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
action thriller
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include lif ...
film written and directed by Fazil. The film stars Mammootty and
Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopi (born 26 June 1958) is an Indian actor, politician, playback singer and television presenter. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bollywood films. Suresh made his acti ...
. It features
Sujitha
Sujitha (born 12 July 1982) is an Indian actress who works in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam TV serials. She is known for portraying "Dhanam" in ''Pandian Stores'' and in Kerala she is popular for portraying "Unnimaya" in the Asianet TV serial '' ...
,
Nadiya Moidu
Zareena Moidu, known by her stage name Nadhiya, is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She made her debut in the Malayalam film ''Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu'' (1984), alongside Mohanlal and Padm ...
,
Babu Antony
Babu Antony (born 22 February 1966) is an Indian-American actor and martial artist, who works primarily in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in several Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Sinhalese, Hindi and English films. He started his career doing a ...
,
Thilakan
Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan (15 July 1935 – 24 September 2012) was an Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Thilakan was known for his elaborate method acting, realistic and spontaneous appearan ...
Maniyanpilla Raju
Sudheer Kumar (born 20 April 1955), better known by his stage name Maniyanpilla Raju (Malayalam:മണിയൻപിള്ള രാജു), is an Indian actor and producer who works in Malayalam film industry.Sukumari and Siddique in supporting roles. The film was produced by Swargachitra Appachan under the banner of Swargachitra. It revolves around a drunkard widower who helps a deaf and mute boy find his parent's killers. The film features original songs composed by
Kannur Rajan
Kannur Rajan (24 June 1940 – 7 April 1995) was a music composer from Kerala, India. Though his songs are less in numbers, they are noted as emotional and nostalgic in the Malayalam film songs. He was the father-in-law of currently famous m ...
, cinematography was done by
Anandakuttan
Anandakuttan (1954 – 2016) was an Indian cinematographer who worked predominantly in Malayalam cinema. He worked on over 150 films including ''His Highness Abdullah'', '' Bharatham'', '' Kamaladalam'', ''Sadayam'', ''Chronic Bachelor'', ...
.
The film was released on 12 September 1986 on
Onam
Onam ( ) is an annual Indian harvest festival celebrated predominantly by the Hindus of Kerala. A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events.
Onam commemorates Vamana ...
. Despite being a box office failure, the film received critical acclaim. ''Poovinnu Puthiya Poonthennal'' was remade into six other languages — in Tamil as ''
Poovizhi Vasalile
''Poovizhi Vasalile'' () is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language thriller film directed by Fazil, starring Sathyaraj, Sujitha and Karthika, with Raghuvaran, Babu Antony, Nizhalgal Ravi, T. S. Raghavendra and Rajyalakshmi playing supporting roles. ...
'', in Telugu as '' Pasivadi Pranam'', in Kannada as ''Aapadbandhava'', in Hindi as ''
Hatya
''Hatya'' () is a 1988 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Kirti Kumar and starring Govinda, Neelam, Anupam Kher and Sujitha. This film is a remake of Malayalam film '' Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal'' (1986).
Plot
Sagar ( ...
'', in Bangladeshi as ''Khotipuron'' and in Sinhalese as ''Veda Barinam Vedak Nehe'' - becoming the first Malayalam film to be remade into six different languages and only the second Indian film to do so after ''
Anuraga Aralithu
''Anuraga Aralithu'' () is a 1986 Indian Kannada-language film directed by M. S. Rajashekar. It is based on the Kannada novel ''Anuragada Anthahpura'' written by H. G. Radhadevi. The film was produced by M. S. Puttaswamy. The film stars Rajkum ...
''. The film also is the first Malayalam film to be remade into a foreign language.
Plot
A deaf and mute boy witnesses his widowed mother being murdered by two men. Later, he escapes from them. Kiran is an
alcoholic
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomina ...
who is not able to recover from the tragic death of his family. Kiran finds the boy when he finds the boy sleeping in the trash and adopts him, naming him Kittu, after his son. Soon he meets Neetha and become close friends without knowing that she is Kittu's aunt. Kittu recognizes his mother's murderer in a bar along with their boss. The police discovers the body of his mother and Neetha realizes it is her sister's son. Kiran kills the murderers and finally he also faces death.
Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopi (born 26 June 1958) is an Indian actor, politician, playback singer and television presenter. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bollywood films. Suresh made his acti ...
as Suresh
*
Sujitha
Sujitha (born 12 July 1982) is an Indian actress who works in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam TV serials. She is known for portraying "Dhanam" in ''Pandian Stores'' and in Kerala she is popular for portraying "Unnimaya" in the Asianet TV serial '' ...
as Benny / Kittu
*
Nadiya Moidu
Zareena Moidu, known by her stage name Nadhiya, is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She made her debut in the Malayalam film ''Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu'' (1984), alongside Mohanlal and Padm ...
as Neetha
*
Thilakan
Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan (15 July 1935 – 24 September 2012) was an Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Thilakan was known for his elaborate method acting, realistic and spontaneous appearan ...
as Chandrasekhara Menon, Neetha and Sathi's father
* Lalu Alex as Inspector Simon
*
Babu Antony
Babu Antony (born 22 February 1966) is an Indian-American actor and martial artist, who works primarily in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in several Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Sinhalese, Hindi and English films. He started his career doing a ...
as Renji
*
Maniyanpilla Raju
Sudheer Kumar (born 20 April 1955), better known by his stage name Maniyanpilla Raju (Malayalam:മണിയൻപിള്ള രാജു), is an Indian actor and producer who works in Malayalam film industry.Sukumari as Doctor (cameo)
* Jayalalita as Sathi/Annie, Benny's mother
* N. F. Varghese as man disguised as Benny's father
*Mini Arun as lady disguised as Benny's mother
*Mini Jairaj as the singer young woman in the bar
* Siddique as Man at Priest's place
*
Ajith Kollam
Ajith Kollam (7 April 1962 – 5 April 2018) was an Indian actor, who predominantly appeared in Malayalam cinema. He had acted in more than 500 films in all South Indian languages. He mainly acted in villain roles. He acted in the Tamil movie ' ...
as Gunda
*John Varghese as priest
Soundtrack
The music was composed by
Kannur Rajan
Kannur Rajan (24 June 1940 – 7 April 1995) was a music composer from Kerala, India. Though his songs are less in numbers, they are noted as emotional and nostalgic in the Malayalam film songs. He was the father-in-law of currently famous m ...
The film was a commercial failure. According to producer Swargachitra Appachan, the film was not even able to make the money he had invested in it. Appachan felt that even with positive critical response, the film could not do well due to the fact that, there were six Mammootty films releasing in the same week, out of which only '' Aavanazhi'' and '' Nandi Veendum Varika'' could achieve success and the film could not get the exposure due to the sheer amount of films released in the
Onam
Onam ( ) is an annual Indian harvest festival celebrated predominantly by the Hindus of Kerala. A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events.
Onam commemorates Vamana ...
week. Another reason for the failure of the film is believed to be because of the climax of the film in which Mammootty finally dies, which was not accepted by the audience. The producer says that in the Tamil version - ''
Poovizhi Vasalile
''Poovizhi Vasalile'' () is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language thriller film directed by Fazil, starring Sathyaraj, Sujitha and Karthika, with Raghuvaran, Babu Antony, Nizhalgal Ravi, T. S. Raghavendra and Rajyalakshmi playing supporting roles. ...
'' the protagonist doesn't die and hence, was a commercial success.
Awards
Fazil won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Director for ''
Ennennum Kannettante
''Ennennum Kannettante'' () is 1986 Indian Malayalam-language romance film, written and directed by Fazil, starring newcomers Sangeeth and Sonia . The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value for ...
'' and ''Poovinu Puthiya Poonthennal''.
Remakes
The movie was remade in six languages, all the climaxes of the films were different. Baby Sujitha and Babu Antony reprised their roles in four of the films. The Telugu version even becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film of all time.