Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha
Promotional Poster
Directed by Hariharan
Produced by P. V. Gangadharan
Written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Starring
Music by Bombay Ravi
Cinematography K. Ramachandra Babu
Edited by M. S. Mani
Production
company
Grihalakshmi Productions
Distributed by Kalpaka Films
Release date
  • 14 April 1989 (1989-04-14)
Running time
 168 minutes
Country India
Language Malayalam

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (English: A Northern Story Of Valor) is a 1989 epic historical period drama Malayalam film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Balan K. Nair, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi, Geetha and Captain Raju. The film won four National Film Awards (1989) including Best Actor (Mammootty), Best Screenplay (M. T. Vasudevan Nair), Best Production Design and Best Costume Design (P. Krishnamoorthy) and six Kerala State Film Awards.[1] In a 2013 IBN poll it was voted one of the greatest Indian films of all time.[2]

The film is based on a legend in the history of Chekavar warriors. The North Malabar Chekavars practiced martial art form Kalaripayattu and were hired to fight till death to solve disputes between people and kings, it was a vocation. According to the legend, Aromal Chekavar, a well-known warrior, lost his life after a duel in which his sword broke off at the hilt during the fight. The metal rivets holding the blade to the hilt had been replaced with wooden ones by his trusted ally and cousin Chandu. Chandu is said to have betrayed his cousin because he was jealous of Aaromal's popularity and abilities. The film portrays the legend in a different light.

The story is presented from Chandu's perspective and portrays that he was a largely misidentified figure and someone who followed whims and ploys of the females in the Chekavar families during his youth. Furthermore, it suggests that a grave injustice has been done to Chandu by wrongly accusing him of replacing the rivets and forging the fuller of the sword with hollow iron. The story had been filmed numerous times in the early black-and-white era. Though the language of the black and white era was generally heavily melodramatic, in Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, the director and writer used a more natural tone.

Plot

The film is set in 16th-century northern Kerala. The plot unfolds at Puthooram, the house of great Kannappan Chekavar (Balan K. Nair). Kannappan Chekavar adopts the son of his estranged sister when the boy loses both his parents and brings him to Puthooram to live and learn with his cousins. The orphan boy, Chandu, a quick learner, earns the love and admiration of his uncle, while he is loathed by his cousin Aromal (Suresh Gopi).

As they grow up Chandu (Mammootty) is betrothed to Chekavar's daughter, Unniyarcha (Madhavi). Several events unfold where in Chandu finds himself being pushed to the corner by his cousin. He flees to the kalari under the guidance of Tulunadan expert and master Chekavar, Aringodar (Captain Raju).

Chandu has to recount only losses in his life, as Aromal ensures his sister is not married to Chandu. He even deceives Chandu by usurping and marrying Kunjinooli (Chithra), who was in love with Chandu. The heartbroken Chandu moves ahead and continues to master the art of Kalari Payattu from Aringodar.

On wedding day of Aromal, Unniyarcha invites Chandu to her room. However Unniyarcha’s husband, the eunuch Kunjiraman (V. K. Sreeraman) sees them. Unniyarcha, the clever vixen that she is, convinces her husband that Chandu broke into her room as she was awaiting the arrival of Kunjiraman. Chandu gets a sobriquet: 'Womanizer Chandu.' A dejected Chandu finds solace in Kunji (Geetha), Aringodar’s daughter.

Feudal lord Unnichandror (Ramu) arrives at the footsteps of Aringodar and invites him to represent his cause in an angam (duel unto death) against mooppu feud with his brother Unnikonar (Devan). Unnikonar, in turn, invites Aromal to represent him. Chandu is now caught in a dilemma, when his uncle requests him to play second hand to Aromal in the angam against his teacher Aringodar. Unniyarcha also appears and offers to live with Chandu if he assists Aromal to win against Aringodar. A tempted Chandu, decides to second Aromal. Chandu takes on the task of revitalizing Aromal's swords by providing them for treatment to the blacksmith. However, Kunji, Aringodar’s daughter, bribes the blacksmith and makes them brittle.

On the day of the duel, Aromal, though highly skilled, is no match for the master Aringodar. To add to the misery, Aromal's sword breaks in two. As Chandu placates an attacking Aringodar, seeking time to replace the weapon, Aringodar obliges. Then wily Aromal throws his broken sword and kills an unguarded Aringodar.

Aromal is declared winner. As he retires to his resting place, Chandu follows him to tend to his injuries. Aromal blames Chandu of cheating, by treating the swords to make them brittle, and attacks him. Aromal kills himself in an accident by falling over a lamp. As people gather, Aromal breathes out his last words: "Chandu betrayed us!".

The ill-fated Chandu escapes the mob and finds the blacksmith, who informs that he was bribed by Kunji. Fighting his way through the entire contingent of guards, Chandu storms into Aringodar's household seeking Kunji. To add to his list of regrets, he finds Kunji has committed suicide by hanging herself. Chandu returns to Puthooram Veedu and is greeted by a raging Unniyarcha, who vows her sons will avenge her brother’s death.

Years later, Aromal Unni (Sanjay Mitra) and Kannapan Unni (Rasheed Ummer) (sons of Unniyarcha and Aromal Chekavar respectively) come to the kalari of Arangodar seeking revenge. Chandu explains to them the situation, hoping to avoid a duel. However, after being repeatedly challenge Chandu easily beats both, once again showing his mastery. Thinking they will leave before bloodshed is inevitable he attempts to retire his weapons. The two young warriors are in no mood to leave in defeat and insist on a duel to the death. Chandu plainly tells them about their mistakes in the duel and skillfully explains the possible strategies they have up their sleeve. Aromal Unni announces himself, "I, son of Unniyarcha, will die or go back with your head." Chandu realises the madness in the youngsters and appears to relent to their provocations, turns his back to them as if to pray in preparation for the duel. But knowing that no one will ever be able to win against him, and reminded that Aromal is Kannappan Chekavar's grandson, he commits one final act of valour: Chandu stabs himself with his sword. "You would have been my son," he tells Aromal Unni reminiscing bitterly on what could have been. He reaches out to the statue of his deity and dies. There ends life of a valiant but misunderstood man, the greatest warrior of his age.

Cast

  • Mammootty as Chandu Chekavar/Deceiving Chandu: A warrior belonging to a mercenary clan. The orphan boy, Chandu, a quick learner, earns the love and admiration of his uncle, while he is loathed by his cousin. Veteran actor Prem Nazir was originally considered for this role but since MT felt Mammootty's physique would better suit the character.[3]
  • Suresh Gopi as Aromal Chekavar: son of Kannappan Chekavar.
  • Balan K. Nair as Kannappan Chekavar: Chandu's uncle and a master of the southern style of Kalari martial arts. He adopts Chandu when the boy loses both his parents and brings him to Puthooram to live and learn with his cousins.
  • Madhavi as Unniarcha: A succubus and vixen warrior, sister of Aromal Chekavar and bride-to-be of Chandu Chekavar.
  • Captain Raju as Aringodar Chekavar: A master of northern Kalari known as "Thulunadan" and Chandu's second teacher in his lifelong learning discipline.
  • Geetha as Kunji (Voice dubbed by Anandavally)
  • Rajalakshmi as Kuttimani
  • Jomol as young Unniarcha
  • Vineeth Kumar as young Chandu
  • Vishal menon as young Kuniraman
  • Biyon as Child Artist
  • Ramu as Unnichandror
  • Devan as Unnikonnar
  • Oduvil Unnikrishnan as the king
  • Chithra as Kunjinooli
  • Soorya as blacksmith's daughter
  • Sanjay Mitra as Aromal Unni
  • Rasheed Ummer as Kannapan Unni
  • Sukumari as Kannappa Chekavar's wife
  • V. K. Sreeraman as Kunjiraman
  • Kundara Johny as Aringodar's student
  • Bheeman Raghu as Aringodar's student
  • Tony as Unnikannan

Reception

Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha received both commercial and critical acclaim.[4] In a 2013 online poll, IBN Live listed Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha as the third greatest Indian film of all time. The poll was conducted as part of the celebrations of Indian cinema completing 100 years. The poll constituted a list of 100 films from different Indian languages.[5][6]

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack contains 5 hit songs, all composed by Bombay Ravi. Lyrics by Kaithapram and K. Jayakumar.

#TitleSinger(s)
1 "Chandanalepa Sugandham" K. J. Yesudas
2 "Enthinavidam" K. J. Yesudas
3 "Indulekha Kanthurannu" K. J. Yesudas
4 "Kalarivilakku Thelinjathaano" K. S. Chitra
5 "Unni Ganapathi Thamburaane" K. S. Chitra, Asha Latha

Awards

National Film Awards

Filmfare Awards South

Kerala State Film Awards

References

  1. ↑ http://dff.nic.in/2011/37nfa.pdf
  2. ↑ 'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll Archived 4 February 2015 at WebCite – IBN, 12 May 2013
  3. ↑ K. T. C. Abdullah, P. M. Jayan. "വടക്കന്‍ വീരഗാഥയില്‍ ആദ്യം പ്രേംനസീര്‍ ആയിരുന്നു നായകന്‍". Chandrika Weekly. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "Happy Birthday Mammootty: 5 best performances of Mammukka you shouldnt miss". Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  5. ↑ "'Mayabazar' is India's greatest film ever: IBNLive poll" Archived 4 February 2015 at WebCite. IBN Live. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "IBNLive Poll: Vote for India's greatest film of all time". IBN Live. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
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