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Thenmavin Kombath
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Wikipedia article
'Thenmavin Kombath' is a 1994 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Priyadarshan. It was produced and edited by N. Gopalakrishnan. The film stars Mohanlal, Shobana, and Nedumudi Venu, with Kaviyoor Ponnamma, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Sukumari, Kuthiravattam Pappu, Sreenivasan, Sankaradi, and Sharat Saxena in supporting roles. The background score was composed by S. P. Venkatesh, while the Berny-Ignatius duo composed the songs. K. V. Anand was the cinematographer.
The film performed well at the box office and was the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year. The film won two National Film AwardsBest Cinematography for Anand and Best Production Design for Sabu Cyril, and five Kerala State Film Awards (including Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value).[http://www.malayalamcinema.com/News-6/STATE+FILM+AWARDS++1969++2005.html?newsid=19&linkid=6 Malayalamcinema.com, Official website of AMMA]. Malayalamcinema.com (1985-10-26). Retrieved on 2012-02-02. 'Thenmavin Kombath' is now considered by audiences and critics to be among the best comedy films in Malayalam cinema.
The film was remade in Tamil as 'Muthu' (1995), in Hindi as 'Saat Rang Ke Sapne' (1998) by Priyadarshan himself and in Kannada as 'Sahukara' (2004). The subplot of a man becoming a stranger amidst people speaking in a language unknown to him went on to inspire the core plot of the 2013 Hindi film 'Chennai Express'.
Plot
The story revolves around Manikyan, Sreekrishnan, Karthumbi, and the love triangle between them. Initially, Manikyan and Karthumbi don't get along and get into intense arguments. But they fall in love as time goes on. Manikyan works for Sreekrishnan and Sreekrishnan sees him as a brother. Appakkala is a servant of Sreekrishnan and has a rivalry with Manikyan.
Once when they both are returning from a fair after shopping, Sreekrishnan sees Karthumbi and gets attracted. But then a fight erupts there and they all have to flee. Sreekrishnan flees alone, while Manikyan has to take Karthumbi with him. At night, he flees in the opposite direction and so loses his way. Karthumbi knows the way back, but she pretends she does not know it and enjoys the fun. Manikyan has to struggle to get out of that place. Manikyan says crude words to a shop owner, an old lady and peeked into a room with two married spouses without consent. He was tied to a tree but then untied. It was Karthumbi who caused Manikyan to land in trouble because he didn't understand what the word meant. Karthumbi later revealed that she has no house and her sister was murdered by a Mallikettu Policeman (Sharat Sexena) who is her brother in law. During that time, they fall in love.
Upon returning to Manikyan's village, Sreekrishnan proposes to her and plans to marry her. Manikyan can not resist because Sreekrishnan is like an elder brother to him. But Karthumbi opposes it. When Sreekrishnan gets to know about this, he gets angry, Manikyan becomes his enemy and he tries to take revenge. One day, The Mallikettu policeman arrived and attacked Sreekrishnan. But Manikyan interferes and so he and the Mallikettu policeman engage in a fight in which Manikyan wins. The Mallikettu policeman fainted and Manikyan would chop his limbs off next time.
Another day, Appakala spreads lies about Manikyan murdering Sreekrishnan when his slipper and towel was in the pond. Manikyan had to prove his innocence to his father and mother. But they don't believe him. Karthumbi feels sympathetic to Manikyan. Manikyan runs into Appakala and is furious with Appakala spreading lies about him. Manikyan engages in a fight with Appakala. Then, the townspeople chased Manikyan and Karthumbi through the woods and the water and through the dusty road. Finally, Sreekrishnan appeared and everyone stopped chasing. Everyone in town realized that Appakalan tricked them all. He is punished by doing sit ups in front of everyone. Sreekrishnan realized his mistakes and married the woman who loved him for so long and reconciles with Manikyan as he unites with Karthumbi.
Cast
* Mohanlal as Manikyan
* Shobhana as Karthumbi
* Nedumudi Venu as Sreekrishnan Thampuran
* Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Yeshodhamma
* KPAC Lalitha as Karthu
* Sukumari as Ginjimooda Gandhari
* Sreenivasan as Appakkala
* Sankaradi as Kannayyan
* Kuthiravattom Pappu as Chakkutty
* Geetha Vijayan as Chinnu
* Nandhu as Thimmayan
* Sonia as Kuyilu
* Khadeeja as Aadivasi
* Sharat Saxena as Mallikkettu
Soundtrack
R. D. Burman was initially signed in as the music composer for the film, as revealed by Burman himself in an interview to journalists in Cochin, during his visit to the city, just a few weeks before his death. But he died before he could complete the compositions of the film and was later replaced.
Berny-Ignatius was accused for plagiarism for at least three of the songs in the film. The song "Ente Manasinoru Naanam" is said to be an adaptation of the popular Hindi classic "Piya Milanko Jaana", sung by Pankaj Mullick. Another song in the film, "Nila Pongal" is accused to be an imitation of a Bengali song, "Sun Mere Bandhu Re". The "Manam Thelinje vanne" song is a copy of the Ilaiyaraaja song "Aasai Athigam" from the Tamil movie "Marupadiyum". Berny-Ignatius were awarded the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director despite the allegations, which created a controversy. Veteran music director G. Devarajan returned three of the four state awards he had won claiming that the government was honouring pirates in film music.
Reception
The film ran for more than 250 days in theatres and was the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year The film is remembered as one of the best comedy films in the history of Malayalam cinema. Film critic Kozhikodan included the film on his list of the 10 best Malayalam movies of all time.
Awards
; National Film Awards[http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm42thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=42NFA.pdf 42nd National Film Award(1994)]
* Best Production Design- Sabu Cyril
* Best Cinematographer- K. V. Anand
;Filmfare Awards South
*Filmfare Award for Best Actress Malayalam Shobhana
; Kerala State Film Awards
* Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value
* Best Art Director Sabu Cyril
* Best Music Director- Berny-Ignatius
* Second Best Actor Nedumudi Venu
* Second Best Actress Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Remakes
The film was remade in Tamil as 'Muthu' (1995), in Hindi as 'Saat Rang Ke Sapne' (1998) by Priyadarshan himself, in Kannada as 'Sahukara' (2004). and in Bangla (Bangladesh) as Raja (1999).
References
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