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Abkari

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Abkari
File:Abkarifilm.jpg
Poster designed by P. N. Menon
Directed byI. V. Sasi
Written byT. Damodaran
Produced byGeorge Mathew
StarringMammootty
Ratheesh
T. G. Ravi
Thiagarajan
Parvathy
Urvashi
Jalaja
CinematographyJayaram
Edited byK. Narayanan
Distributed byLiberty Release
Release date
  • 14 April 1988 (1988-04-14)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Abkari is a 1988 Malayalam movie starring Mammootty and Ratheesh in the title roles. It was written by T. Damodaran and was directed by I. V. Sasi. The movie, based on the life of liquor barons and contractors, known as Abkaris, in Kerala, was a super hit. [citation needed]

Plot

Vasu and Chacko are working as drivers and low ranking workers for the Abkari contractor Sreekandan. Sreekandan is heavily involved in the smuggling of liquor from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu in order to increase the already high profits in his business. Chacko once makes an incorrect move to seduce the wife of Sreekandan, hoping that she is just waiting for any new man to come into her love life. But she only wanted to have an affair with Vasu. Sreekandan comes to know about this, and Chacko is beaten black and blue and thrown out of the organisation.

For some time the jobless youngsters try illegal brewing of hooch. But the Excise soon rounds them up. Kaimal, an Excise officer who has a past enmity with Sreekandan, meets up with the two young men. He encourages them to join the liquor trade as Abkaris. Kaimal takes the responsibility of helping them, even to generate the initial capital. Both Vasu and Chacko forms up a company "VASCO" and participates in the first Abkari range auction. Sreekandan who used to regularly win at the auction is defeated.

The growth of VASCO is phenomenal and with good support from Excise officials the business is flourishing. Vasu and Chacko, who once lived in a slum, move into palatial bungalows and now live a life of luxury. Sreekandan introduces a double-agent (Sankaradi) into their midst who promises them to make spurious Brandy. On a festival day this spurious liquor is served and lots of people are maimed for life or dead. Vasu and Chacko then get Sreekandan killed.

The in-fighting, the criminal cases and the business pressures start taking a toll on Vasu. Chacko in the meantime has started liking the rich life and has become uncontrollable in his financial management. Vasu always finds solace in Kunjappan, another Abkari contractor who wants the liquor business to be conducted in an ethical manner. Kunjappan, who came from very humble origins, always reminds Vasu that he should never forget his past. Kunjappan, now rich, still maintains the old small hut in which he was born, as a constant reminder of his past.

Vasu and Chacko also step into the domains (Abkari ranges) of other contractors. Until then, every contractor had his business area chalked out with others not contesting for these areas. Vasu and Chacko changed all that and started bidding for each and every possible range. The business understanding of Abkaris was broken. Soon the other contractors team up and plan the down fall of Vasu and Chacko.

Chacko, who is less careful in financial dealings, loses a huge sum of money when he pays in advance for spirit which is never delivered. Chacko's daughter falls in love with their chauffeur, who came from very humble surroundings. The chauffeur is threatened but he continues the affair. In a fit of rage Vasu kills the chauffeur. This murder lands Vasu in trouble, as well. With a severe financial crunch and a major criminal case, the partners of VASCO find their situation unrecoverable. Chacko commits suicide, and Vasu pleads guilty to the murder and goes to prison. VASCO, a once formidable business empire, tumbles down like a pack of cards.

Cast

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