One of Priyadarshan's completely original movies, this was (not surprisingly) the biggest Malayalam hit in 1994. We see Mohanlal as Manikyam, who happen's to be the loyal Man Friday/friend/brother to Sreekrishnan (Nedumudi Venu). Both of them fall head over heels for village beauty Karthumbi (Shobana). Mohanlal does a great job, but this is Nedumudi's movie. His act as the jealous lover forms the centrefold of the movie; everything else revolves around it. Adding fuel to his seething envy is Appakkala (Sreenivasan, who is genuinely hilarious as always). 

The cinematography by Santosh Sivan is breath-taking, no wonder he is lauded so much. The beautiful music is another aspect to be noted. The soundtrack went on to become the most sold soundtrack ever in Malayalam cinema, as of 1994-95.

The Hindi and Telugu remakes do grave injustice to the simplicity of the original. Refrain from watching them.

Malayalam cinema, based in Kerala, is known for its grounded narratives, literary screenplays, and strong character-driven storytelling.The industry is celebrated for innovatively blending realism with bold, socially conscious themes.

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

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Srikrishnan and his best friend, Manickam falls in love with the same girl, a village performer, Srikrishnan turns out more intent on having her for himself.

Mohanlal, Shobana, Sreenivasan, and Nedumudi Venu in Thenmavin Kombath (1994)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Mohanlal and Priyadarshan in Chandralekha (1997)

Jagathy Sreekumar, Mohanlal, and Revathi in Kilukkam (1991)

Mohanlal and Manju Warrier in Aaram Thamburan (1997)

Girija Shettar and Mohanlal in Vandanam (1989)

Mohanlal and Sreenivasan in Pattanapravesam (1988)

Mohanlal and Sreenivasan in Akkare Akkare Akkare (1990)

Mohanlal, Renjini, and Nedumudi Venu in Chithram (1988)

Mohanlal, Meena, Mukesh, and Sreenivasan in Udayananu Tharam (2005)

Mohanlal, Shobana, and Thilakan in Minnaram (1994)

Thenmavin Kombath

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