Kariyilakkattu Pole
| Kariyilakkattu Pole | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster designed by Roy P.Thomas | |
| Directed by | P. Padmarajan |
| Screenplay by | P. Padmarajan |
| Story by | Sudhakar P. Nair (Sudhakar Mangalodayam) |
| Produced by | Thankachan, Joy Thomas |
| Starring | Mammootty Mohanlal Rahman Sripriya Karthika Jalaja Unni Mary |
| Cinematography | Venu |
| Edited by | B. Lenin |
| Music by | Johnson |
Production companies | Jubilee Productions Vishudhi Films |
| Distributed by | Jubilee Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 138 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Kariyilakkattu Pole (English: Like a Zephyr of Dry Leaves) is a 1986 Malayalam mystery thriller film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. It stars Mammootty, Mohanlal, Rahman, Sripriya, Karthika, Jalaja, and Unni Mary. The background score for the film is composed by Johnson. Based on the radio drama Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham by Sudhakar Mangalodayam (credited as Sudhakar P. Nair), the film revolves around the murder investigation of film director Harikrishnan (Mammootty) by police inspector Achuthankutty (Mohanlal).
Plot
Harikrishnan (Mammootty), a famous movie director, is found dead at his house one morning. Deputy Superintendent of Police Achuthankutty (Mohanlal) is assigned to probe the death. Anilkumar (Rahman), his younger brother, is in love with Shilpa, who is in shock after receiving the news of the murder. Achuthan kutty's investigation leads to three different female suspects. The rest of the plot centers around the probe
Achuthankutty gets a female footwear from the house where Harikrishnan was murdered and gathers other evidences leading to a woman being the killer. He figures out from Harikrishnan's family and friends that he, though being a talented director and writer, does not have a good character. He is almost sure that Harikrishnan was murdered by some woman who suffered abuse at his hands. Achuthankutty gets a beautiful woman, Parvathi's(Unni Mary) photograph and leads it to a middle aged woman leading the life of a Saint in a Hindu Ashramam. She is now known as Bhagini Sevamayi. He arrests the lady because she refuses to answer his questions. Shilpa tries to talk to Achuthankutty because the arrested lady is a close friend of her mother and a loving aunt for her.
He is told about a relation between Harikrishnan and Shilpa. He is not able to figure out if Harikrishnan has a paternal feeling or romantic feeling towards her. Shilpa breaks down and tells him that Harikrishnan was just impressed by her literary skills and nature and was like an uncle and guide for her, but somehow her mother could not digest the relation between them. Achuthankutty then questions Shilpa's mother and from her he uncovers Harikrishnan's past.
They were all lecturers in their youth and Harikrishnan was trying to woo her innocent and good natured friend. She tried to stand between them, and ends up getting raped by Harikrishnan. Her dejected friend eventually took up the life of a saint. Shilpa is actually Harikrishnan's illicit child and she was unhappy with their relation because she suspected Harikrishnan would abuse his own daughter. She accepts that she had planned to kill Harikrishnan, but found him dead when she arrived at his house.
Achuthankutty meanwhile could not fit all evidences together and talks to his brother that he is going to question Shilpa and her mother again, with more brutal methods. Anil tries to persuade his brother out of it, but couldn't succeed. Anil finally confesses that he was in love with Shilpa was jealous of Harikrishnan and killed him. He then commits suicide, leaving a bewildered Achuthankutty staring at his corpse. Achuthankutty sets Anil's suicide note on fire with shock that prophecy in the last screenplay[in which a famous director dies but the police can't find the culprit due to the missing of an important evidenece] written by Harikrishnan comes to true.
Cast
- Mammootty as Film director Harikrishnan
- Mohanlal as Achuthankutty, Deputy Superintendent of Police
- Rahman as Anil Kumar (Voice dubbed by Krishnachandran)
- Karthika as Shilpa (Voice dubbed by Bhagyalakshmi)
- Sripriya as Shilpa's mother (Voice dubbed by Leela Panikkar)
- Jalaja as Ragini (Voice dubbed by Ambili)
- Unni Mary as Bhaginisevamayi / Parvathi (Voice dubbed by Kanakalatha)
- Valsala Menon
- Krishnankutty Nair
- Prem Prakash
Trivia
- The film was highly acclaimed for the skillful narrative by the director and outstanding performances by the cast. Padmarajan skillfully presented Harikrishnan as a very complicated character and the viewers are left to decide whether Harikrishnan had a romantic angle for Shilpa or his feelings from the beginning were paternal. The director shows a scene where Harikrishnan is bewildered to see Shilpa with her mother, recognizing their history making viewers feel that Harikrishnan had other plans for Shilpa while in a later interrogation from Achuthankutty, Shilpa mentions that Harikrishnan never crossed a line with her and was always very loving and guiding like a father.
- The film's first title was Aram, but later changed to Kariyilakkattu Pole. The title is taken from a short story written by Padmarajan.
Box office
The film was commercial success.[1]