- Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
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Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha Directed by Hariharan Produced by Grihalakshmi Written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair Starring Music by Bombay Ravi Cinematography K. Ramachandra Babu Editing by M. S. Mani Studio Grihalakshmi Productions Distributed by Kalpaka Films Release date(s) April 14, 1989 Running time 168 minutes Country India Language Malayalam Budget 
1.35 crore [1]Box office 1+ crore [1]Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (Malayalam: ഒരു വടക്കൻ വീരഗാഥ, English: A Northern Story Of Valor) is a 1989 Malayalam film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Balan K. Nair, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi, Geetha, and Captain Raju.
The film is based on a legend about the famous Chekavar warriors of present day northern Kerala. The film portrays the legend in a different light. According to the legend, Aromal Chekavar, a well-known warrior, lost his life after a duel in which his sword broke off at the hilt during the fight. The metal rivets holding the blade to the hilt had been replaced with wooden ones by his trusted ally and cousin Chandu. Chandu is said to have betrayed his cousin because he was jealous of Aaromal's popularity and abilities.
The story was filmed numerous times in the early black-and-white era. Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha presents an alternative version of the same legend, as it presents the incident from Chandu's perspective, suggesting that grave injustice has been done to Chandu by wrongly accusing him of replacing the rivets. Though the language of the black and white era was generally heavily melodramatic, in Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, the director and writer used a more natural tone.
The film won four National Film Awards including Best Actor (Mammootty) and Best Screenplay. Mammootty's portrayal of the central character Chandu won great acclaim and is considered one of the best performances by the noted actor.
Contents
Plot
It is set in 16th-century Kerala in the northern region. The plot unfolds in the household of Puthooram Veedu, the house of great Kannappan Chekavar (played by Balan K.Nair). Kannappan adopts the son of his estranged sister when the boy looses both his parents and brings him to Puthooram Veedu to live and learn with his cousins. The boy, Chandu, a quick learner, earns the love and admiration of his uncle, while he is loathed by his cousin Aromal (played by Suresh Gopi).
As they grow up Chandu is betrothed to Aromal’s sister, Unniyarcha (played by Madhavi). Several events unfold where in Chandu finds himself being pushed to the corner by his cousin and flees to further learn Kalari under the guidance of Tulunadan expert and master Chekavar, Aringodar (played by Captain Raju).
Chandu has to recount only losses in his life, as Aromal ensures Unniyarcha is not married to Chandu. He even deceives Chandu by usurping and marrying Kunjinooli (Chithra), who was interested in Chandu. The heartbroken hero moves ahead and continues to master the art of Kalari Payattu from Aringodar.
Meanwhile, Chandu is still smitten with Unniyarcha and does not miss the boat when she invites him to her bedroom one full moon night. Chandu swims across raving waters and gallops miles across barren land to consummate his love. As Chandu and Unniyarcha get intimate in her bedroom, suddenly Unniyarcha’s husband, the eunuch Kunjiraman (Sreeraman) knocks the door. Unniyarcha, the clever vixen that she is, creates a mayhem and convinces her husband that Chandu broke into her room as she was awaiting the arrival of Kunjiraman and tried to misbehave. Chandu gets a sobriquet: 'Penmohi Chandu’ or 'Womanizer Chandu.'
A dejected Chandu finds solace in Kunji (Geetha) Aringodar’s daughter. One day, a feudal lord, Unnichandror (Ramu) arrives at the footsteps of Aringodar and invites him to represent his cause in an angam (duel unto death) against a property feud with his brother Unnikonar (Devan). Unnikonar, in turn, invites Aromal to represent him.
Chandu is now caught in a dilemma, when his uncle requests him to play second hand to Aromal in the angam against his teacher Aringodar. He decision is made easy when Unniyarcha appears and offers to give herself fully to Chandu if he assists and helps Aromal win against Aringodar. A tempted Chandu, decides to second Aromal.
Chandu takes on the task of revitalizing Aromal's swords by providing them for treatment to the blacksmith. However, Kunji, Aringodar’s daughter, bribes the blacksmith and makes them brittle.
On the day of the duel, the highly skilled Aromal is no match for the master Aringodar. To add to the misery, Aromal's sword breaks in two. As Chandu placates an attacking Aromal seeking time out to replace the weapon, Aringodar obliges. Then wily Aromal throws the broken sword and kills an unguarded Aringodar.
Aromal is declared winner. As he retires to his resting place, Chandu follows him to tend to his injuries. Aromal blames Chandu of cheating, by treating the swords to make them brittle, and attacks him. Aromal kills himself in an accident by falling over a sharp lamp. As people gather, Aromal breathes out his last words: "Chandu chadhichu" (Chandu betrayed).
The ill-fated Chandu escapes the mob and finds the blacksmith, who informs that he was bribed by Kunji. Amongst spectacular action sequences, Chandu storms into Aringodar's household seeking Kunji. Again he is defeated, as he finds Kunji has commit suicide by hanging herself.
Chandu returns to Puthooram Veedu and is greeted by a raging Unniyarcha, who vows her sons will avenge her brother’s death. Years later, Aromal Unni and Kannapan Unni (sons of Unniyarcha and Aromal respectively) come to Chandu’s doorsteps seeking revenge.
Chandu explains to them the situation, hoping to avoid a duel. They are in no mood to listen and insist on a duel to death. Aromal Unni exalts, "I, son of Unniyarcha, will die or go back with your head." Chandu appears to relent and turns his back to them to bow before the deity in preparation for the duel. But in one final act of valour, Chandu stabs himself with a sword and utters his final words to Aromal as he dies, "You are my unborn son …" — his love for Unniyarcha still intact.
Cast
- Mammootty as Chandu Chekavar
- Balan K. Nair as Kannappan Chekavar
- Suresh Gopi as Aromal Chekavar
- Madhavi as Unniarcha
- Geetha as Kunji
- Captain Raju as Aringodar
- Devan as Unnikonnar
- Oduvil Unnikrishnan as The king
Reception
Critics praised the film. M. T. Vasudevan Nair was also praised for his excellence in the script, especially the revised (heroic) character of Chandu, who had previously been known as a villain. The film won several national awards as well as state and other awards. Mammootty's acting was praised and critics says that it is one of his best performances. It was also the biggest hit of the year 1989 running for more than 150 days in Kerala. There was strong crticism from the Thiyya community as it felt that Mr. Nair had deliberately portrayed the characters (all of them are from the Thiyya community)in the wrong shade. One of the reasons could have been that MT Vasudevan is from the Nair community & the Nairs could never come to terms with superiority enjoyed by the Malabar Thiyyas in the field of kalaripayyattu (martial art of Kerala).
Awards
- Best Screenplay - M. T. Vasudevan Nair
- Best Actor - Mammootty
- Best Art Direction - P. Krishna Moorthy
- Best Costume Design - Natarajan
Kerala State Film Awards
- Best Popular Film
- Best Screen Play - M. T. Vasudevan Nair
- Best Actor - Mammootty
- Second Best Actress - Geetha
- Best Cinematography - K. Ramachandra Babu
- Best Female Play Back Singer - K. S. Chithra
References
- ^ a b "story of hits".
External links
Categories:- 1989 films
- Indian films
- Malayalam-language films
- Martial arts films
- 1980s Malayalam-language films
- Kalarippayattu films
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