''Aavanazhi'' is a 1986 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 ...

-language

action film The action film is a film genre that predominantly features chase sequences, fights, shootouts, explosions, and stunt work. The specifics of what constitutes an action film has been in scholarly debate since the 1980s. While some scholars such as D ...

directed by

I. V. Sasi Irruppam Veedu Sasidaran (28 March 1948 – 24 October 2017) was an Indian film director who made over 110 films predominantly in Malayalam, in addition to Tamil and Hindi languages. In 2015, he was awarded the J. C. Daniel Award, the highest a ...

, written by

T. Damodaran T. Damodaran (15 September 1935 – 28 March 2012) was a screenwriter who predominantly worked in Malayalam cinema. Life Damodaran wrote the screenplays of films such as ''Angadi (film), Angaadi'' (1980)'', Ahimsa (1981 film), Ahimsa'' (1981)' ...

. The film deals with social and political issues of that time. It stars

Mammootty Muhammad Kutty Panaparambil Ismail (born 7 September 1951), known mononymously by the hypocorism Mammootty (), is an Indian actor and film producer who works predominantly in Malayalam-language films. He has also appeared in Tamil, Telugu, ...

, Geetha, Seema,

Sukumaran E. P. P. Sukumaran Nair (10 June 1948 – 16 June 1997), known mononymously as Sukumaran, was an Indian actor and producer of Malayalam films. Sukumaran became a popular film star in Malayalam cinema during the 1970s. He was considered one o ...

Captain Raju Raju Daniel (27 June 1950 – 17 September 2018), better known by his stage name Captain Raju, was an Indian actor and army officer. He acted in more than 600 films in various languages, including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, an ...

Janardanan Janardhanan Pillai (born 5 May 1946), also known as Janardhanan Nair, is an Indian actor, producer and a former Indian Air Force personnel who predominantly acts in Malayalam films. He acted in his first feature film '' Adyathe Kadha'', directe ...

Jagannatha Varma K. N. Jagannatha Varma (1 May 1939 – 20 December 2016) was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam film and television industry. He was also a Kathakali artist. His son Manu Varma is also an artist and his son-in-law Viji Thampi is a film d ...

Innocent Innocence is a lack of guilt, with respect to any kind of crime, or wrongdoing. In a legal context, innocence is prior to the sense of legal guilt and is a primal emotion connected with the sense of self. It is often confused as being the op ...

Thikkurisi Sukumaran Nair Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair (16 October 191611 March 1997) was an Indian poet, playwright, script writer, lyricist, orator, film director and actor, though he is best known as an actor in Malayalam cinema. He is the recipient of Padma Shri from ...

Sreenivasan Sreenivasan (born 6 April 1956) is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, dubbing artist and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. Sreenivasan has starred in over 225 films. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplays of films such a ...

and

Sankaradi Paravoor memana Kanakku Chembakaraman Parameswaran Chandrashekara Menon, better known by his screen name Sankaradi (14 July 1924 – 8 October 2001), was an Indian actor. He was a veteran Malayalam comedian and character artist, who had over 70 ...

. ''Aavanazhi'' was the highest grossing Malayalam film at the time and was an industry hit. It was remade in Kannada as ''Anthima Theerpu'', in Tamil as ''

Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu ''Kadamai Kanniyam Kattupaadu'' () is a 1987 Indian Tamil-language crime thriller film directed by Santhana Bharathi and produced by Kamal Haasan, starring Sathyaraj, Geetha and Captain Raju. The film had no songs, though the score was compos ...

'', in Telugu as ''Marana Sasanam'' and in Hindi as '' Satyamev Jayate''. I. V. Sasi made two sequels — ''

Inspector Balram ''Inspector Balram'' is a 1991 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi, scripted by T. Damodaran, and starring Mammootty. It is a sequel to the 1986 film '' Aavanazhi'' and was followed by a sequel, '' Balram vs. Taradas'', in 2006. The movie w ...

'' in 1991 and '' Balram vs. Taradas'' in 2006.

Plot

Satyaraj, an infamous professional killer, assassinates a cement contractor as per the orders of his business rival, Vincent. Balram, called as "Karadi Balu" is an honest but reputed notorious and arrogant police officer, apprehends Satyaraj within a day. But before interrogating Satyaraj, he was taken charge by another investigating officer. Vincent with the help of Adv. Jayachandran, influences witnesses and the investigating officer of the case and tampers with evidence. As a result, Satyaraj is acquitted of the offence. But since he has several cases against him, he is not released from custody pending trial in those cases. Balram was earlier tried for custodial death of a teenage boy arrested by him. Labelled as a murderer, his lover's father objects to his relationship with his daughter. Heartbroken, he resorts to drinking and womanizing. Satyaraj escapes from jail with the help of Jail superintendent. Radha, sister of the teenage boy who is alleged to be killed by Balram, seeking justice against Balram, is conducting a case against Balram and other police officers through Adv. Jayachandran. Adv. Jayachandran makes Radha believe that Satyaraj has certain documents implicating Balram in the death of her brother. Radha believes Adv. Jayachandran and agrees to provide safe shelter to Satyaraj. Balram upon realising that the prostitute with whom he had affairs, is carrying his child, offers to marry her. During vehicle search, Balram recovers certain incriminating documents and submits the same to his superior officer. But his superior is corrupted and is a partner of Vincent and returns those documents back to him. But Balram had already sent a copy of those documents to Central Bureau of Investigation, who arrests the superior officer, Vincent and Adv Jayachandran. Radha came to know from Vincent's son that her brother was killed by Satyaraj at the orders of Vincent and to avoid suspicion, the superior officer framed Balram as an accused in the case. Realising the truth, Radha informs Satyaraj's whereabouts to Balram, Who plans an operation to arrest Satyaraj. Satyaraj, realising Balram's plan, takes Radha and her friend as hostage and tries to escape. Balram gave chase and after a scuffle, kills Satyaraj. Balram is arrested by fellow officers.

Cast

as CI Balram * Geetha as Seetha * Seema as Radha *

Nalini Nalini (Devanagari: नलिनी) is a female gender Indian people, Indian given name, which means "lotus", "goddess Gayatri","mother of Vedas", "sweet nectar", "Amrit", Feminine "lily" in Sanskrit.''Baby Names''"Nalini" Retrieved on 9 January ...

as Usha Jayachandran *

as Adv.Jayachandran *

as Sathyaraj *

as Vincent *

as Vishnu *

as Sreeni * C. I. Paul as Chandrahasan *

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 ...

as Chackochan *

Kundara Johny Johny Joseph, better known by the stage name Kundara Johny (1 January 1952 – 17 October 2023), was an Indian actor in Malayalam cinema. He additionally performed in Tamil films such as ''Vaazhkai Chakram'' and '' Nadigan''. Early life John ...

as CI Alex George *

K. P. A. C. Azeez Azeez (27 November 1934 – 16 July 2003) was an Indian actor in Malayalam cinema. He acted in more than 100 films. He came into the movie industry as a villain, and later, he started doing character roles, such as police officer, jailer, and mi ...

as Commissioner Azeez *

as Viswanathan *

as DIG Kumar *

Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced the development of Western philosop ...

as SI Ummer * Kunchan as Constable "Samshayam" Vasu * Shafeeq as Benny Vincent *

as Nampoothiri * Kumari Shibi as Jyothi *

Santhakumari Santha Kumari (born Vellaala Subbamma; 17 May 1920 – 16 January 2006) was an Indian musical artist and actress. She was married to the Telugu film director and producer P. Pullayya. Early years Vellaala Subbamma was born in Proddatur tow ...

as Radha's Mother *

Prathapachandran Prathapachandran (1941–2004) was an Indian actor, who worked predominantly in Malayalam film industry, though he acted in a few Tamil and Telugu movies as well. He is known for the portrayal of villainous and character roles in over 300 mov ...

Hari Hari () is among the primary epithets of the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, meaning 'the one who takes away' (sins). It refers to the one who removes darkness and illusion, the one who removes all obstacles to spiritual progress. The name Ha ...

as Advocate * Rajan Padoor as Kallan Kuttan * Amit Amee as Unni/Radha's younger Brother * Thiruthiyadu Vilasini as Chackochan's wife * Sajith Devadas as Nirmal Hasan * Gorilla Unni as Circle Inspector * Krishnakkurupp NB * Aliyar

Release and reception

The film was released on 12 September 1986, in 20 theatres. In 2005, ''Nana Magazine'' wrote that Mammootty has played cop in a total of 25 films from ''

Yavanika ''Yavanika'' () is a 1982 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film written and directed by K. G. George. It stars Bharath Gopi, Mammootty, Nedumudi Venu, and Jalaja. ''Yavanika'' is one of George's most celebrated films; it rece ...

'' to ''

Balram vs Tharadas ''Balram vs. Tharadas'' is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language action film directed by I.V. Sasi, written by T. Damodaran and S. N. Swamy, and starring Mammootty in the titular dual role, with Katrina Kaif, Mukesh and Siddique. It was a cross ...

'', but his most memorable police role is that of Inspector Balram from I. V. Sasi's ''Avanazhi''. The film was a major commercial success. The film ran for more than 100 days in theatres in Kerala.

Remakes

All the remakes of the film were commercial successes.

Sequels

The movie had two sequels; a 1991 film ''

'' and a spiritual successor, '' Balram vs. Tharadas'' in which

reprises his roles from two films,

from ''Aavanazhi'' and

Tharadas ''Athirathram'' is a 1984 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by I. V. Sasi, written by John Paul and starring Mammootty, Mohanlal, and Seema. Mammootty's character Tharadas re-appears in Sasi's 2006 film '' Balram vs. Thar ...

from '' Athiratram''.

Legacy

The film is considered to be one of I.V. Sasi's best works. The film remains to be the only Malayalam Industry hit with a policeman as its central character. The protagonist ''Inspector Balram'' remains to be one of the most iconic characters in Malayalam cinema.

References

External links

* {{I. V. Sasi 1980s crime action films 1980s Malayalam-language films 1986 films Films shot in Kozhikode Films with screenplays by T. Damodaran Fictional portrayals of the Kerala Police Indian crime action films Balram1 Films scored by Shyam (composer) Malayalam films remade in other languages Films directed by I. V. Sasi