''Kudumbasree Travels'' ( ml, കുടുംബശ്രീ ട്രാവൽസ്) is a 2011
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 ...
comedy film
A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
directed by Kiran starring
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 ...
and
Bhavana
''Bhāvanā'' (Pali;Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 503, entry for "Bhāvanā," retrieved 9 December 2008 from "U. Chicago" a Sanskrit: भावना, also ''bhāvanā''Monier-Williams (1899), p. 755, see "Bhāvana" and "Bhāvanā", retriev ...
in the lead roles. It is a family oriented film, with Jayaram playing the role of Aravindan, a bus service owner who hails from a family of Chakyarkoothu artists."Bhavana with Jayaram in Kudumbasree Travels" /ref> ''Kudumbasree Travels'' marks the debut of Kiran and Thomas Thoppikodi, who are well known faces in
TV serials
In television and radio programming, a serial is a show that has a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode-by-episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the complete run of ...
. The film also stars P. Sreekumar, Kottayam Nazeer,
Jagathy Sreekumar
Sreekumar P. K. (born 5 January 1951), better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar or simply Jagathy, is an Indian actor, director and playback singer, who has appeared in over 1500 Malayalam films in a career spanning almost four decades ...
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 ...
,
Maniyanpilla Raju
Sudheer Kumar (born 20 April 1955), better known by his stage name Maniyanpilla Raju (Malayalam:മണിയൻപിള്ള രാജു), is an Indian actor and producer who works in Malayalam film industry.K. P. A. C. Lalitha and Kalpana in other pivotal roles. The film started its shooting in September 2010 and major parts were filmed from
Ottappalam
Ottapalam, (also spelled Ottappalam) is a town, taluk and municipality in the Palakkad District, Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ottapalam taluk. Ottapalam is located about 36 km from district headquarters Palakkad. ...
. It released on 21 January 2011 in 54 centres.
Plot
In the village of Chitirapuram resides Aravindan Chakyar aka Aravi, who is an exponent of Chakyarkoothu (A traditional Kerala dance form). Aravi's parents want him to get married. Aravi has no objections but one condition that the girl must also be an exponent of Chakyarkoothu. Chachu is Aravi's uncle. As per a tradition in Kerala, Chachu wants Aravi to marry his daughter, so that he can have a part of the wealth of Aravi's family. He thus tries to impress Aravi and his parents, who see through him and avoid him.
George Kutty, a marriage broker and Aravi's friend, brings a relation according to Aravi's demand. Aswathy is a dancer, and an exponent of Chakyarkoothu and lives in the city. She belongs to a rich family, who follow some traditions. Aravi meets her and their marriage is fixed, much to the dismay of Chachu.
Aravi and an ensemble, consisting of villagers, depart for the city in a bus named Kudumbasree Travels. Chachu joins them in order to stop the marriage. Along with him is Nettar, an astrologist, who is promised a sum for help.
At the same time, a girl named Sridevi is going to Kochi on a mission. Her father, a police officer, has been kidnapped by some men. They want Sridevi to bring a suitecase to the city. While waiting for a bus, some people who are waiting for Kudumbasree Travels to go to Aravi's marriage, mistake her for another girl Hemalatha. Sridevi decides to pose as Hemalatha and go to Kochi with the marriage group.
At Kochi, Ashwaty's cousin returns with an intention to marry Aswathy. He shocked to learn that Aswathy's marriage has been fixed with someone else. He decides to conspire with his friend and caretaker Adiyodi to wreck the marriage.
On the wedding day, the groom and team arrive late. In Kerala tradition, a marriage should be done within a Muhurtham or auspicious time. Aswathy's family believe that a marriage after the Muhurtham is bad luck. Aravi, due to interference from Chachu and the cousin, is unable to marry Aswathy.
An astrologer gives them another Muhurtham the next day. But it is only a minute long. Aravi and his team make all preparations to get on time. This time, the cousin injects a syringe containing medicine to make one unconscious into Aravi and the marriage is once again ruined. Aravi and his parents question Chachu, who denies any action.
Nettar sees that there is money in Hemalatha/Sridevi's bag and attempts to steal it by using an identical bag. During his escapade to get the money, he causes Aravi to fall on Sridevi. A picture of this is taken by a hotel caretaker. Nettar and Chachu decide to use the photo to convince both parties that Aravi has an affair with Sridevi/ Hemalatha.
The photo causes an outrage between both parties and the wedding is called off. Aswathy, who trusts Aravi, decides to elope with Aravi. At the same day, Sridevi also leaves. When both Aravi and Sridevi/Hemalatha are found missing, they are presumed to have eloped. That is when the truth about Hemalatha is also learned.
Aswathy is convinced by her cousin and Adiyodi that they will help her. But they reveal their plan to get Aswathy married to the cousin. Aswathy escapes and meets up with Aravi. In an ensuing comical fight with the cousin and his men, they rescue Sridevi's father from the kidnappers. They then join with Aravi's ensemble.
Nettar followed Sridevi to get her bag and grabs it. When he reunites with everyone, everyone goes after the money. Aravi, frustrated, grabs the bag and throws it away. It is revealed to be a bomb and explodes. Nettar, at the sight of this, goes insane. Sridevi and her father thank Aravi for saving everyone and leave.
Aravi them takes his team in search of a temple to marry Aswathy. When no temple is found, Aravi and Aswathy decide to get married in front of some idols which are for sale. Aswathy's family also arrive and reveal that they know about Chachu and the cousin attempting to sabotage the wedding. With the consent of everyone, Aravi and Aswathy get married. The film ends as the newlywed couple of Aravi and Aswathy depart for Aravi's village with everyone aboard Kudumbasree Travels.
Cast
*
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 ...
as Aravindan Chakyar/Aravi
*
Bhavana
''Bhāvanā'' (Pali;Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 503, entry for "Bhāvanā," retrieved 9 December 2008 from "U. Chicago" a Sanskrit: भावना, also ''bhāvanā''Monier-Williams (1899), p. 755, see "Bhāvana" and "Bhāvanā", retriev ...
as Aswathy
*
Jagathy Sreekumar
Sreekumar P. K. (born 5 January 1951), better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar or simply Jagathy, is an Indian actor, director and playback singer, who has appeared in over 1500 Malayalam films in a career spanning almost four decades ...
as Chachu, Aravindan's uncle
*
P. Sreekumar
P. Sreekumar is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, director and producer who appears in Malayalam movies. He has acted in more than 150 Malayalam films. Presently he is serving as the Chairman of Kerala Cultural Activists Welfare Fund Board.
Backgro ...
as Chembakassery Govinda Chakyar, Aravindan's father
*
Kottayam Nazeer
Kottayam Nazeer is an Indian actor, impressionist, and an artist from Kerala. Kottayam Nazeer started his career as a stage artist . Recently he also started his career in painting.
Family
Nazeer is married to Haseena. They have two sons, Mo ...
as George Kutty, Aravindan's friend
*
Maniyanpilla Raju
Sudheer Kumar (born 20 April 1955), better known by his stage name Maniyanpilla Raju (Malayalam:മണിയൻപിള്ള രാജു), is an Indian actor and producer who works in Malayalam film industry.Radhika
Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also d ...
as Sreedevi / Hemalatha
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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 Makkar Kakka
*
Narayanankutty
Narayanan Kutty or Kalabhavan Narayanankutty is a Malayalam film actor. He has acted in more than 300 films. He handles mainly comedy roles.
Background
Narayanan Kutty was born Ernakulam. He started his career as a mimicry artist in Kalabhavan ...
*
Valsala Menon
Valsala Menon (born 1945) is an Indian actress who works in Malayalam films. She has acted in over 200+ films. Currently she is active in Malayalam television serials.
Early life
Valsala Menon was born in 1945 to Raman Menon and Devakiyamma in ...
Kulappulli Leela
Kulappulli Leela (born 19 April 1954) is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Malayalam cinema, Tamil cinema and television. She has mostly done comedic roles, and has appeared in over 350 films. She began her career acting through ...