Spadikam

Infobox Film
name = Spadikam


image_size = 150
caption = The DVD Cover
director = Bhadran
producer = R. Mohan
writer = Bhadran
narrator =
starring = Mohanlal, Thilakan, Urvashi, KPAC Lalitha
music = S. P. Venkatesh
cinematography = J. Williams
editing = M. S. Mani
distributor = Goodknight Films
released = 1995
runtime =
country = India
language = Malayalam
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0292246

"Spadikam" (Prism) (1995) is a Malayalam film directed by Bhadran; starring Mohanlal in the role of a real life rowdy Thomas Chacko aka "Aadu Thoma". The film was critically acclaimed, and was also a blockbuster. The movie's name "Sphadikham" which means "Prism" is metaphor for the human nature. Just like how white light gets split into many colors by a prism, every human transforms himself when faced with experiences in life. It was later remade in Tamil as Veerappu with famous Tamil director Sundar C in the male lead.

Plot

Chacko Master (Thilakan) is a high-school headmaster who is a president's medal winner in Mathematics. He is a very strict teacher and emphasizes memorization and discipline at the expense of analysis and creativity in school. He punishes his students ruthlessly and gives no special treatment to his son Thomas, who is also a student in his class. Chacko always assumes that his son is behind every mischief in class, and punishes him until the actual culprit gives himself in.

Unlike his father, Thomas isn't too good in math (he cannot memorize the binomial theorem) but he is very creative and productive in designing mechanical and electronic gadgetry like a mechanical school bell which his father destroys later. For instance, he impresses his mother and sister by developing an AM radio receiver inside a soap-case at a time when phonographs were more prevalent in his village. When his father finds out about the receiver he throws it into flames and destroys it; he forces his son to focus on his studies instead of being an inventor. Thomas works hard, and he does well in his language paper, but his dad asks his language teacher to grade his paper with no leniency, so that he gets a low grade. When he finds out that even his most beloved language teacher was biased against him he becomes outraged. He runs away from home.

Fourteen years later, he returns to his village. Thomas, by now, had changed into a totally different person. He was no longer interested in clockwork and gadgetry; he owned a stone quarry and had become a well known rowdy wanted by the authorities as a prime suspect in many unsolved crimes. His father still hated him and never accepted him as family.But as the film progresses, both father and son, regrets for what they had done to each other. In an interesting turn of events both father and son reunite in a very emotional way.

Cast

* Mohanlal ... Aadu Thoma (Thomas Chacko)
* Thilakan ... Chacko Master
* Sphadikam George ... Kuttikkadan
* Urvashi ... Thulasi
* Chippy ... Jansy Chacko
* K.P.A.C. Lalitha ... Mary
* Rajan P. Dev ... Manimala Vakkachan
* V.K. Sriraman ... Pookoya
* Silk Smitha ... Laila
* Nedumudi Venu ... Ravunni Master
* Ashokan ... Jerry
* Karamana Janardanan Nair ... Fr. Ottaplakkan
* N.F. Varghese ... Pachu Pillai
* Manian Pillai Raju ... Kunju Mohammad
* Bahadur ... Kurup
* Johny ... Maniyan
* Raghu ... Somasekharan Pillai
* Indrans
* Paravoor Bharathan ... Joseph
* Kanakalatha ... Kuttikkadan's Wife
* Sankaradi ... Judge
* N.L. Balakrishnan

Crew

*Directed by: Bhadran
*Produced by: R. Mohan
*Music: S.P. Venkitesh
*Cinematography: J. Williams
*Editing: M.S. Mani
*Costume Design: Indrans
*Assistant Director: Gandikuttan
*Stunts: B. Thyagarajan
*Stills: N.L. Balakrishnan
*Singers: M. G. Sreekumar, K.S. Chitra, Mohanlal

hooting Location

This movie was entirely shot in the town of Changanassery and nearby places. The location substantiates the storyline by being home to Catholic Archdiocese of Changanassery and presence of an educated but traditional Indian middle class community. Most of the locations still look exactly like as depicted in the film and some of the place names used in the story are also real. The "anjuvilakku" and boat jetty, churches and chapels, the old trade buildings in the market all are still functional.