''Kadathanaattu Maakkam'' is a 1978 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

epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale Epic(s) ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

film directed and produced by

Navodaya Appachan Maliampurackal Chacko Punnoose, known as Navodaya Appachan (6 February 1924 – 23 April 2012) was an Indian film producer, director and entrepreneur. He was best known for his work in Malayalam cinema, especially as the founder of Navoday ...

under

Navodaya Studio Navodaya Studio is an Indian film studio headquartered at Kochi, Kerala. It is one of the earliest film studios in Kerala, established in 1976 by Navodaya Appachan. Navodaya is known for producing some of the landmark films in Indian cinema. His ...

. The film stars

Prem Nazir Prem Nazir (born Abdul Khader; 6 April 1926 – 16 January 1989) was an Indian actor known as one of Malayalam cinema's definitive leading man, leading men of his generation. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential actors in the hist ...

Jayan Krishnan Madhavan Nair (25 July 1939 – 16 November 1980), better known by his stage name Jayan, born as the son of Madhavan Pillai (Kerala title), Pillai and Bharathiyamma in Kollam district, Kollam, was an Indian actor, Officer (armed forc ...

Sheela Sheela Celine (born 24 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 heroine ...

and

Sukumari Sukumari Amma (6 October 1940 – 26 March 2013) was an Indian actress best known for her works in Malayalam and Tamil films. In a career spanning more than five decades, She has appeared in more than 2500 films predominantly in Malayalam, T ...

in the lead roles. The film has musical score by G. Devarajan.

Plot

Maakkam, only sister to four beloved brothers belongs to the famed Ilavannoor Madom. However all her sister-in-laws except the youngest one Purani are jealous of Maakkam and plot to turn their husbands against her. Meanwhile, the brave warrior Unni Kurup is in love with Maakkam's best friend Unniyamma. Their marriage is fixed by Unniyamma's brother the famous Thacholi Othenan. But a rival claimant, the villainous Kunjikannan wants to marry her on the basis of on an old promise. Maakkam, the mediator to the dispute declares that a duel must be fought between the two claimants for Unniyamma's hand. Unni Kurup wins the duel but Kunjikannan swipes him with a poison tipped sword. It is Maakkam who discovers that Kunjikannan cheated and proclaims him guilty. As a result, he loses his leg with the same poisonous sword. Both him and his sister, who is also Maakam's eldest sister-in-law, are furious with Maakkam and swears vengeance. When the brothers go in search of a suitable groom for their sister, the three sisters-in-law, steal gold, money and grains from the stores of the house and send them off to their respective homes. When the brothers return the wives turn them against Maakkam. Swearing to destroy Maakkam, Bhayami plots to kill her and poisons her food with the help of the cooks. But it was Purani who fell victim to the trap. Purani on her deathbed, realises she was poisoned and the target was Maakkam, but the way her last words came out implies that Maakkam was the one who poisoned her and this was supported by the cooks on being forced by Bhayami. Maakkam is also accused of having an illicit relationship with Nambeeshan, a mental patient, played by Prem Nazir. Both are convicted and sentenced to death. Maakkam consummates her relationship with Nambeeshan on the night before the execution. On the day of the execution, Thacholi Othenan along with his sister Unniyamma and his Kalari students, attack the executioner and others rescue Maakkam and Nambeeshan. Unniyamma sacrifices her life and saves Maakkam. Years later her son returns seeking revenge and clearing his mother's name.

Cast

as Nambeeshan and Kannan (Double role) *

as Unni Kurup *

as Kadathanattu Makkam *

as Purani *

Jayabharathi Jayabharathi (born 28 June 1954 as Lekshmi Bharathi) is an Indian actress and two-time recipient of the Kerala State Film Award, Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and National Film Award – Special Mention (feature film), Nationa ...

as Unniyamma *

KPAC Lalitha Maheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K. P. A. C. Lalitha (10 March 1947 – 22 February 2022), was an Indian film and stage actress who worked primarily in the Malayalam film industry. Considered one of the greatest actresses in the ...

as Nangeli *

Adoor Bhasi K. Bhaskaran Nair (1 March 1929 – 29 March 1990), professionally credited by his stage name Adoor Bhasi, was an Indian actor and film director. He was mostly cast as a sidekick to protagonists, particularly Prem Nazir. His comedic roles were w ...

as Siddhan *

Sreelatha Namboothiri Sreelatha Namboothiri (born Anjilivelil Vasantha) is an Indian actress and playback singer who works in Malayalam cinema and television. She has acted in more than 300 films. ''Khadeeja'' in 1967 was her debut movie. She began her acting caree ...

as Navami *

Unnimary Unni Mary is an Indian actress who works mainly in Malayalam films. She has also worked in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Kannada films, where she used the screen name ''Deepa''. Personal life Unnimary was born 12 March 1962 to Augustine Fernandes ...

as Thiruthandhina *

Adoor Pankajam Adoor Pankajam (1925 – 26 June 2010) was an Indian actress, in Malayalam movies. She hailed from Adoor in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala state. Mainly, she was a supporting actress and a comedian. Her sister Adoor Bhavani was also a Mala ...

as Ittaathaatty *

Alummoodan Dominic Alummoodu, known by his stage name Alummoodan (15 March 1933 3 May 1992) was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam films. He acted in more than 100 films and mainly did comedy roles. Background Alummoodan was born as Dominic to Rosa ...

as Velu * G. K. Pillai as Ramabhadran *

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 ...

as Kunjikannan *

K. P. Ummer Kachinamthoduka Puthiyapurayil Ummer known as K. P. Ummer (11 October 1930 - 29 October 2001) was an Indian actor from Thekkepuram quarter of Kozhikode, Kerala, India. He was active in the Malayalam cinema from the early sixties until the lat ...

as Thacholi Othenan *

Lalithasree Lalithasree is an Indian actress best known for her work in Malayalam cinema. She has acted in more than 450 films. She acts mainly in supporting roles. She is known for her comedy roles with Jagathy Sreekumar. Personal life Lalithasree was ...

as Ponnukaayi *

Meena Meena () is a tribe from northern and western India which is sometimes considered a sub-group of the Bhil community. It used to be claimed they speak Mina language, a Spurious languages, spurious language. Its name is also transliterated as ' ...

as Bhayami * N. Govindankutty as Rudrappan *

S. P. Pillai S. P. Pillai (28 November 1913 – 12 June 1985) was an Indian film and stage actor, best known for his comic roles in Malayalam films. Biography S. Pankajakshan Pillai alias S. P. Pillai was born in 1913 in the temple town of Ettumanoor in K ...

as Paanan * Thikkurisi as Nambeesan's father

Soundtrack

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

P. Bhaskaran Pulloottupadathu Bhaskaran alias as P. Bhaskaran (21 April 1924 – 25 February 2007), was an Indian Malayalam language poet, lyricist of Malayalam film songs, and filmmaker. He penned more than 3000 songs for about 250 films. He also directed ...

and

Chirayinkeezhu Ramakrishnan Nair Chirayinkeezhu Ramakrishnan Nair (1 August 1929 – 10 January 1994) was a Malayalam lyricist from Kerala. He also served as a lecturer in Madras Presidency College. He penned the lyrics for around 30 Malayalam movies. Ramakrishnan alias Chi ...

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0272154, Kadathanattu Maakkam 1978 films 1970s Malayalam-language films 1970s Indian films Films produced by Navodaya Appachan