''Yakshi'' is a 1968

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

psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a Film genre, genre combining the thriller (genre), thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting ...

film, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan and written by

Thoppil Bhasi Thoppil Bhaskara Pillai, known as Thoppil Bhasi (8 April 1924 – 8 December 1992) was an Indian Malayalam-language playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He was associated with the communist movement in Kerala and his play ''Ningalenne C ...

, based on

Malayattoor Ramakrishnan K. V. Ramakrishna Iyer, better known by his pen name, Malayattoor Ramakrishnan (27 May 1927 – 27 December 1997), was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature, cartoonist, lawyer, Magistrate, judicial magistrate, and Indian Administrative Servi ...

's novel of the same name. The film stars Sathyan, Sharada,

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 ...

, N. Govindan Kutty,

Bahadoor Padiyath Kochumoideen Kunjalu (1930 22 May 2000), better known by his stage name Bahadoor, was an Indian actor who appeared in Malayalam films, primarily in comedic roles. He, along with Adoor Bhasi, were the two major comedians in Malayalam ...

, Ushakumari,

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 ...

, Rajakokila and Radhika. It is considered by historians to be the first psychological thriller in

Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema, also referred to as Mollywood, is a segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to producing films in the Malayalam, Malayalam language, primarily spoken in Kerala and the Lakshadweep islands. It encompasses both th ...

Plot

A college lecturer Sreenivasan is doing research on the unscientific and superstitious topic of the

Yakshi Yakshinis or Yakshis (, , Prakrit: ) are a class of female nature spirits in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religious mythologies that are different from Devas and Asuras and Gandharvas or Apsaras. Yakshinis and their male counterparts, the Yaks ...

s. He is disfigured in an accident in his college lab. Everyone adored him begins to hate him and keep away from him for his looks. He meets a beautiful woman, Ragini. She is willing to accept him despite his disfigurement. Sreenivasan marries Ragini and they lead a happy life. After a while, Sreenivasan has doubts about the identity of his wife; he suspects that she is a Yakshi. He dreams that Ragini wants to murder him to gain immortality by drinking his blood. Sreenivasan allows her to take his life, but because of the strong passion and love towards him, Ragini lets him live and disappears. When Sreenivasan wakes up from the dream, policemen take him to a psychiatrist on the basis of the missing of Ragini and Sreenivasan's retarded behaviour. Sreenivasan tells them cops that, Ragini is a Yakshi and disappeared in front of him. But no one believes him. The psychiatrist reveals to the cops that, Sreenivasan is mentally ill because of his constant thoughts about Yakshis. He confesses that he murdered Ragini while she was dressing up due to his mental illness.

Cast

* Sharada as Ragini, Sreenivasan's beautiful wife * Sathyan as Professor Sreenivasan (Sreeni) *

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 Vanaja *

as Ananthan *

as Kalyani *

as Paramu * N. Govindankutty as Chandran *Radhika *

Rajakokila Rajakokila/Rajkokila was an Indian actress. She was a prominent lead actress during the 1970s in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu films. She was well noted for her glamorous roles. She is married to Crossbelt Mani. The actress Meena ...

as Chandran's Wife *

Ushakumari Vennira Aadai Nirmala (born as A. B. Shanthi in Kumbakonam) is an Indian actress who has appeared in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films. She was a prominent lead actress from 1960s and 70s. She is credited as Ushakumari in Malayalam film indus ...

as Vijayalakshmi

Soundtrack

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

Vayalar Ramavarma Vayalar Ramavarma (25 March 1928 – 27 October 1975), also known as Rama Varma Vayalar and simply Vayalar, and was an Indian poet and lyricist of Malayalam literature, Malayalam language. He was known for his poems, including ''Sargasangeetham ...

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0255706 1960s Malayalam-language films 1960s psychological thriller films 1968 films Films based on Indian novels Films directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan Indian psychological thriller films