''Sandesam'' () is a 1991 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

political satire Political satire is satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where s ...

black comedy Black comedy, also known as dark comedy, morbid humor, or gallows humor, is a style of comedy that makes light of subject matter that is generally considered taboo, particularly subjects that are normally considered serious or painful to discu ...

film directed by

Sathyan Anthikad Sathyan Anthikad is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and lyricist who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. In a career spanning five decades he has directed more than 50 films, been the lyricist for 12 films and been the scriptwriter ...

and written by

Sreenivasan Sreenivasan (born 6 April 1956) is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, dubbing artist and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. Sreenivasan has starred in over 225 films. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplays of films such as ...

starring

Thilakan Palappurathu Kesavan Surendranatha Thilakan (15 July 1935 – 24 September 2012) was an Indian film and stage actor who appeared in over 200 Malayalam films. Thilakan was known for his elaborate method acting, realistic and spontaneous appearan ...

, Sreenivasan,

Jayaram Jayaram Subramaniam, (born 10 December 1965) known mononymously as Jayaram, is an Indian actor who predominantly appears in Malayalam,Tamil films, along with a few Telugu films. He is also a chenda percussionist, mimicry artist, and occasional ...

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- ...

, Siddique,

Kaviyoor Ponnamma Kaviyoor Ponnamma is an Indian actress who appears in Malayalam films and television. She began her career performing in theatre dramas before foraying into cinema. She has also acted in TV serials and commercials and has playback singing cred ...

and

Maathu Madhavi (born 1973), better known by her stage name Maathu, is an Indian actress who was active during the 1980s and 1990s in Malayalam cinema. She is born to Telugu-speaking parents Venkit and Shantha. She is best known for her role as ''Rad ...

. The film deals with political activism existing in

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

and takes major digs on the political parties in the state. A commercial success upon release, ''Sandesam'' is often regarded as a classic in Malayalam cinema. The film was included in

IBN Live Network18 Media & Investments Limited, (formerly SGA Finance and Management Service and Network18 Fincap Limited) commonly referred to as the Network18 Group and sometimes as the Network18–Eenadu Group, is an Indian media conglomerate owned b ...

's list of "100 Greatest Indian Films of All Time"."100 Years of Indian Cinema: The 100 greatest Indian films of all time"

. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013."'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll"
.

. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013."IBNLive Poll: Vote for India's greatest film of all time"

. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013. The film was remade in

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

language as ''

Veettai Paar Naattai Paar ''Veettai Paaru Naattai Paaru'' () is a 1994 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language political satire film directed by Thulasidas. A remake of the Malayalam film ''Sandesam'' (1991), it stars Sivakumar, Saravanan (actor), Saravanan, Thalaivasal Vi ...

'' by director

Thulasidas Thulasidas is an Indian film and serial director who works in the South Indian film industry, predominantly in Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, K ...

in 1994.

Plot

After retirement from

Indian Railways Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tota ...

as station master, Raghavan Nair (

) is back home. His long cherished dream to spend his retirement with his family consisting of his wife (

), three sons and two daughters gets a blow after witnessing his two sons brawling with each other over their political differences and the debilitating effect this has on the family. Prabhakaran (

), the elder one is a staunch leftist and an active worker of the Revolutionary Democratic Party (RDP), which has just lost the Kerala state Assembly elections and relinquished office. Prakashan (

), popularly known as KRP, Prabhakaran's younger brother is involved with the Indian National Secular Party (INSP) which has now come to power. Though they are both educated, neither has any plans to earn a living on their own and are fully immersed in petty politics, sponging off their parents for their needs. Raghavan Nair becomes deeply worried about their future, and tries to advise his sons, but his admonitions fall on deaf ears. Aanandan (

Mala Aravindan Mala Aravindan (15 January 1939 – 28 January 2015) was an Indian actor. He was best known for his work as a comedian and character artist in Malayalam films. He has acted in over 500 films. Early life He was born in Vadavucode, Ernakulam d ...

), his son-in-law is a police sub-inspector, but on suspension. When RDP was in power, he had arrested and beaten up several of the opposition party workers on instruction from the ruling party officials. Now that the former opposition is in power, they exact their revenge; first by transferring him repeatedly to stations as remote as possible and then by suspending him. As part of his retired life, Raghavan Nair decides to focus his attention on his agricultural activities and meets the new young agricultural officer Udayabhanu ( Siddique) and with his wife's approval, wants their younger daughter Latika to marry him. But his elder sons oppose it for flimsy and petty reasons. Prakashan pulls some strings and gets him transferred immediately to a remote location in order to prevent the marriage, but Nair gets them married at the registrar's office. In the meantime, Aanandan and his wife Lata (Raghavan Nair's oldest daughter) demand partition of the property and their share of the inheritance which Raghavan Nair objects to. The last straw is when their mother falls ill and is hospitalized and none of her children, especially the two older sons, show up at the hospital. Raghavan upon seeing all of them milling around his house on returning from the hospital, loses his temper. He kicks out all his children and orders them to never enter his house again. But to his surprise, he finds both Prakashan and Prabhakaran at the gate, fully repenting after Achu informs him. He calls them in and they begin a new life. Some time later we see Prabhakaran who has started work as a lawyer and Prakashan going for a job interview as part of his efforts to change and gain employment. At the same time, it is also seen that Prasanthan, the school-going youngest son of Raghavan Nair, has decided to form a student political organisation to conduct a protest at his school. But both his brothers having learnt their lesson the hard way, scold him and break the flag and banners he made. The movie ends here with the message clearly being delivered.

Cast

as Raghavan Nair (Retd. Station Master - Indian Railway), father of Prabhakaran, Prakasan, Latha, Lathika and Prashanthan *

as Prabhakaran Kottappalli Prabha, RDP member *

as Prakashan Kottappalli / KRP (Kottappalli Raghavan Nair Prakashan), INSP member *

as Achuthan Nair, friend of Raghavan Nair * Siddique as Udayabhanu (Lathika's husband and Raghavan Nair's son-in-law), an Honest Agricultural officer *

as Bhanumathi, wife of Raghavan Nair and mother of Prabhakaran, Prakasan, Latha, Lathika and Prashanthan *

as Lathika, Raghavan Nair's younger daughter, Udayabhanu's wife *

Mamukkoya Mamukkoya (born 5 July 1946) is an Indian actor known for his work in Malayalam cinema, and has also appeared in French film ''Flammens of Paradise''. He has mostly appeared in comedic roles. His unique usage of the Mappila dialect and style mar ...

as K.G. Pothuval, the local leader of INSP * Sankaradi as Kumara Pillai, the leftist ideologue *

as SI Aanandan, Lata's Husband, Raghavan Nair's oldest son-in-law. * K. P. A. C. Lalitha as Lata. Anandan's wife and Raghavan Nair's oldest daughter *

Innocent Innocence is a lack of guilt, with respect to any kind of crime, or wrongdoing. In a legal context, innocence is to the lack of legal guilt of an individual, with respect to a crime. In other contexts, it is a lack of experience. In relation ...

as Yashwant Sahai, the All-India President of INSP (Cameo) *

Bobby Kottarakkara Bobby Kottarakkara (11 March 1952 – 3 December 2000) was an Indian actor who acted in Malayalam films. He was born to Pareedkunju Ravuthar in Kottarakkara. He began his acting career on stage. He made his film debut with Mucheettukalikkaara ...

as Uthaman, RDP member *

Biyon Byon V. K. (born 17 June 1982), professionally credited as Biyn, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. T ...

as S.I. Aanandan's Son *Ambili as S.I. Aanandan's Daughter * T. P. Madhavan as Police Inspector *Rahul Laxman as Prasanthan, Raghavan Nair's youngest son *

James James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...

as an INSP member *

Kalabhavan Haneef Kalabhavan Haneef is an Indian actor and mimicry artist in Malayalam cinema. He made his debut with the film, Sandesham (1991). Personal life Haneef started his mimicry activity while his schooling, later started his career as a sales person ...

as INSP Worker *

Salim Kumar Salim Kumar (born 10 October 1969) is an Indian actor, comedian, director and writer in Malayalam cinema. Mostly known for his comic and comedy roles, Salim Kumar is considered one of the best and most prominent comedians in the history of Mal ...

(uncredited role)

Soundtrack

*"Thumnappoo Kodiyuduthu" - K S Chitra, G. Venugopal, chorus

Legacy

''Sandesam'' is considered one of the best

satire Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming ...

movies in the film. Many of the dialogues still find their way into the daily conversation of Malayalees. The infamous ''pennukaanal'' scene and the ''Poland'' dialogue is still etched into the viewer's hearts. In 2016, on the occasion of India celebrating its 70th Independence day, news agency ''

NDTV New Delhi Television Ltd is an Indian news media company focusing on broadcast and digital news publication. The company is considered to be a legacy brand that pioneered independent news broadcasting in India, and is credited for launching t ...

'' compiled a list called "70 Years, 70 Great Films" and ''Sandesam'' was among the four Malayalam films that found place in the list. In 2013, in an online poll conducted by ''

CNN-IBN CNN-News18 (originally CNN-IBN) is an Indian English-language news television channel founded by Raghav Bahl based in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is currently co-owned by Network18 Group and Warner Bros. Discovery. CNN provides internat ...

'' on their website as part of the 100 years celebration of

Indian cinema The Cinema of India consists of motion pictures produced in India, which had a large effect on world cinema since the late 20th century. Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, ...

, ''Sandesam'' was included in the poll for finding the "greatest Indian film ever".

References

External links

*
''Sandesam''
at the Malayalam Movie Database {{Sathyan Anthikad 1990s Malayalam-language films Indian political satire films Films scored by Johnson 1990s black comedy films Films shot in Kozhikode Films with screenplays by Sreenivasan Films directed by Sathyan Anthikad Malayalam films remade in other languages 1991 comedy films 1991 films