Moonnam Pakkam
Encyclopedia
Moonnam Pakkam is a 1988 Malayalam drama film
written and directed by Padmarajan
. It stars Jayaram
, Thilakan
, Keerthy, Jagathi Sreekumar, Rahman
, Ashokan
and Ajayan. Keerthy and Ajayan made their debut in this film. The film met with critical acclaim and was also a commercial success.
) retired as a lawyer in mid-1980s following his son's death leads a solitary life in his ancestral house. Thampi's grandson Bhasker aka Pachu (Jayaram
) had completed his medicine from Bangalore. Thampi is excited when his grandson Pachu,comes along with his friends- Lopez (Rahman
, Renjith Menon (Ashokan
) and Krishnankutty (Ajayan) to spend his vacation with grandpa. Their presence brings joy and happiness into Thampi's house. Pachu is engaged to a girl, Bhadra (Keerthy) who happened to be the granddaughter of Thampi's friend. But when Pachu and his friends go to the beach to swim, Pachu drowns and his body is found on the third day (as meant by the title of the movie). But Thampi believes he is alive and will be back one day. He goes around consoling everyone and performs the funeral rites of Pachu. While performing the "bali", he takes the ultimate decision and walks away into the sea with the "balichoru" in his hands to the shock of all others.
and surrounding places. The locales include Colachel (where the ancestral house is set) and Vatta Kottai (where the fort scene and "Thamarakkili" song were picturised).
. G. Venugopal won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer
for the song "Unarumee Ganam".
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
written and directed by Padmarajan
Padmarajan
P. Padmarajan was an Indian author, screenwriter, and film director who contributed in Malayalam language. Padmarajan was the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam, along with Bharathan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely received while also being critically acclaimed...
. It stars Jayaram
Jayaram
Jayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
, Thilakan
Thilakan
Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
, Keerthy, Jagathi Sreekumar, Rahman
Rahman (actor)
Rahman is an Indian film actor who has acted in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films...
, Ashokan
Ashokan (actor)
Ashokan is Malayalam actor who is best known for his roles in Peruvazhiyambalam, In Harihar Nagar and Amaram.-Career:He made debut in 1978 was Peruvazhiyambalam was directed by Padmarajan where he played as a 15 year old boy who becomes fugitive after killing of bully...
and Ajayan. Keerthy and Ajayan made their debut in this film. The film met with critical acclaim and was also a commercial success.
Plot
Thampi (ThilakanThilakan
Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
) retired as a lawyer in mid-1980s following his son's death leads a solitary life in his ancestral house. Thampi's grandson Bhasker aka Pachu (Jayaram
Jayaram
Jayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
) had completed his medicine from Bangalore. Thampi is excited when his grandson Pachu,comes along with his friends- Lopez (Rahman
Rahman (actor)
Rahman is an Indian film actor who has acted in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films...
, Renjith Menon (Ashokan
Ashokan (actor)
Ashokan is Malayalam actor who is best known for his roles in Peruvazhiyambalam, In Harihar Nagar and Amaram.-Career:He made debut in 1978 was Peruvazhiyambalam was directed by Padmarajan where he played as a 15 year old boy who becomes fugitive after killing of bully...
) and Krishnankutty (Ajayan) to spend his vacation with grandpa. Their presence brings joy and happiness into Thampi's house. Pachu is engaged to a girl, Bhadra (Keerthy) who happened to be the granddaughter of Thampi's friend. But when Pachu and his friends go to the beach to swim, Pachu drowns and his body is found on the third day (as meant by the title of the movie). But Thampi believes he is alive and will be back one day. He goes around consoling everyone and performs the funeral rites of Pachu. While performing the "bali", he takes the ultimate decision and walks away into the sea with the "balichoru" in his hands to the shock of all others.
Cast
- JayaramJayaramJayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
as Bhasker aka Bhasi aka Pachu - ThilakanThilakanSurendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
as Thampi - Jagathi Sreekumar as Kavala
- Kirti Singh as Bhadra
- RahmanRahman (actor)Rahman is an Indian film actor who has acted in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films...
as Lopaz - AshokanAshokan (actor)Ashokan is Malayalam actor who is best known for his roles in Peruvazhiyambalam, In Harihar Nagar and Amaram.-Career:He made debut in 1978 was Peruvazhiyambalam was directed by Padmarajan where he played as a 15 year old boy who becomes fugitive after killing of bully...
as Ranjith - Ajayan as Krishnankutty
- JayabharathiJayabharathiJayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....
as Pachu's mother - Venu NagavallyVenu NagavallyVenu Nagavally was an Indian actor, screenwriter and director who was active in Malayalam cinema. Son of late writer, commentator, and broadcaster Nagavally R. S...
as Jayan(Pachu's father) - SomanM. G. SomanM. G. Soman was an actor in Malayalam film. He was considered to be one of the superstars in Malayalam cinema along with Sukumaran and Jayan during the 1970s. He was born in Tiruvalla, Travancore...
Crew
- Story, screenplay, dialogue and direction - P. Padmarajan
- Producer - Balan
- Banner and distributor - Gandhimathi Films
- Cinematography - Venu
- Editor - B. Lenin
- Art - Kurian Sabarigiri
- Stills - Surya Jones
- Make-up - Mohandas
- Costume design - IndransIndransIndrans is a Malayalam film actor and costume designer. He acts mainly in comedy roles. He has acted in over 200 films.Indrans, a Tailor by profession, debuted in the film Choothattam as a costume designer. It was producer Charlie who offered him a chance to assist in costume designing...
- Music - Ilayaraja
- Lyrics - Sreekumaran ThampiSreekumaran ThampiSreekumaran Thampi is a lyricist, director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He is a civil engineer by education.-Film career:Sreekumaran Thampi, was introduced to the Malayalam film industry by P...
Production
Major parts of the film were shot from KanyakumariKanyakumari
Kanyakumari is a town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is also sometimes referred to as Cape Comorin. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is the geographical end of the Indian mainland. The district in Tamil Nadu where the town is located is called Kanyakumari...
and surrounding places. The locales include Colachel (where the ancestral house is set) and Vatta Kottai (where the fort scene and "Thamarakkili" song were picturised).
Soundtrack
The film had two songs composed by Ilayaraja and lyrics by Sreekumaran ThampiSreekumaran Thampi
Sreekumaran Thampi is a lyricist, director, producer, and screenwriter in Malayalam cinema. He is a civil engineer by education.-Film career:Sreekumaran Thampi, was introduced to the Malayalam film industry by P...
. G. Venugopal won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer
Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer winners:-Best Classical Music Singer:-References:**Specific...
for the song "Unarumee Ganam".
- "Unarumee Ganam" — G. VenugopalG. VenugopalG. Venugopal is an Indian playback singer, active mainly in Malayalam films. He also has Tamil and Telugu songs to his credit. Venugopal started his career in the film Odarathammava Aalariyam and has sung in more than 280 films and over 250 albums since then.G. Venugopal is a graduate of Kerala...
- "Thamarakkili" — K. S. ChithraK. S. ChithraK. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films...
& M. G. SreekumarM. G. SreekumarM. G. Sreekumar is a two-time National Award-winning Indian playback singer and music director who works in Malayalam cinema. With a career of over 25 years, he is one of the prominent male singers in the Malayalam film industry. He is known for matching voice with Malayalam actor Mohanlal. He has... - "Nira Maala Chaartthi(Pathos version)" — G. VenugopalG. VenugopalG. Venugopal is an Indian playback singer, active mainly in Malayalam films. He also has Tamil and Telugu songs to his credit. Venugopal started his career in the film Odarathammava Aalariyam and has sung in more than 280 films and over 250 albums since then.G. Venugopal is a graduate of Kerala...