by Lal Jose
Lal Jose
Lal Jose is an Indian film director. His debut film as a director is Oru Maravathoor Kanavu . His popular films include Meesa Madhavan , Classmates and Arabikkatha .- Biography :...
and written by James Albert
James Albert (screenwriter)
James Albert is an Indian screenwriter who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He is probably most popular for his debut screenplay Classmates .-Filmography:-External links:...
. The film has an ensemble cast
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
starring Prithviraj
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Prithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....
, Narain
Narain (actor)
Narain is an Indian film actor, who appears in Malayalam and Tamil films.- Personal life:Narain was born in Thrissur, Kerala to Malayali parents. His father is Ponnani Kizhakke Kalathil T.M.Ramakrishnan Nair and his mother is Shantha Nair...
, Indrajith
Indrajith
Indrajith is an Indian film actor. He is the elder son of late Malayalam actor Sukumaran and actress Mallika. His brother Prithviraj is also an actor...
, Jayasurya
Jayasurya
Jayasurya is an Indian film actor and comedian. He made his debut in 2001 in the Malayalam film Dosth and has since acted in about 50 films, notable ones being Swapnakkoodu , Pulival Kalyanam , Chathikkatha Chanthu , Classmates , Gulumaal , Happy Husbands and...
, Kavya Madhavan
Kavya Madhavan
Kavya Madhavan is an Indian film actress who works in Malayalam cinema. She made her debut in Pookkalam Varavayi as a child artist. In 1999, she became a lead actress in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikhil.-Background:...
, Jagathy Sreekumar
Jagathy Sreekumar
Sreekumar Achary, better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar, is an Indian film actor who has performed in more than 1,000 Malayalam films. He has also directed two films and has written screenplays for two films...
, Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon is an Indian film actor, director, script writer, lyricist, and producer who works in Malayalam cinema. He made some popular films in the 1980s and 1990s...
and Radhika
Radhika (malayalam actress)
Radhika is a Malayalam film actress. She made her debut in a small role in Rajasenan's movie Darling Darling. She became popular by the character Razia in director Lal Jose's blockbuster movie Classmates.-Filmography:- External links :* *...
. The music is composed by Alex Paul
Alex Paul
Alex Paul is an Indian music director mostly active in Malayalam cinema.- Biography :Alex Paul, born in Kochi, Kerala, is the son of A.M. Paul, a music artist who formed the first Orchestra troupe in Kochi...
with the lyrics by Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma
Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma
Vayalar Sarathchandravarma is a noted Malayalam film lyricist. His lyrics have proved that he has inherited his father, Vayalar Ramavarma’s gift of poetry. He is a youthful entertainer by penning soothe romantic songs. All his recent contribution has got a large amount attention among Malayalam...
. The cinematography was by Rajeev Ravi
Rajeev Ravi
Rajeev Ravi is an Indian cinematographer. A 1997 graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India. He first assisted in the Malayalam film, Pranayavarnangal. His first independent work is Chandni Bar...
and the editing by Ranjan Abraham.
The story revolves around the college graduate class of 1992. In 2006, working in different corners of the world, the friends get together for a class reunion
Class reunion
A class reunion is a meeting of former classmates, typically organized at or near their former school by one of the class on or around an anniversary of their graduation. Former teachers may be invited as well...
to revive the joy and laughter of their student days. Shockingly on the night of the reunion one of the classmates gets almost murdered and goes into a coma.
It is known as one of the biggest blockbusters in the Malayalam film industry and is frequently referenced in Keralite popular culture. The film went on to win the Kerala State Film Award
Kerala State Film Award
The Kerala State Film Awards are the most prestigious film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy since 1998 on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala, India....
s for Best Popular Film
Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value winners:-References:**...
(Prakash Damodaran and P. K. Muralidharan) and Best Story
Kerala State Film Award for Best Story
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Story winners:-References:**...
(James Albert).
Synopsis
Murali (NarainNarain (actor)
Narain is an Indian film actor, who appears in Malayalam and Tamil films.- Personal life:Narain was born in Thrissur, Kerala to Malayali parents. His father is Ponnani Kizhakke Kalathil T.M.Ramakrishnan Nair and his mother is Shantha Nair...
) has a beautiful voice and is the college singer. P. Sukumaran (Prithviraj
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Prithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....
) is a firebrand student leader with empathy towards the left front. Satheesan (Jayasurya
Jayasurya
Jayasurya is an Indian film actor and comedian. He made his debut in 2001 in the Malayalam film Dosth and has since acted in about 50 films, notable ones being Swapnakkoodu , Pulival Kalyanam , Chathikkatha Chanthu , Classmates , Gulumaal , Happy Husbands and...
) leads the opposite faction, and is sympathetic towards a more capitalist outlook, and Vasu (Vijeesh) is his trusted friend. Pius (Indrajith
Indrajith
Indrajith is an Indian film actor. He is the elder son of late Malayalam actor Sukumaran and actress Mallika. His brother Prithviraj is also an actor...
), a rich and spoiled brat and son of Gulf settled parents, is the campus Romeo and Sukumaran's best friend. Thara Kurup (Kavya Madhavan
Kavya Madhavan
Kavya Madhavan is an Indian film actress who works in Malayalam cinema. She made her debut in Pookkalam Varavayi as a child artist. In 1999, she became a lead actress in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikhil.-Background:...
) is the daughter of Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
MLA and a danseuse who keeps on winning awards for the college with her performance. Fr. Esthappanachan (Jagathy Sreekumar
Jagathy Sreekumar
Sreekumar Achary, better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar, is an Indian film actor who has performed in more than 1,000 Malayalam films. He has also directed two films and has written screenplays for two films...
) is a professor.
It was Murali's dream that these classmates should have a reunion ten years from the date of graduation. However, Murali dies under mysterious circumstances. His parents, Prof. Iyer (Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon
Balachandra Menon is an Indian film actor, director, script writer, lyricist, and producer who works in Malayalam cinema. He made some popular films in the 1980s and 1990s...
) and Lakshmi Teacher (Shobha Mohan), who both teach at the college, decide to fulfill their departed son's dream and bring his classmates together for a reunion. Sukumaran is now a diamond dealer in Mumbai. He had married but later got divorced for personal reasons. Satheesan is now an MLA, following his dreams to become a political leader while Vasu continues to be his sidekick. Pius is now settled in the Middle East, while Thara, still unmarried, now runs a dancing school.
The coming together of these classmates is an occasion for the participants to relive the past and go nostalgic. It also brings out the story of the friend's death and subsequent events lead to the suspicion that the death of the classmate might not have been an isolated incident.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Prithiviraj | Sukumaran |
| Indrajith Indrajith Indrajith is an Indian film actor. He is the elder son of late Malayalam actor Sukumaran and actress Mallika. His brother Prithviraj is also an actor... |
Pius George |
| Kavya Madhavan Kavya Madhavan Kavya Madhavan is an Indian film actress who works in Malayalam cinema. She made her debut in Pookkalam Varavayi as a child artist. In 1999, she became a lead actress in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikhil.-Background:... |
Thara Kurup |
| Narain Narain (actor) Narain is an Indian film actor, who appears in Malayalam and Tamil films.- Personal life:Narain was born in Thrissur, Kerala to Malayali parents. His father is Ponnani Kizhakke Kalathil T.M.Ramakrishnan Nair and his mother is Shantha Nair... |
Murali |
| Jayasurya Jayasurya Jayasurya is an Indian film actor and comedian. He made his debut in 2001 in the Malayalam film Dosth and has since acted in about 50 films, notable ones being Swapnakkoodu , Pulival Kalyanam , Chathikkatha Chanthu , Classmates , Gulumaal , Happy Husbands and... |
Satheesan Kanjikuzhi |
| Radhika Radhika (malayalam actress) Radhika is a Malayalam film actress. She made her debut in a small role in Rajasenan's movie Darling Darling. She became popular by the character Razia in director Lal Jose's blockbuster movie Classmates.-Filmography:- External links :* *... |
Raziya |
| Vijeesh | Vaalu Vasu |
| Jagathy Sreekumar Jagathy Sreekumar Sreekumar Achary, better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar, is an Indian film actor who has performed in more than 1,000 Malayalam films. He has also directed two films and has written screenplays for two films... |
Esthappanachan |
| Balachandra Menon Balachandra Menon Balachandra Menon is an Indian film actor, director, script writer, lyricist, and producer who works in Malayalam cinema. He made some popular films in the 1980s and 1990s... |
Professor Iyer |
| Sobha Mohan | Lakshmi |
| Suraj Venjaramood Suraj Venjaramood Suraj Venjaramood is a Malayalam film actor and mimicry artist. He mainly plays comic roles, though he has played some lead roles as well.-Life:... |
Ousepp (as Suraaj) |
| V.K.Sriraman | Raziya's father |
| Sukumari Sukumari Sukumari is an Indian film actress who has primarily acted in Malayalam and Tamil films. She has been acting since she was 10 years old and has acted in various roles. The total number of her films is presumed to be about two-thousand. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of... |
Sukumaran's mother |
| Anoop Chandran | 'Pazhanthuni' Koshi |
Awards
- Radikha: Best Supporting Actress in Amrita Films Awards 2006
- James Albert: Best Scriptwriter in AsianetAsianetAsianet Communications Limited is an Indian media conglomerate jointly owned by STAR TV and Jupiter Entertainment. Formed in 1991 and headquartered in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in the south Indian state of Kerala, the company owns several television channels including Asianet, the first...
filmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
awards - James Albert: Kerala State Film Award for Best StoryKerala State Film Award for Best StoryThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Story winners:-References:**...
- Kerala State Film AwardKerala State Film AwardThe Kerala State Film Awards are the most prestigious film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy since 1998 on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala, India....
for Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value. - Vineeth SreenivasanVineeth SreenivasanVineeth Sreenivasan is an Indian playback singer, film actor, director, and screenwriter. He is the son of actor Sreenivasan. He made his debut as a director with his film Malarvaadi Arts Club .- Biography :...
: Best Male Playback singerPlayback singerA playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
Box-office performance
The film was a run-away box office success. It created box office records and spawned a whole new genre of college-based films in the Malayalam film industry. It had a record run of 150 days at ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
theatre multiplexes. The film went on to gross 23 crores with a 125 day run.
Critical acclaim
Classmates garnered significant critical acclaim and mass popularity. The well-told story showcased believable characters, who were wonderfully portrayed by the ensemble cast of a younger generation of artists. However, the immense popularity of the movie can be mainly attributed to the portrayal of college life in KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, with which most of the target audience were able to identify. Many viewers responded that the movie was almost like a walk down memory lane. Also, the technique of flashback, used throughout the movie, added to the suspense and visual charm that Lal Jose had managed to maintain.
Rather than giving importance to a pivotal character, the movie incorporated many prominent young actors of Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
and was a mix of various aspects of a campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
movie, such as romance, politics, songs, action and comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
. All of the songs in this movie were popular, especially "Ente Khalbile".
The performance of actress Radhika (Raziya) was highly appreciated. Classmates has been remade in Tamil as Ninaithale Inikkum
Ninaithale Inikkum (2009 film)
Ninaithale Inikkum is a 2009 Tamil mystery-drama film directed by Kumaravelan. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Sakthi Vasu, Priyamani, Karthik Kumar and Anuja Iyer in the lead roles while K. Bhagyaraj and Manobala play supporting roles. The film's score was composed by Vijay Antony.The film...
, with Prithviraj
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Prithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....
playing the lead again. Narain is replaced by Shakthi Vasu and Kavya is replaced by Priyamani.
and Telugu Classmates (2007 film)
Classmates (2007 film)
Classmates is a 2007 Tollywood film that is a remake of the Malayalam hit of the same name. The film stars Sumanth, Ravi Varma, Sharwanand, Sadha, Sunil, & Kamalinee Mukherjee. K. Vijaya Bhaskar directed the film and Sravanti Ravi Kishore produced it...
with sumanth
Sumanth
Sumanth is a Telugu film actor. He is the nephew of actor Akkineni Nagarjuna and grandson of actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao. He is also a partner in Annapurna Studios, a prominent film studio/production house that was established in 1975 by his grandfather....
playing the lead, sada
Sada
Sada as a surname may refer to:*Daniel Sada , Mexican writer*Eugenio Garza Sada , Mexican businessman and philanthropist*Georges Sada , Iraqi author and statesman*Masashi Sada , Japanese folk singer...
in place of kavya
Kavya
Kavya refers to the Sanskrit literary style used by Indian court poets flourishing from the first half of the seventh century AD. This literary style is characterised by abundant usage of figures of speech, metaphors, similes, and hyperbole to create its emotional effects...
in 2007.
Soundtrack
The songs were written by Vayalar Sarath Chandra VarmaVayalar Sarath Chandra Varma
Vayalar Sarathchandravarma is a noted Malayalam film lyricist. His lyrics have proved that he has inherited his father, Vayalar Ramavarma’s gift of poetry. He is a youthful entertainer by penning soothe romantic songs. All his recent contribution has got a large amount attention among Malayalam...
and composed by Alex Paul
Alex Paul
Alex Paul is an Indian music director mostly active in Malayalam cinema.- Biography :Alex Paul, born in Kochi, Kerala, is the son of A.M. Paul, a music artist who formed the first Orchestra troupe in Kochi...
.
- "Kattadi Thanalum" - Vidhu PrathapVidhu PrathapVidhu Prathap is an Indian playback singer born on September 1, 1980. He has sung many songs in over a hundred and fifty films in mostly Malayalam and a few in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu languages...
, Reju Joseph, Ramesh Babu, Cicily - "Kathirunna Pennalle" - Devanand, Jyotsna
- "Vote" - M G Sreekumar, PradeepPradeepKavi Pradeep , born Ramchandra Baryanji Dwivedi, was a renowned poet and songwriter who is best known for his patriotic song, Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo, written as tribute to the soldiers who had died defending the country, during the Sino-Indian War.His first recognition came for his patriotic lyrics...
- "Ente Khalbile" - Vineeth SreenivasanVineeth SreenivasanVineeth Sreenivasan is an Indian playback singer, film actor, director, and screenwriter. He is the son of actor Sreenivasan. He made his debut as a director with his film Malarvaadi Arts Club .- Biography :...
- "Ente Khalbile" - SujathaSujatha MohanSujatha 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...
In popular culture
- An alcohol addicts association called Glassmates was initiated in many districts in Kerala, its name intending to be a pun on the name of the movie.
- The film spawned a whole new genre of college campus-based films, which have dominated box-office earnings in recent years. Examples include Puthiya MukhamPuthiya MukhamPuthiya Mukham is a 2009 Malayalam action film directed by Diphan and starring Prithviraj Sukumaran. The shooting locations were Kochi, Palakkad, and Malaysia. The music was...
, ChocolateChocolate (2007 film)Chocolate is a Malayalam movie released in 2007, directed by Shafi. This is a campus story entertainer. Main actors are Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Roma, Samvrutha Sunil, and Remya Nabeeshan. Music by Alex Paul and lyrics by Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma and Singers are M.G...
, LollyPopLollyPopLollyPop is a Malayalam film released in 2008. The film is directed by Shafi. It stars Prithviraj, Roma, Kunchacko Boban, Bhavana and Jayasurya. The film started filming on 17 August 2008. It opened to mixed reviews on 21 December.-Plot:...
, etc. All of the films mentioned also star Prithviraj in the lead role.
External links
- Film Review at Gulf NewsGulf NewsGulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...