Meppadiyan

''Meppadiyan'' () is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language drama thriller film written and directed by Vishnu Mohan and produced by Unni Mukundan Films. The film stars Unni Mukundan, Anju Kurian, Kottayam Ramesh, Saiju Kurup, Aju Varghese, Nisha Sarang and Kalabhavan Shajohn.

The songs and background score for the film was composed by Rahul Subrahmanian. Filming took place in Aruvithura and Poonjar in late 2020. The film released on 14 January 2022 to mixed to positive reviews. At the 69th National Film Awards 2019, the film won the Best First Film of a Director trophy. This film is noted as the last film appearance of actor Kundara Johny, who died in 2023

Plot

Jayakrishnan is a mechanic who runs an automobile workshop in a small village in Kerala. He is a simple, honest, and kind-hearted man who is deeply rooted in his values. He lives a modest life, taking care of his family, and is respected by the people around him.

Jayakrishnan is not an ambitious businessman; he only wishes to lead a peaceful life. However, like any middle-class man, he aspires for financial stability and a better future. He is religious and relies on faith to guide him through life's struggles.

One day, Jayakrishnan learns about a prime piece of land available for sale at a reasonable price. His friend and real estate broker Varghese (Aju Varghese) informs him that a businessman named Philip (Saiju Kurup) is interested in purchasing the land and is willing to pay a high price. Seeing this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a profit, Jayakrishnan decides to buy the land first and then sell it to Philip.

To fund the deal, he takes a huge loan, trusting that the resale will happen smoothly. His friends and well-wishers warn him about the risks of real estate transactions, but Jayakrishnan is confident that everything will go as planned.

After buying the land, Jayakrishnan approaches Philip to finalize the deal. However, Philip starts delaying the payment, making excuses and avoiding meetings. At the same time, some unexpected legal issues regarding the land emerge. A few powerful people claim ownership over the property, creating a legal dispute.

Jayakrishnan soon realizes that he has walked into a well-laid trap. He is forced to pay off multiple people to settle disputes, but the problems keep increasing. He is pressured by bank officials to repay the loan, and moneylenders begin threatening him.
The Political Influence: Enemies Grow
Meanwhile, a corrupt politician named Nambiar (played by Indrans) and some real estate mafias get involved. They see Jayakrishnan's struggles as an opportunity to exploit him further. They demand more money from him, falsely claiming that the land belongs to someone else.

Jayakrishnan is now completely trapped—he has no money left, and everyone around him starts turning against him. His family and friends are also dragged into the chaos, and his peaceful life turns into a nightmare.

As the threats intensify, Jayakrishnan's mental and emotional state deteriorates. He is humiliated, betrayed, and pushed to the edge. The people who once respected him now ridicule him for making a foolish decision. His faith in humanity begins to shake.

However, despite everything, Jayakrishnan refuses to give up. He starts gathering evidence to prove that he was deceived. He fights back against the corrupt system, using every bit of strength left in him.

Jayakrishnan finally discovers crucial evidence against the people who scammed him. With the help of an honest advocate, he takes legal action. Slowly, the truth starts emerging, and those who exploited him are exposed.

The legal battle is intense, but in the end, Jayakrishnan manages to reclaim his land. The corrupt businessman Philip is forced to pay for his crimes, and the real estate mafias are held accountable. The politician, who had manipulated the situation, faces a downfall.

After months of suffering, Jayakrishnan finally clears his debts and gets justice. However, the experience changes him forever. He realizes the harsh realities of the world—that honesty alone is not enough to survive in a corrupt system.

Although he regains his dignity, he is not the same innocent man he once was. He returns to his workshop, choosing to live a simpler life once again, but with a newfound wisdom about the world.

Cast

Production

The film was shot around 48 different locations across Aruvithura and Pala with an ensemble cast. Filming began on 26 October 2020 in Aruvithura.

Soundtrack

The music of the film is composed by Rahul Subrahmanian. All lyrics are written by Joe Paul except Ayyappa Song was written by Vinayak Sasikumar and Niramizhiyode was written by Ajeesh Dasan.

Release

The release of the film was postponed several times due to COVID-19 pandemic in India. The film had a theatrical release on 14 January 2022.

Critical response

''The Times of India'' rated 3.5 out of 5 and said that "The writer-director manages to really drive the tension to a peak with simply showing how our courts and particularly, government servants can make us sweat blood out of pure pettiness and arrogance ... Unni Mukundan is so wow that he is not Unni Mukundan, but Jayakrishnan ... This movie offers not just a glimpse at society, but also good character studies. It is a good film for the family to enjoy and discuss together". ''Malayala Manorama'' also rated 3.5 out of 5 and wrote: "Unni Mukundan follows his character with a well-balanced gait and has been able to deliver in total the tribulations ... The makers have been able to pull off a high drama by adopting scenarios of simple and real life events ... It may not be a highly thrilling drama but is nevertheless an engrossing tale that keeps viewers hooked till the credits roll up". ''The New Indian Express'' rated 3 out of 5 stars and said that the film is "supposed to be a respite from the action-heavy, macho posturing roles Unni did before, and in that regard, yes, the film lives up to its promise ... It's nice to see an actor like Unni making sincere efforts to change the audience's perception of his acting capabilities".

References

External links

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{{National Film Award Best First Film of a Director, state=collapsed

2020s Malayalam-language films
Indian thriller films
Indian films based on actual events
Best Debut Feature Film of a Director National Film Award winners
2022 films
Films shot in Kottayam