''Uyarangalil'' () is a 1984 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

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

directed by I. V. Sasi and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair. It stars

Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically app ...

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, Rahman,

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and Swapna, . The music for the film was provided by Shyam. The film was a commercial success at the box office. It is regarded as one of the best thrillers in Malayalam cinema and developed a cult following. Mohanlal plays an

anti-hero An antihero (sometimes spelled as anti-hero) or antiheroine is a main character in a story who may lack conventional heroic qualities and attributes, such as idealism, courage, and morality. Although antiheroes may sometimes perform action ...

role, critics cite the film to have one of the best performances of Mohanlal.

Plot

Jayarajan, an over-enthusiastic assistant manager at a tea plantation plans to loot a huge amount from the company. He lures two debt-ridden subordinates, Chandran and Joseph, into his conspiracy. Though unwilling, both agree. But during their attempt, A. K. Menon, the manager of the company catches them red-handed. To keep matters under wraps, Jayarajan enters Menon's house at night asking Joseph and Chandran to wait outside saying that he would negotiate with Menon. Jayarajan kills Menon and escapes from the house. He acts normal the next day and provides help to the police. But both Joseph and Chandran feel guilty to the soul. Jayarajan says he will keep silent and act as if nothing happened. Soon, however, Jayarajan is elevated as the new Manager of the company. Devi, the fed-up young widow of Menon, due to Menon's negligent behaviour towards her, arrives at the plantation for terminal financial formalities. Jayarajan, who already was having an affair with Padma (a nurse of the Plantation Hospital who is money-oriented and having a loose morality in relations with men) now eyes Devi. He succeeds in seducing her and having sex with her after which he plans to siphon off all the financial benefits that she might get as Menon's bereavement benefits. But a cop, Ravi, becomes suspicious of Jayarajan, although he has nothing to nail on Jayarajan, due to the flawless and naturally responsive demeanour of Jayarajan. Cop Ravi starts investigating Jayarajan's past and finds some loose ends, but he gets no solid proof in this regard. But Ravi keeps a watch on Jayarajan. However, Jayarajan neither stops his illicit relationship with Padma the nurse nor deserts Devi. In a strange turn of events, fearing faint-hearted Joseph might spill the beans of the Manager's murder, Jayarajan finishes off Joseph in an orchestrated jeep accident and Padma, by strangulation, mimicking a suicide without any trace of suspicion about the two murders to anybody except Chandran, whose silence Jayarajan buys with scare tactics. Meanwhile, the elderly owner of the estate visits the plantation. Knowing that his young daughter Vasanthi would inherit the company, Jayarajan tries to woo her too. But Devi becomes a hindrance in his plans and her insistence for a marriage pushes him to plot a plan to finish off Devi too. But before he can kill Devi, Chandran informs Vasanthi the truth about the death of Menon and both succeed in calling the cops. But before getting arrested by Ravi, Jayarajan jumps down from the heights and commits suicide.

Cast

as P. K. Jayarajan * Rahman as Chandran *

as Joseph (Driver) *

as Sub Inspector Ravi *

as Devi Menon * Swapna as Padhma *

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as Vasanthi *

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as Circle Inspector Kurup *

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as Pillai (Office Manager) * K. P. Ummer as Santhosh Varma, Owner of Plantation *

Bahadoor Padiyath Kochumoideen Kunjalu (1930 22 May 2000), known by his stage name Bahadoor, was an Indian actor and comedian who, along with Adoor Bhasi, redefined the way in which comedy and funny scenes were perceived in the Malayalam cinema. They ...

as Constable Sankaran Nair * Janardhanan as A. K. Menon *

Adoor Bhavani Adoor Bhavani (1927 – 25 October 2009) was an Indian actress in Malayalam cinema, best known for her appearance in the National Award-winning film '' Chemmeen'' (1965), directed by Ramu Kariat. She had acted in about 450 films, including ''M ...

as Betsy, Joseph's mother * Balan K. Nair as Superintendent of Police Swaminathan (Cameo) * Kunchan as Compounter Karunan * Azeez as Dinesh, A. K. Menon's brother. * P. K. Abraham * T. P. Madhavan as Dr. Varghese *

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as Fr. Stephen Chacko *

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as Gopi, Chandran's brother *

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* Roshni as Nancy, Joseph's Sister * Sulekha

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Shyam and the lyrics were written by Bichu Thirumala.

Release

Released on 30 November 1984, the film was a commercial success at the box office. The film is also noted for having one of Mohanlal's finest performances in his early career. It is regarded as one of the best thrillers in Malayalam cinema and has a cult following.

References

External links

*
''Uyarangalil'' on Malayala Chalachithram''Uyarangalil'' on Malayala Sangeetham
{{I. V. Sasi 1980s Malayalam-language films 1984 films Indian thriller films Films shot in Munnar Films with screenplays by M. T. Vasudevan Nair Films directed by I. V. Sasi