''Adimakal'' () is a 1969 Indian

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 2 ...

-language film, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan and produced by M. O. Joseph. The film stars Prem Nazir, Sathyan,

Sheela Sheela Ravichandran (Born 22 March 1945) is an Indian actress and director who appears predominantly in Malayalam cinema. Paired with Prem Nazir, they hold the Guinness World Record for acting in the largest number of films (130) together as he ...

and Sharada. The film had musical score and songs composed by G. Devarajan. It won the

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of seve ...

. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Pamman. The film was remade in Hindi as ''Intezar'' (1973) in Telugu as '' Chilakamma Cheppindi'' (1977) and in Tamil as '' Nizhal Nijamagiradhu'' (1978).

Cast

* Prem Nazir as Raghavan (Pottan) * Sathyan as Appukkuttan *

as Saraswathyamma * Sharada as Ponnamma *

Adoor Bhasi K. Bhaskaran Nair (1 March 1929 – 29 March 1990), known by his stage name Adoor Bhasi, was an Indian actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and role ...

as Giridhara Yogi/Naanu Kurup *Ammini * Sankaradi as Shanku Ammavan *

Jesey Jeassy, also known as J. C. or Jesey, was an Indian director and actor of Malayalam movies. His first film as an actor was Ramu Kariat's '' Ezhu Rathrikal''. Some of his notable films as an actor were '' Adimakal, Kallichellamma, Allahu Akbar ...

as Anandan *

Adoor Bhavani Adoor Bhavani (1927 – 25 October 2009) was an Indian actress in Malayalam cinema, best known for her appearance in the National Award-winning film '' Chemmeen'' (1965), directed by Ramu Kariat. She had acted in about 450 films, including ''M ...

as Karthiyayini *Baby Kumudam as Vilasini *

Bahadoor Padiyath Kochumoideen Kunjalu (1930 22 May 2000), known by his stage name Bahadoor, was an Indian actor and comedian who, along with Adoor Bhasi, redefined the way in which comedy and funny scenes were perceived in the Malayalam cinema. They ...

as Bhargavan *

Kumari Padmini Kumari Padmini (Tamil: குமாரி பத்மினி), born as Padmini (died 1980), was an actress who was active in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam industry during the 1960s and 70s. Bio Kumari Padmini acted mainly in Tamil films. She ...

as Meenakshi *Kuttan Pillai * N. Govindankutty as Pachu Kurup *

Paravoor Bharathan Vadakkekarayil Koran Bharathan (16 January 1929- 19 August 2015), better known as Paravoor Bharatan was an Indian actor who acted in Malayalam films. He started his career in movies during the 1950s. Bharathan is known as a versatile actor and h ...

as Unnithan

Soundtrack

The music was composed by G. Devarajan and the lyrics were written by

Vayalar Ramavarma Vayalar Ramavarma (March 25, 1928 – October 27, 1975), also known as Vayalar, was an Indian poet and lyricist of Malayalam language. He was known for his poems which include ''Sargasangeetham'', ''Mulankaadu'', ''Padamudrakal'', ''Aayisha'' a ...

and Jayadevar. The devotional number ‘Chethi mandaram thulasi...' ( P. Susheela) was elevated to the status of a prayer song. ‘Thaazhampoo manamulla thanuppulla...' (

A. M. Rajah Aemala Manmadharaju Rajah, popularly known as A. M. Rajah, was an Indian playback singer and music director. Early life A. M. Rajah was born on 1 July 1929 in Cchamanchipuram, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. His father died when he was thr ...

) was another hit and one of the singer's best in the language. The other hits include ‘Manaseswari maappu tharoo...' (Raja), ‘Indumukhi ..... ( P. Jayachandran), and the chorus ‘Narayanam bhaje...' led by P. Jayachandran. A few verses ‘Lalitha lavanga Latha…' from

Jayadeva Jayadeva (; born ), also spelt Jaideva, was a Sanskrit poet during the 12th century. He is most known for his epic poem '' Gita Govinda'' which concentrates on Krishna's love with the '' gopi'', Radha, in a rite of spring. This poem, which pres ...

's ‘Geeta Govindam' rendered by P. Leela was also a hit.

Reception

The Indian Express ''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932. It is published in Mumbai by the Indian Express Group. In 1999, eight years after the group's founder Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split be ...

'' wrote, "With a little more care in scripting and editing, Manjila's ''Adimakal'' (Slaves) would have aptly ended there, but sometimes, even our best film-makers do not know when and where to stop. There are a few other irrelevant scenes which, if chopped off would help this Malayalam film gain in tempo and appeal."

Awards

* Filmfare Award for Best Film - Malayalam won by M. O. Joseph (1969)

References

External links

* 1969 films 1960s Malayalam-language films Films based on Indian novels Malayalam films remade in other languages Films directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan Films with screenplays by Thoppil Bhasi Best Malayalam Feature Film National Film Award winners {{1960s-Malayalam-film-stub