''Sarapancharam'' () is a 1979 Indian
Malayalam
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 ...
-language
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...
written and directed by
Hariharan from a story by
Malayattoor Ramakrishnan. It stars
Jayan
Krishnan Nair (25 July 1939 – 16 November 1980), better known by his stage name Jayan, was an Indian actor, Officer (armed forces), naval officer, stunt performer and cultural icon of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in over 150 Malayalam films ...
,
Sheela
Sheela Ravichandran (Born 22 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 ...
, and
Sathaar
Sathaar (25 May 1948 – 17 September 2019) was an Indian actor who primarily worked in Malayalam films. He made his acting debut with M. Krishnan Nair's ''Bharyaye Avashyamundu'' (1975). He became a hero in 1976 with '' Anaavaranam'', direct ...
and Latha, with
P. K. Abraham and
Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan (13 February 1943 – 27 May 2006) was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam cinema. He has portrayed supporting roles in both dramatic and comedic roles.The HindMalayalam film actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan dead He is a four- ...
in supporting roles. Jayan played the role of the main antagonist in the film. It was also one of the first notable films of
Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan (13 February 1943 – 27 May 2006) was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam cinema. He has portrayed supporting roles in both dramatic and comedic roles.The HindMalayalam film actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan dead He is a four- ...
, who played the role of a lawyer. It was a breakthrough film in Jayan's career.
The story line of the film is loosely based on
D. H. Lawrence
David Herbert Lawrence (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930) was an English writer, novelist, poet and essayist. His works reflect on modernity, industrialization, sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct. His best-k ...
's 1928 novel ''
Lady Chatterley's Lover
''Lady Chatterley's Lover'' is the last novel by English author D. H. Lawrence, which was first published privately in 1928, in Italy, and in 1929, in France. An unexpurgated edition was not published openly in the United Kingdom until 1960, w ...
'', though there are significant differences in plot and characterisation. The film was the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 1979.
Plot
The story concerns a young married woman, Soudamini (Sheela), whose upper-class husband (P.K. Abraham) has been paralysed and rendered impotent. Living with her old husband she likes the servant, Chandrasekharan (Jayan). And She eventually marries him but later discovers that he has had relationship with many ladies and he aimed only at her wealth. She and her only daughter Baby (Latha)(born from her first husband) are helpless as they are not able to put him out of their lives. Later, a young man named Prabhakaran, who is the son of an ex-servant of Soudamini, enters their life and helps them to get rid of Chandrasekharan. In the climax, Chandrasekharan is shot dead by Soudamini.
Cast
*
Jayan
Krishnan Nair (25 July 1939 – 16 November 1980), better known by his stage name Jayan, was an Indian actor, Officer (armed forces), naval officer, stunt performer and cultural icon of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in over 150 Malayalam films ...
as Chandrasekharan
*
Sheela
Sheela Ravichandran (Born 22 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 ...
as Saudamini
*
Sathaar
Sathaar (25 May 1948 – 17 September 2019) was an Indian actor who primarily worked in Malayalam films. He made his acting debut with M. Krishnan Nair's ''Bharyaye Avashyamundu'' (1975). He became a hero in 1976 with '' Anaavaranam'', direct ...
as Prabhakaran
*
P. K. Abraham as Saudaminis Husband
*
Nellikkodu Bhaskaran as Sidhayyan
*
Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Oduvil Unnikrishnan (13 February 1943 – 27 May 2006) was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam cinema. He has portrayed supporting roles in both dramatic and comedic roles.The HindMalayalam film actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan dead He is a four- ...
as Subbaiyer
*
Shankar as Baby's Friend (Guest role)
* Baby
Sumathi as Young Baby
*
Priya as Baby
*
Kottayam Shantha
Kottayam Santha was an Indian actress and dubbing artist best known for her work in Malayalam cinema. She has acted in more than 300 films. She had also acted in several TV serials like Valayam, Krishnakripasagaram etc. She dubbed for almost ...
* Bhaskara Kurup as Chellappan
*
Sarath Babu
Sathyam Babu Dixithulu (born 31 July 1951), known by his stage name Sarath Babu, is an Indian actor known for his works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu cinema. He has worked in more than 200 films. He has appeared in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada an ...
as Baby's Friend (Guest role)
* Bhavani as Malli
* Rajan Padoor as Gopala Pilla
* Major Stanli as Young Prabhakaran
Soundtrack
The music was composed by
G. Devarajan and the lyrics were written by
Yusufali Kechery
Yusufali Kechery (Yūsaphali Kēccēri; യൂസഫലി കേച്ചേരി 16 May 1934 – 21 March 2015) was a poet, film lyricist, film producer and director from Kerala, India. He wrote during the modern era of Malayalam poetry an ...
.
Box office
This film was commercial success and a breakthrough film in
Jayan
Krishnan Nair (25 July 1939 – 16 November 1980), better known by his stage name Jayan, was an Indian actor, Officer (armed forces), naval officer, stunt performer and cultural icon of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in over 150 Malayalam films ...
's career. The dialogues and body language of Jayan was well received. He began appearing in leading roles then thereafter and attained ''Super Star'' level. This film also broke many box office records and was the highest-grossing movie ever released until another Jayan films Puthiya Velicham and Other notable movies broke it.
Remake
Director Hariharan remade the film in Hindi as ''Anjaam'' (1986).
References
External links
*
{{Lady Chatterley's Lover
1970s Malayalam-language films
1979 films
Films based on Lady Chatterley's Lover
Films directed by Hariharan
Works by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan