Kaiyoppu is a 2007 Malayalam film produced and directed by Ranjith, 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...

, Mukesh, and Kushboo Sundar

Kushboo Sundar

Nakhat Khan , better known by her stage name Kushboo is an Indian actress, television hostess and producer.-Early life:...

. This film is considered as one of the best from Ranjith and was critically acclaimed.

Plot

Balachandran (Mammooty), an accountant with a fertilizer company, is also someone with deep passion for books and literature. He is a bachelor, keeping himself shut from the rest of the world. Residing in a small one room at a lodge in Kochi, Balachandran had also started writing a novel, but could not go forward due to writing block. Shivadasan (Mukesh), a publisher, happens to read the initial parts of the novel , and is much enthusiastic about publishing this work. He persuades Balachandran to complete the work as fast as he could, so that it could be published. Shivadasan is confident about the success of this novel. Balachandran asks Shivadasan to hand over certain amount of money to one girl named Fathima, who is suffering from heart ailment. Though not have ever seen her, Balachandran is financially supporting Fatima for some time and she respects and admires him. One day Balachandran gets a call from Padma (Khushboo Sundar)after long years. She was his girl friend during college days, but couldn't get married due to social and financial difference between the families. She was married to a businessman in Mumbai, and is now separated from him. The arrival of Padma brings a new light into his life. They talk for long time on phone, and shares their feelings. He is then carried back to his old college life. Balachandran, in the meantime completes his novel. Shivadasan is all set to publish this work. Balachandran plans to arrive in Kozhikode, his home town for Fathima's heart surgery. Also he has plans to meet Padma after long years. He, in sudden need of finance to meet the surgery expenses, sell of his land.But that night, Faisal Babu, the owner of his lodge is arrested by police for terror charges. Though, they found no evidence at lodge, and had no proof against him, he is taken to the police station as he is a Muslim. Balachandran reaches the station to enquire about Faisal Babu, and is ill treated by the inspector. He is poked fun for helping a Muslim girl and police blames him of being soft towards terrorists. Balachandran loses control over this and replies back emotionally. The senior officer, who arrives at the spot suddenly decides to release Faisal Babu along with Balachandran. He boards a bus to Kozhikode that night with the cash and his novel in the bag. But the next morning a bomb explodes in the bus and Balachandran is one among those who got killed.

Response

Even though the film was not a big hit in theaters, it was well appreciated by serious movie lovers. Produced at a very small budget, this film struggled to retrieve the production cost albeit being critically acclaimed. This is considered as the best script from Ranjith.

Trivia

• This film was shot within a span of two weeks.
• Mammooty, on hearing the script, decided to act without any remuneration.