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''Praja'' () is a 2001 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
political Politics () is the set of activities that are associated with decision-making, making decisions in social group, groups, or other forms of power (social and political), power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of Social sta ...
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
Joshiy Joshiy (born 18 July 1952) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and also directed Tamil language, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu language, Telugu and Kannada-language films. Joshiy made his directorial ...
and written by
Renji Panicker Renji Panicker (born 23 September 1960) is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, film producer, and journalist known for his works in Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with '' Bharatchandran IPS'' in 2005. Early life He di ...
. It was also produced by Joshiy and Panicker. The film stars
Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (; born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor and filmmaker who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema, Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil cinema, Tamil, Hin ...
, Aishwarya,
Biju Menon Biju Menon (born 9 September 1967) is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam films, and also has a few Tamil, Telugu and Kannada film credits. He made his debut in the 1994 Malayalam film ''Puthran''. In a career spanning over ...
,
Cochin Haneefa Cochin Haneefa (22 April 1951 – 2 February 2010) was an Indian actor, film director, and screenwriter. He started his career in the 1970s mainly portraying villainous roles, before going on to become one of the most popular comedians of Malay ...
,
Manoj K Jayan Manoj Kadampoothramadam Jayan, also known as Manoj K. Jayan is an Indian actor who acts in Malayalam films in addition to a few Tamil films. Manoj has won three Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor for his portrayals of Hariharan's "Ku ...
Babu Namboothiri Babu Namboothiri (born 12 August 1947) is a retired Chemistry Professor and Head Of Department of Deva Mata College Kuravilangad and an Indian film and TV actor who has starred in more than 100 Malayalam films and various serials. He is famou ...
,
NF Varghese Nadakkaparambil Francis Varghese (6 January 1950 – 19 June 2002) was an Indian actor who worked in the Malayalam film industry. He began his career as a mimicry artist in Kalabhavan, acting in minor roles, but later he turned to strong vil ...
,
Shammi Thilakan Shammi Thilakan is an Indian actor and dubbing artist who works in Malayalam films. He is the son of veteran actor Thilakan. He has lent his voice for actors such as Napoleon in ''Devasuram'', Prem Nazir in ''Kadathanadan Ambadi'' and for Nas ...
and
Vijayaraghavan Narayanapillai Vijayaraghavan, known mononymously as Vijayaraghavan, is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. He is known for his character roles. He is the son of drama and cinema artist N. N. Pillai. Early life and f ...
. Bollywood actor
Anupam Kher Anupam Kher (born 7 March 1955) is an Indian actor, director and producer who works primarily in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning over four decades, he has acted in more than 540 films. A veteran of Indian cinema, Kher is recipient of two Na ...
appears in a guest role. The film's songs were composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, while C. Rajamani provided the background score. This movie had a great opening at the box office.


Plot

Ex-underworld don Zakkir Ali Hussein, after giving up violence, is settled peacefully in the suburbs of
Kochi Kochi ( , ), List of renamed Indian cities and states#Kerala, formerly known as Cochin ( ), is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the Ernakulam district, district of Ernakulam in the ...
. It was under the strong influence of his foster father, Bappu Haji Mustafa, that he left
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
. An unsuccessful assassination attempt on Haji Mustafa in Mumbai by Raman Naik, an underworld don ignites old wounds in Zakir. He, despite repeated pleas from Haji Mustafa and Ilanthaloor Rama Varma, a father like figure, sets out to Mumbai along with his trusted lieutenant Hamid Plavilakandi Mather, alias Malayalees. With the help of his friend Arjun, Zakir kills down Raman Naik and reaches back in Kochi. On his way back, at Kochi, he meets up with Maya Mary Kurien, Asst. Commissioner of Police, who slowly starts developing a crush on him. Later, Zakir is visited by Balaraman, a liquor baron and a former M.P and M.L.A, who warns Zakir of dire consequences if he continues to interfere in the Mumbai crime world. He also attempts to woo Zakir, but the latter refuses to bow down, sending strong warning to Balaraman and his group. Balaraman, along with Devadevan Nambiar, alias DD, and Arun Naik, the brother of Raman Naik in Mumbai, is planning to finish off Zakir and Haji Mustafa to regain the lost turf in Mumbai. They are supported by the tainted, savage and two-faced Lahayil Vakkachan, Home Minister of Kerala. Joseph Madachery, the D.I.G of police conducts a raid at Haji Mustafa's poor home on behalf of Vakachan, and beats up Rama Varma Thirumulpad brutally, but the sudden arrival of Zakir saves him. Joseph is severely beaten by Zakir in full public presence, which infuriates Balaraman and DD, who try to demoralize Zakir by publishing fabricated stories about his relationship with ACP Maya Kurein and inmates of Haji Mustafa Trust's destitute home. Then enters SP David Abraham IPS, who is an honest cop and also the close aide and sidekick of Zakir. He goes to meet Lahayil Vakachan who tries to create a truce between Hussein and Balaraman, but fails miserably and gets violently berated and stripped in the presence of a lady M.L.A by Hussein. This leads to a series of problems, including the arrest of Jagannathan (Appu), a close buddy of Zakir, on false narcotic drug charges from Haji Mustafa Trust. Left with no other option, Zakir decides to meet the Chief Minister for Appu's release from unlawful apprehension. Then, Joseph arrests Zakir for providing refuge to Appu and hoarding drugs in the trust's medicine store (a forged charge) - later, Zakir is released. A well coordinated murder attempt is made on Zakir by professional assassins hired from Bombay, he escapes valiantly - defeating the hitmen. Jagannathan is killed in police custody. Balaraman and DD kills Rama Varma Thirumulpad, which prompts Zakir to take the law in his own hands. At a public gathering - a three day convention organised to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Vakkachan's political entry - while addressing thousands of party workers, Zakir enters by duping police and exposes the real intentions Lahayil Vakkachan, Balaraman, Devadevan and Joseph to the public. Despite the warnings from police chief commandos and beggings from the victims themselves, Zakir,Arjun, David and Malayalees tie them up and place a bomb in a flower bag. Zakir throws the remote on the ground and due to severe running stampedes, the bomb explodes killing Lahayil Vakkachan, Balaraman, DD and Joseph. Zakir, Arjun, David and Malayalees are proud for finishing their mission.


Cast


Release

The film was released on 14 December 2001 and received mixed reviews from the audiences. The music, direction, cinematography, performances of Mohanlal, Shammi Thailakan and N.F Varghese received praise while screenplay, lengthy dialogues and runtime received criticism.


Reception

A critic from ''
Sify Sify Technologies Limited (formerly Satyam Infoway) is an Indian information and communications technology (ICT) company providing telecom services, data center services, cloud & managed services, transformation integration services, and ...
'' wrote that "Mohanlal continues to be in the age of rage. Praja written by Renji Panikkar and directed by Joshi is another
avial Avial (, pronounced ) is an Indian dish with origins in the state of Kerala of India. It is a thick stew of usually 13 vegetables commonly found in the Western Ghats and coconut, seasoned with coconut oil and curry leaves. Avial is consider ...
movie". A critic from ''
Screen Screen or Screens may refer to: Arts * Screen printing or ''silkscreening'', a printing method * Big screen, a nickname for motion pictures * Split screen (filmmaking), showing two or more images side by side * Stochastic screening and Halftone ...
'' praised the performances of the cast and crew and added that this "combined with direction by Joshi, (who has many all-time hits to his credit) has resulted in a fast-paced action thriller with box-office potential".


Box office

The film was an average hit at the box office.


Accolades

M. G. Sreekumar won Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song ''Chandanamani''.


Soundtrack

The features songs composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, and written by
Gireesh Puthenchery Girish Puthenchery was a noted Malayalam lyricist, poet, scriptwriter and screenwriter, esteemed for his pivotal role as a lyricist in Malayalam cinema. He was often hailed as the aristocratic lyricist of Malayalam and was admired for his uniqu ...
, M. D. Rajendran, and M. P. Muralidharan. The soundtrack also includes the song "Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai" from the 1953 film ''
Anarkali Anarkali () is a legendary lady said to be loved by the 16th-century Mughal Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. According to some accounts, Anarkali was the nickname of the courtesan ( tawaif) Sharf-un-Nisa, though scholars hold ...
''. The soundtrack album was released by
Satyam Audios Satyam Audios is an Indian music company headquartered at Kochi, Kerala. Satyam audios are one of the leading music company in Kerala, Ernakulam. They have covered a larger portion of the music labels of Kerala. These label has produced and di ...
on 19 July 2001.


References


External links

* {{Joshiy Films directed by Joshiy 2000s Malayalam-language films 2001 crime thriller films 2001 films Indian political thriller films Films shot in Kochi Films shot in Mumbai Indian gangster films Films scored by M. G. Radhakrishnan 2001 action films