''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 2 ...

-language epic-

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

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 is best known for his work in Malayalam cinema, especially as the founder of Navodaya ...

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,

Jayan Krishnan Nair (25 July 1939 – 16 November 1980), better known by his stage name Jayan, was an Indian actor, naval officer, stunt performer and cultural icon of the 1970s and 1980s. He starred in over 150 Malayalam films. During his film care ...

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 he ...

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

Plot

Maakkam (Sheela), 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 (Jayan) is in love with Maakkam's best friend Unniyamma (Jayabharathi). Their marriage is fixed by Unniyamma's brother the famous Thacholi Othenan (K.P. Ummer). But a rival claimant, the villainous Kunjikannan (Janardanan) 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

* Prem Nazir as Nambeeshan and Kannan (Double role) *

as Unni Kurup *

as Kadathanattu Makkam * Sukumari as Purani *

Jayabharathi Jayabharathi is an Indian actress. She is a two-time recipient of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress. Jayabharathi's first leading role was given by director P. Bhaskaran for his movie Kattukurangu in 1969. Later she became one of ...

as Unniyamma *

KPAC Lalitha Maheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K. P. A. C. Lalitha, was an Indian film and stage actress who worked primarily in Malyalam. She started her acting career with K. P. A. C., a theatre collective in Kayamkulam, Kerala. In a care ...

as Nangeli *

Adoor Bhasi K. Bhaskaran Nair (1 March 1929 – 29 March 1990), known by his stage name Adoor Bhasi, was an Indian actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and role ...

as Siddhan * Sreelatha Namboothiri as Navami *

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

as Thiruthandhina * Adoor Pankajam as Ittaathaatty *

Alummoodan Alummoodan (15 March 1933 3 May 1992) was an Indian actor who worked in Malayalam films. He had acted in more than 100 films and mainly did comedy roles. Background Alummoodan was born to Alummoottil Joseph and Rosamma in Changanassery, Changa ...

as Velu * G. K. Pillai as Ramabhadran *

Janardanan Janardhanan Nair (born 5 May 1946) is an Indian actor, producer and a former Indian Airforce personnel who predominantly acts in Malayalam films. He acted in his first feature film '' Adyathe Kadha'', directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan in 1971, he ...

as Kunjikannan *

K. P. Ummer Kachinamthoduka Puthiyapurayil Ummer known as K. P. Ummer (Malayalam: കെ.പി. ഉമ്മർ) was an Indian actor from Thekkepuram quarter of Kozhikode, Kerala, India. He was active in the Malayalam cinema from early sixties until late ...

as Thacholi Othenan *

Lalithasree Lalithasree (born 30 October 1957) 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 ...

as Ponnukaayi *

Meena Meena () is a sub-group of Bhils. They speak Meena language. They started adopting the Brahmin worship system. Its name is also transliterated as ''Meenanda'' or ''Mina''. Historians claim that they belong to the Matsya tribe. They got the st ...

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 ...

as Paanan

Soundtrack

The music was composed by G. Devarajan and the lyrics were written by P. Bhaskaran and Chirayinkeezhu Ramakrishnan Nair.

References

External links

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