Mangamma (film)
Encyclopedia
Mangamma is a 1997 Malayalam film written and directed by T. V. Chandran
, and produced by National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC). It stars Revathi
, Nedumudi Venu
, Vijayaraghavan and Thilakan
in major roles.
The film met with critical acclaim. T. V. Chandran won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Director
. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam
. Revathi's performance is widely regarded as one of the best in her career.
) and her father (Thilakan
) are forced to flee their village on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. The landlord's son attempts to rape Mangamma's younger sister but unfortunately they both die in a fire that destroys the hut. Mangamma and her father are offered shelter and a job by Nair (Nedumudi Venu
), who runs a tea shop with his adopted son Velayudhan. Nair marries Mangamma after her father's death.
The later part of the film takes place 16 years later. Mangamma and Nair have a 15-year-old son - Sankaran, who just flirts around with Lucy, a girl who helps Mangamma in her popcorn business. When Velayudhan who has worked with her since childhood disappears one day, the shop is thrown into disarray. Velayudhan (M. G. Sasi
) is now a rebel, wanted by the police. A rich contractor wants to buy Nair's land, and his refusal brings about a catastrophe. The police harasses Mangamma and Nair. Nair becomes one of the many faceless, nameless victims of the Emergency — he dies in police custody. The tea shop is burnt. Standing up to these trials, Mangamma survives. In the last shot, Velayudhan sits in the tea shop. He is reading a book. He remains in the frame even as Mangamma leaves.
Other major characters are
T. V. Chandran
T. V. Chandran is an Indian filmmaker, script writer, and actor. He is most known for his art-house films which have references to history and undertones of politics and feminism...
, and produced by National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC). It stars Revathi
Revathi
Revathi is an award-winning Indian actress and film director. She has acted in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi movies, directed several feature-length films, and has acted in and produced multiple television programs, totaling over twenty years of experience in the entertainment...
, Nedumudi Venu
Nedumudi Venu
Nedumudi Venu is a popular Malayalam film actor from Kerala, India. He has also written screenplays and has directed one film.- Early life :...
, Vijayaraghavan and Thilakan
Thilakan
Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
in major roles.
The film met with critical acclaim. T. V. Chandran won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Director
Kerala State Film Award for Best Director
The Kerala State Film Award for Best Director winners:-References:**...
. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam
The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam winners:...
. Revathi's performance is widely regarded as one of the best in her career.
Plot
The film is set in two periods — the first in the political milieu of the 1960s when Kerala was brought under the Presidential rule after the dismissal of the first Communist ministry; the second in 1976 during the Emergency, the time of police excesses and political witch-hunting. Due to constant harassment by the local MLA-cum-landlord, Mangamma (RevathiRevathi
Revathi is an award-winning Indian actress and film director. She has acted in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi movies, directed several feature-length films, and has acted in and produced multiple television programs, totaling over twenty years of experience in the entertainment...
) and her father (Thilakan
Thilakan
Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
) are forced to flee their village on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. The landlord's son attempts to rape Mangamma's younger sister but unfortunately they both die in a fire that destroys the hut. Mangamma and her father are offered shelter and a job by Nair (Nedumudi Venu
Nedumudi Venu
Nedumudi Venu is a popular Malayalam film actor from Kerala, India. He has also written screenplays and has directed one film.- Early life :...
), who runs a tea shop with his adopted son Velayudhan. Nair marries Mangamma after her father's death.
The later part of the film takes place 16 years later. Mangamma and Nair have a 15-year-old son - Sankaran, who just flirts around with Lucy, a girl who helps Mangamma in her popcorn business. When Velayudhan who has worked with her since childhood disappears one day, the shop is thrown into disarray. Velayudhan (M. G. Sasi
M. G. Sasi
M. G. Sasi is a film and drama director from Kerala. His short film Kanavumalayilekku received National Film Award for Best Educational Film in 2002...
) is now a rebel, wanted by the police. A rich contractor wants to buy Nair's land, and his refusal brings about a catastrophe. The police harasses Mangamma and Nair. Nair becomes one of the many faceless, nameless victims of the Emergency — he dies in police custody. The tea shop is burnt. Standing up to these trials, Mangamma survives. In the last shot, Velayudhan sits in the tea shop. He is reading a book. He remains in the frame even as Mangamma leaves.
Cast and characters
- RevathiRevathiRevathi is an award-winning Indian actress and film director. She has acted in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi movies, directed several feature-length films, and has acted in and produced multiple television programs, totaling over twenty years of experience in the entertainment...
as Mangamma - Nedumudi VenuNedumudi VenuNedumudi Venu is a popular Malayalam film actor from Kerala, India. He has also written screenplays and has directed one film.- Early life :...
as Nair - Vijayaraghavan as Balan, Mangamma's ex-lover
- ThilakanThilakanSurendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
as Karuppan Mooppar, Mangamma's father - M. G. SasiM. G. SasiM. G. Sasi is a film and drama director from Kerala. His short film Kanavumalayilekku received National Film Award for Best Educational Film in 2002...
as Velayudhan, Nair's adopted son - Oduvil UnnikrishnanOduvil UnnikrishnanOduvil Unnikrishnan was an award winning Malayalam movie actor known for his versatile acting skills, known for his portrayal of classical ancient aristocratic personalities in Malayalam cinema with his unique provincial linguistic style, expressions and dialect. He was noted as a serious as well...
as Mannadiyar - Gopakumar as Varghese Mapla, Nair's friend
- V. K. Sriraman as contractor
- Jagadeesh
- Ravi Vallathol as Dr. M. S. Menon
- James
Other major characters are
- Sankaran, Nair and Mangamma's son
- Licy, Varghese Mapla's daughter
- Kuttisankara Menon, the wicked landlord and MLA
- Prasad, Kuttisankara Menon's son
- Sundari, Mangamma's younger sister
External links
- Mangamma at the Malayalam Movie Database