''Desadanam'' () is a 1996 Indian

Malayalam language Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry ( Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam wa ...

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

film directed by

Jayaraj Jayarajan Rajasekharan Nair, professionally credited as Jayaraj (born 31 May 1960), is an Indian filmmaker, who predominantly works in the Malayalam cinema, Malayalam film industry. He has won many awards, including Crystal Bear at the Berli ...

. It won the

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam The National Film Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat ...

. The story is about a young boy chosen to join a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

. The film is a box office hit.

Plot

The plot revolves around the personal turmoil faced by the parents of a child who is to be inducted into priesthood by a

. The pain of imminent separation from their only child has been beautifully portrayed by the characters played by Vijayaraghavan and Mini Nair. The boy who led a carefree life until now has been identified as having a deep understanding of religious philosophy and

scriptures Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They often feature a compilation or discussion of beliefs, ritual practices, moral commandments and ...

at a very young age by the priests of a holy

shrine A shrine ( "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred space">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ...: ''escri ...

. They request the family to induct the boy into priesthood to which the grandfather of the boy readily agrees to; for, he himself had aspirations of joining the shrine in the past. The parents, though not keen on parting with their child are compelled to give in on the basis of the word given by the elders of the family.

Cast

Master Master, master's or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles In education: *Master (college), head of a college *Master's degree, a postgraduate or sometimes undergraduate degree in the specified discipline *Schoolmaster or master, presiding office ...

Kumar as Parameswaran ''aka'' Pachu * Vijayaraghavan as Sankaran, Pachu's Father * Mini Nair as Pachu's mother * Satyabhama Pisharasyar as Mutthashi * Unnikrishnan Namboothiri as Sankaran's father * V. K. Sriraman as Madhavan * Perangodu Chithrabhanu Namboodiri * Neelakantan Namboodiri * Madampu Kunjukuttan as Shastrikal *

Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, popularly known as Kaithapram, is a Malayalam lyricist, poet, music director, actor, singer, screenwriter, music therapist and performer of Carnatic music. He debuted with the movie Ennennum Kannettante in 19 ...

as Krishnan * Soumya Unnikrishnan as Theethikutty

Soundtrack

All the songs in the movie were well received. The music was composed by Kaithapram who himself wrote the lyrics and had a role in the movie too.

Box office

The film became commercial success.

Awards

;

National Film Awards The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...

* Best Feature Film in Malayalam -

(director, producer) * Best Child Artist - Mstr. Kumar * Best Audiography - T. Krishnanunni ; Kerala State Film Awards * Best Director- Jayaraj * Second Best Actress - Mini Nair * Best Child Artist - Mstr. Kumar * Best Male Playback Singer - K. J. Yesudas * Best Cinematography - M. J. Radhakrishnan * Best Sound Recordist - T. Krishnanunni * Best Dubbing Artist - Venmani Vishnu ;

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards The Kerala Film Critics Association Awards are presented annually by the Kerala Film Critics Association to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Malayalam language film industry of India. The awards were instit ...

* Best Film –

(director) * Best Director – Jayaraj * Best Story – Sreekumar Arookutty * Best Child Artist – Mstr. Kumar * Best Cinematographer – M. J. Radhakrishnan * Best Lyricist – Kaithapram * Best Background Score – Mohan Sithara * Best Male Playback Singer – K. J. Yesudas * Best Female Playback Singer -

Sujatha Mohan Sujatha Mohan is a renowned Indian playback singer known for her contributions to a wide range of Indian film industries, particularly in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema. Over her decades-long career, she has also recorded songs in other ...

References

{{Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Film 1997 films 1990s Malayalam-language films Films that won the Best Audiography National Film Award Best Malayalam Feature Film National Film Award winners Films shot in Thrissur Films scored by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri Films featuring a Best Child Artist National Award–winning performance