Manjil Virinja Pookkal
Encyclopedia
Manjil Virinja Pookkal is a 1980 Malayalam film produced by Navodaya Appachan and directed by Fazil
, starring Shankar
, Poornima Jayaram
, and Mohanlal
in the main roles. This film was one of the biggest hits of the year and was a major landmark in the career of director Fazil. The songs were composed by Jerry Amaldev.
Manjil Virinja Pookkal was Mohanlal's first release. His first film Thiranottam
was never released in theaters. The film was shot mainly from Kodaikanal
, Tamil Nadu
. The first dialogue of Mohanlal, which begins as "I am Narendran" was shot from the Astoria Hotel, near Kodaikanal busstand.
The Hollywood thriller Sleeping with the Enemy
(1991) has the same storyline as Manjil Virinja Pookkal. Sleeping with the Enemy was later remade into Hindi four times as Yaraana
(1995), Daraar
(1996), Agni Sakshi (1996), Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe
(2002); into Tamil as Aval Varuvala
(1998); and into a Pakistani movie Khilona.
) comes into the picture. Mohanlal plays the villain in this film, one of the many negative characters he has played in his career. The film ends on a sad note, with Prem Kishan committing suicide after killing Narendran, saddened by the loss of Prabha, who was killed by Narendran.
Manjil Virinja Pookkal was Mohanlal
's first release. His first film Thiranottam
was only released in 1 center with difficulties. Before Mohanlal was cast in the role of the antagonist
, other actors were considered for the part, including Bharath Gopi
and Sukumaran
. Sukumaran almost got the part but was turned down because the director felt that he looked too old. Mohanlal was 20 years old when in this film. And so was Shankar.
Fazil
A. M. Fazil is an Indian filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter of Malayalam cinema.His father wanted him to be a doctor, but in school and college, extra curricular activities engulfed him. He wrote plays, enacted them with his friends A. M. Fazil (born 1953, in Alleppey, Kerala) is an Indian...
, starring Shankar
Shankar (actor)
Shankar Panikkar, popularly known as Shankar is an Indian film actor and director. He was one of the prominent lead actors of Malayalam cinema during the 1980s.- As an Actor :...
, Poornima Jayaram
Poornima Jayaram
Poornima Jayaram is an Indian film actress of Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. She was a mainstream actress of the 80's. Her pairing with Shankar in Malayalam was a hit. She is married to Tamil director, actor, producer and script-writer Bhagyaraj and has a son Shantanu Bhagyaraj, who is...
, and Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...
in the main roles. This film was one of the biggest hits of the year and was a major landmark in the career of director Fazil. The songs were composed by Jerry Amaldev.
Manjil Virinja Pookkal was Mohanlal's first release. His first film Thiranottam
Thiranottam
Thiranottam is a 1978 Malayalam film produced by Ashok Kumar and directed by Priyadarshan starring Mohanlal, Manianpilla Raju and Ravi Kumar. It was Mohanlal's first film. He played Kuttappan, a mentally disabled servant in the movie...
was never released in theaters. The film was shot mainly from Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal
-Climate:Kodaikanal has a monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate . The temperatures are cool throughout the year due to the high elevation of the city.-Economy:...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. The first dialogue of Mohanlal, which begins as "I am Narendran" was shot from the Astoria Hotel, near Kodaikanal busstand.
The Hollywood thriller Sleeping with the Enemy
Sleeping with the Enemy (1991 film)
Sleeping with the Enemy is a 1991 psychological thriller film directed by Joseph Ruben and starring Julia Roberts. The film is based on Nancy Price's 1987 novel of the same name...
(1991) has the same storyline as Manjil Virinja Pookkal. Sleeping with the Enemy was later remade into Hindi four times as Yaraana
Yaraana (1995 film)
Yaraana is a 1995 Bollywood film which stars Rishi Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Raj Babbar, Kader Khan and Shakti Kapoor. The film is a remake of the American film Sleeping with the Enemy starring Julia Roberts...
(1995), Daraar
Daraar
Daraar is a 1996 Hindi thriller film directed by Abbas-Mustan starring Juhi Chawla, Rishi Kapoor and Arbaaz Khan in his film debut. The film is an unofficial remake of Sleeping with the Enemy starring Julia Roberts. Khan received the Filmfare Best Villain Award for his portrayal as a possessive...
(1996), Agni Sakshi (1996), Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe
Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe
Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe is a Bollywood romance/thriller movie directed by Vinay Shukla released on January 11, 2002, starring Jaya Bachchan, Aftab Shivdasani, Sanjay Kapoor and Esha Deol in her film debut...
(2002); into Tamil as Aval Varuvala
Aval Varuvala
Aval Varuvala is a 1998 Tamil film directed by Raajkapoor based on the successful Telugu film, Pelli. The film stars Ajith Kumar and Simranin the main roles with Babloo Prithviraj in another significant role...
(1998); and into a Pakistani movie Khilona.
Plot
The story is about Prem Kishan (Shankar) coming to the hills of Kodaikkanal on work, meeting and falling in love with Prabha (Poornima Jayaram) whom he knows little about. Later he realises that she is married when her husband, Narendran (MohanlalMohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...
) comes into the picture. Mohanlal plays the villain in this film, one of the many negative characters he has played in his career. The film ends on a sad note, with Prem Kishan committing suicide after killing Narendran, saddened by the loss of Prabha, who was killed by Narendran.
Cast
- ShankarShankar (actor)Shankar Panikkar, popularly known as Shankar is an Indian film actor and director. He was one of the prominent lead actors of Malayalam cinema during the 1980s.- As an Actor :...
as Prem Kishan - Poornima JayaramPoornima JayaramPoornima Jayaram is an Indian film actress of Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. She was a mainstream actress of the 80's. Her pairing with Shankar in Malayalam was a hit. She is married to Tamil director, actor, producer and script-writer Bhagyaraj and has a son Shantanu Bhagyaraj, who is...
as Prabha - Mohan Lal as Narendran
- PrathapachandranPrathapachandranPrathapachandran was a Malayalam film actor who left a vivid impression through his dramatic portrayal of villainous and character roles in over 300 movies. He was born in 1941 at Omallur in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. He died on December 16, 2004. He was 63.-Biography:Prathapachandran...
as Sivasankara Panikkar - Alummoodan as Kushalan
- 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 Seythalavi
Manjil Virinja Pookkal was Mohanlal
Mohanlal
Mohanlal Vishwanathan Nair , known mononymously as Mohanlal , is a National Award-winning Indian actor, producer, singer and writer who is well known for his versatile and natural acting in Indian cinema & hence widely known as the Universal Star...
's first release. His first film Thiranottam
Thiranottam
Thiranottam is a 1978 Malayalam film produced by Ashok Kumar and directed by Priyadarshan starring Mohanlal, Manianpilla Raju and Ravi Kumar. It was Mohanlal's first film. He played Kuttappan, a mentally disabled servant in the movie...
was only released in 1 center with difficulties. Before Mohanlal was cast in the role of the antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
, other actors were considered for the part, including Bharath Gopi
Bharath Gopi
V. Gopinathan Nair, popularly known as Bharath Gopi was an Indian film actor, producer, and director. He was one of the first actors to be associated with the New Wave cinema movement in Kerala....
and Sukumaran
Sukumaran
Edappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Sukumaran Nair , popularly known as Sukumaran, was an Indian film actor, and producer....
. Sukumaran almost got the part but was turned down because the director felt that he looked too old. Mohanlal was 20 years old when in this film. And so was Shankar.
Credits
- Directed by FazilFazilA. M. Fazil is an Indian filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter of Malayalam cinema.His father wanted him to be a doctor, but in school and college, extra curricular activities engulfed him. He wrote plays, enacted them with his friends A. M. Fazil (born 1953, in Alleppey, Kerala) is an Indian...
- Written by FazilFazilA. M. Fazil is an Indian filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter of Malayalam cinema.His father wanted him to be a doctor, but in school and college, extra curricular activities engulfed him. He wrote plays, enacted them with his friends A. M. Fazil (born 1953, in Alleppey, Kerala) is an Indian...
- Produced by Navodaya Appachan
- Original Music by Jerry AmaldevJerry AmaldevJerry Amaldev is a three-time Kerala State Film Awards winning Indian composer of film scores who has given music to some of the most important motion pictures of Malayalam cinema...
(songs) and Gunasingh (score) - Cinematography by Ashok Kumar
- Film Editing by T.R. Shekhar
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director: Sibi MalayilSibi MalayilSibi Malayil is an Indian film director of Malayalam cinema best known for his melodramas of the 80s and 90s. Since the mid-1980s he has directed some 40 movies. Movies like Kireedam, Dasharatham, Thaniyavarthanam, His Highness Abdullah, Bharatham, and Akashadoothu defined the way Malayalam movies...
- Lyricist: Bichu ThirumalaBichu ThirumalaBichu Thirumala is an Indian lyricist and poet from Kerala, who works in the Malayalam film industry. He, along with O. N. V. Kurup, is known for creating the style of arranging beautiful words in Malayalam film songs. In Malayalam cinema, Thirumala led the group of lyricist who wrote songs for...
- Singers: Vani Jairam, S. JanakiS. JanakiS. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35...
, K. J. YesudasK. J. YesudasKattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,...
Awards
1980 Kerala State Film Awards- Best Popular FilmKerala State Film Award for Best Popular FilmThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value winners:-References:**...
- Manjil Virinja Pookkal - Best ActressKerala State Film Award for Best ActressThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress winners:-References:**...
- Poornima JayaramPoornima JayaramPoornima Jayaram is an Indian film actress of Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. She was a mainstream actress of the 80's. Her pairing with Shankar in Malayalam was a hit. She is married to Tamil director, actor, producer and script-writer Bhagyaraj and has a son Shantanu Bhagyaraj, who is... - Best Music DirectorKerala State Film Award for Best Music DirectorThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director winners:-Trivia:* In 1994, G. Devarajan returned all the awards won by him in protest against the jury who selected Berny-Ignatious for that year's award. According to Devarajan, none of the songs composed by the duo for Thenmavin Kombath were...
- Jerry Amaldev - Best Play Back SingerKerala State Film Award for Best SingerThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer winners:-Best Classical Music Singer:-References:**Specific...
- K. J. YesudasK. J. YesudasKattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,... - Best Play Back SingerKerala State Film Award for Best SingerThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer winners:-Best Classical Music Singer:-References:**Specific...
- S. JanakiS. JanakiS. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35... - Best Background MusicKerala State Film Award for Best Background MusicThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Background Music Director winners:-References:***...
- Gunasingh