Manu Uncle
Encyclopedia
Manu Uncle is a 1988 Malayalam children's film
written and directed by Dennis Joseph
starring Mammootty
in title role. The film is regarded as one of the best children's film ever in Malayalam cinema
and it won a National Award and a Kerala State Film Award
.
plays the lead role Manu, M.A., L.L.B., BTech Electronics who is researching in astronomy. Manu's father (M. G. Soman
) is a police officer. Lisi plays the role of Manu's sister Uma. Prathapachandran plays Ravunni, a family friend. Antony (Azeez) and Mary (K. P. A. C. Lalitha
) are neighbours of Manu. Their children are Dany aka Lother and Ikru. Manu's elder sister (Jalaja)'s children comes from Delhi for their vacation. They with Dany and Ikru make up a four member team headed by Dany.
The children happened to visit the Art Museum on the very same time when the Marthandavarma's crown was stolen. Ikru noticed the robbers, Gomas, Appu and Kittu but was not able to describe them to his grandpa. Manu who has a well equipped communication system once happened to hear a conversation between Kittu and Gomas planning to loot Marthandavarmas's sword. Manu and his father rush to the palace. Gomas meanwhile already gets hold of the sword when he encounters Manu and his dad. A fight follows in which Manu gets injured by Gomas; so now Manu's father follows the robbers alone. But the police officer gets killed by the robbers in a planned lorry accident. The viewers are just now able to know who the mastermind behind the robbery which was Ravunni, the family friend.
Unfortunately for him though, the incident was witnessed by Khader, a young orphan who was happened to be in that lorry. The robbers see the boy and go after him. The boy manages to escape from them and in the process ends up meeting the four children, and tell them that their grandpa was not dead in an accident but was killed.
The curious children decide to investigate the murder. Ikru who had already met Gomas drew his picture which was noticed by Manu and Ravunni. Ravunni gets shocked and Manu started developing doubts about Ravunni after watching his tensed face. Manu goes to Ravunni's house when he was not their and made sure his doubts where true.
The children meanwhile decide to go to the gang's hideout as per the directions from Khader. They get shocked on knowing that it was Ravunni leading the gang. The gang sees the children who crossed their fence and Ravunni directs his cronies to kill them. But, soon Manu reaches there and saves the children. The climax scene has a very funny fight scene which was enhanced by the funny inspector role of Suresh Gopi
as 'Minnal' Prathapan. The movie ends when the robber gang gets arrested by the police.
Mohanlal
and Suresh Gopi
had special appearance in the film. Mohanlal played the role of himself and Suresh Gopi as SI 'Minnal' Prathapan.
Special appearances
; Lyricist: Shibu Chakraborhy
Children's film
A children's film is a film aimed for children as its audience. As opposed to a family film, no special effort is made to make the film attractive for other audiences. The film may or may not be about children. In Unshrinking the Kids: Children's Cinema and the Family Film which is a chapter in In...
written and directed by Dennis Joseph
Dennis Joseph
Dennis Joseph is a Malayalam script writer and director. Born in Ettumanoor, Kottayam in Kerala, India, Dennis Joseph has been a popular name in the late so's and early nineties. Though has associated with several top directors, his best films had been with Joshi and Thambi Kannanthanam...
starring Mammootty
Mammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
in title role. The film is regarded as one of the best children's film ever in Malayalam cinema
Malayalam cinema
The Cinema of Kerala or Malayalam cinema refers to the film industry in the Indian state of Kerala, which makes films in the Malayalam language. Malayalam movies typically portray social or family issues and are considered more realistic than films from other parts of India. Malayalam cinema has...
and it won a National Award and a Kerala State Film Award
Kerala State Film Award
The Kerala State Film Awards are the most prestigious film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Chalachitra Academy since 1998 on behalf of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala, India....
.
Plot
MammoottyMammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
plays the lead role Manu, M.A., L.L.B., BTech Electronics who is researching in astronomy. Manu's father (M. G. Soman
M. G. Soman
M. G. Soman was an actor in Malayalam film. He was considered to be one of the superstars in Malayalam cinema along with Sukumaran and Jayan during the 1970s. He was born in Tiruvalla, Travancore...
) is a police officer. Lisi plays the role of Manu's sister Uma. Prathapachandran plays Ravunni, a family friend. Antony (Azeez) and Mary (K. P. A. C. Lalitha
K. P. A. C. Lalitha
Maheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K.P.A.C. Lalitha, is a National Award winning Indian film and stage actress. She was the wife of late filmmaker Bharathan.-Biography:...
) are neighbours of Manu. Their children are Dany aka Lother and Ikru. Manu's elder sister (Jalaja)'s children comes from Delhi for their vacation. They with Dany and Ikru make up a four member team headed by Dany.
The children happened to visit the Art Museum on the very same time when the Marthandavarma's crown was stolen. Ikru noticed the robbers, Gomas, Appu and Kittu but was not able to describe them to his grandpa. Manu who has a well equipped communication system once happened to hear a conversation between Kittu and Gomas planning to loot Marthandavarmas's sword. Manu and his father rush to the palace. Gomas meanwhile already gets hold of the sword when he encounters Manu and his dad. A fight follows in which Manu gets injured by Gomas; so now Manu's father follows the robbers alone. But the police officer gets killed by the robbers in a planned lorry accident. The viewers are just now able to know who the mastermind behind the robbery which was Ravunni, the family friend.
Unfortunately for him though, the incident was witnessed by Khader, a young orphan who was happened to be in that lorry. The robbers see the boy and go after him. The boy manages to escape from them and in the process ends up meeting the four children, and tell them that their grandpa was not dead in an accident but was killed.
The curious children decide to investigate the murder. Ikru who had already met Gomas drew his picture which was noticed by Manu and Ravunni. Ravunni gets shocked and Manu started developing doubts about Ravunni after watching his tensed face. Manu goes to Ravunni's house when he was not their and made sure his doubts where true.
The children meanwhile decide to go to the gang's hideout as per the directions from Khader. They get shocked on knowing that it was Ravunni leading the gang. The gang sees the children who crossed their fence and Ravunni directs his cronies to kill them. But, soon Manu reaches there and saves the children. The climax scene has a very funny fight scene which was enhanced by the funny inspector role of Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...
as 'Minnal' Prathapan. The movie ends when the robber gang gets arrested by the police.
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...
and Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopi
Suresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...
had special appearance in the film. Mohanlal played the role of himself and Suresh Gopi as SI 'Minnal' Prathapan.
Cast
- MammoottyMammoottyMammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
as Manu - Master Pratheek as Dany aka Lother
- Master Star as Ikru
- Master Anoop as Shanku
- Master Kareem as Khader
- Baby Sonia
- M. G. SomanM. G. SomanM. G. Soman was an actor in Malayalam film. He was considered to be one of the superstars in Malayalam cinema along with Sukumaran and Jayan during the 1970s. He was born in Tiruvalla, Travancore...
as DySP - Azeez as Antony
- 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 Ravunni Menon - B. Thyagarajan as Gomas
- Mohan Jose as Security guard of Ravunni Menon
- Lizzy as Uma
- K. P. A. C. LalithaK. P. A. C. LalithaMaheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K.P.A.C. Lalitha, is a National Award winning Indian film and stage actress. She was the wife of late filmmaker Bharathan.-Biography:...
as Mary - JalajaJalajaJalaja is an actress in Malayalam film who was active during the 1970s and 1980s. She had won Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 1981 for the movie Venal directed by Lenin Rajendran....
as Manu's elder sister
Special appearances
- Suresh GopiSuresh GopiSuresh Gopinathan Nair , often credited as Suresh Gopi , is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Malayalam cinema; he is famous for his roles in police dramas. He is noted for his leading roles as much as his character roles...
as SI 'Minnal' Prathapan - MohanlalMohanlalMohanlal 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...
as himself
Crew
- Story,Direction ..... Dennis JosephDennis JosephDennis Joseph is a Malayalam script writer and director. Born in Ettumanoor, Kottayam in Kerala, India, Dennis Joseph has been a popular name in the late so's and early nineties. Though has associated with several top directors, his best films had been with Joshi and Thambi Kannanthanam...
- Screenplay, Dialogues and Lyrics .... Shibu Chakraborthy
- Producer .... Joy Thomas
- Distribution .... Jubilee Productions
- Cinematography .... Jayanan VincentJayanan VincentJayanan Vincent is an Indian cinematographer. He is the son of veteran cinematographer, A. Vincent. He started his career with Malayalam films in the late 80's; and went on to become a prominent cinematographer in the Telugu industry...
- Editor .... K. Shankunny
- Stunt .... A. R. Basha
- Art Direction .... Sabu Pravadas
- Associate direction .... Jimmy
- P. R. O. .... Ranji Kottayam
- Stills .... R. Sukumar
- Make up .... Thomas
- Costume Design .... Kumar
Awards
- National Film Award for Best Children's FilmNational Film Award for Best Children's FilmThe National Film Award for Best Children's Film is given annually as part of the National Film Awards ceremony in India. It is given to the film the jury panel of the awards deem the best feature that deals with themes surrounding children....
- Kerala State Film Award for Best Children's FilmKerala State Film Award for Best Children's FilmThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Children's Film winners:-References:**...
Soundtrack
Composer: ShyamShyam (composer)
Samuel Joseph alias Shyam is a popular Malayalam music director from Tamil Nadu, India. He has scored music for over 300 films including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi languages. He also composed many Christian devotional songs...
; Lyricist: Shibu Chakraborhy
- "Mele Veettile" .... K. S. ChithraK. S. ChithraK. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films...
- "Oru Kili" .... K. S. ChithraK. S. ChithraK. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films...
& M. G. SreekumarM. G. SreekumarM. G. Sreekumar is a two-time National Award-winning Indian playback singer and music director who works in Malayalam cinema. With a career of over 25 years, he is one of the prominent male singers in the Malayalam film industry. He is known for matching voice with Malayalam actor Mohanlal. He has...