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Vaishali (film)
Encyclopedia
Vaishali is a 1988 Malayalam film directed and edited by Bharathan
. Scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
, it was an adaptation of a sub-story told by Vedavyasa to King Yudhishtira in the epic Mahabharatha
. It is the story of Vaishali, a devadasi girl who was assigned the mission of seducing Rishyashrungan, the son of Mahirshi Vibhandakan and bringing him to Chambapuri to perform a mahayagam to cause rain. Shot in a lavish setting, Vaishali was a huge hit at box office. This film, often considered as the best work of Bharathan is also considered as a cult classic in Malayalam cinema world. The cinematography by Madhu Ambat was widely appreciated and had won several awards.
) is suffering from severe drought. There had been no rain for past 12 continuous years as the result of a curse by a Brahmin. The film begins with king Lomapadan's visit to Rajaguru (Nedumudi Venu
) requesting him to return to Champapuri, the royal capital of Angarajya. Chitrangadan (Ashokan
), the son of rajaguru was in love with Vaishali (Suparna Anand
), daughter of a devadasi, which was against the social customs. Rajaguru had migrated away from capital with an aim of separating his rebellious son from her lover. Now, with the repeated requests from King, Rajaguru decides to shift back to Champapuri to perform a yagam to please Lord Indra, the god of rain. On the night of arrival at the capital, Rajaguru, gets a mystic vision, in which his guru advices him to bring Rishyashrungan (Sanjay Mitra), the only son of Mahirshi Vibhandakan to perform a mahayagam at Angarajyam. Only the son of Vibhandakan can now save the nation. Rishyashrungan is a teenager, living deep inside a dense forest, along with his father, who is famous for his spiritual powers. Vibhandakan had taken all care to keep his son away from the rest of the world, since the day he was born. Rishyashrungan had not met any human being in his whole life apart from his father, and is unaware of the world outside his ashram inside the deep forest. Lomapadan and his group of ministers decide to send a beautiful girl to seduce and bring Rishyashrungan to Champapuri. Rajaguru, who had a deep rooted anger against Vaishali (Suparna Anand
) asks king to send her to the forest. Vaishali, daughter of Malini (Geetha), a famous dancer in the palace, is also the illegitimate daughter of King Lomapadan, which he is unaware of. Malini, on the demand of the king sets out with her daughter to the forest. While the rest of the team waits outside the deep forest, Vaishali sets in and meets Rishyashrungan and attempts to seduce him with her looks. He unaware of the existence of any human being on the earth, is easily carried away by her exotic looks. But by evening Vibhandakan smells out the trouble and warns his son about the danger. But the teenager is again lost by the charm of Vaishali. But soon realizing his mistake, Rishyashrungan decides to take up deep meditation to attain mental power to win over Vaishali, whom he mistakes to be a Mayavi, who had come to prevent him from gaining eternal happiness and salvation. Vaishali, who by now had started loving him seriously is completely broken by seeing him on meditation in midst of fire. She, in her final attempt starts dancing sensuously in front of Rishyashrungan, and succeeds in alluring and taking him to Angarajyam. But the boy hermit regains his sense at the boat and is about to curse her. Malini, by then begs for mercy. On seeing Malini, another woman, the teenager hermit is surprised. Vaishali explains her mission to Rishyashrungan and convinces him of his power to bring rain. They start back to the kingdom. They are welcomed royally at the capital. King Lomapadan welcomes Rishyashrungan personally and takes him to the stage where the yaga has to be performed. Malini, who by now is expecting the King to accept Vaishali as his child tries to move towards him, but is stopped by the Rajaguru. Rishyashrungan performs the yagam successfully, and it rains heavily by the time havan ends. The entire nation is now on joyous mood and they celebrate by singing and dancing. Vaishali and her mother Malini, are completely forgotten by the King now. The Rajaguru, by then advises the king to offer Princess Shanta (Parvathi
), his daughter to Rishyashrungan, which means that the offspring of Rishyashrungan will rule Angarajyam after the time of Lomapadan. The King obeys the order and announces the marriage of the young saint and the princess, which is welcomed by the crowd whole heartedly. Vaishali, who, with in this time was completely in love with the saint is heartbroken. Her attempts to reach the king ends in vain and she along with her mother falls down on the ground. The mother is trampled to death by crowd. The crowd is no more bothered about them and the heavy rain continues.
Bharathan
Bharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...
. Scripted by M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...
, it was an adaptation of a sub-story told by Vedavyasa to King Yudhishtira in the epic Mahabharatha
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. It is the story of Vaishali, a devadasi girl who was assigned the mission of seducing Rishyashrungan, the son of Mahirshi Vibhandakan and bringing him to Chambapuri to perform a mahayagam to cause rain. Shot in a lavish setting, Vaishali was a huge hit at box office. This film, often considered as the best work of Bharathan is also considered as a cult classic in Malayalam cinema world. The cinematography by Madhu Ambat was widely appreciated and had won several awards.
Plot
Angarajyam, under King Lomapadan (Babu AntonyBabu Antony
Babu Antony is an Indian film actor, noted mainly for his negative character roles. He has also acted as a lead actor in a number of films. His life and movie roles are much debated in film industry at one time....
) is suffering from severe drought. There had been no rain for past 12 continuous years as the result of a curse by a Brahmin. The film begins with king Lomapadan's visit to Rajaguru (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 :...
) requesting him to return to Champapuri, the royal capital of Angarajya. Chitrangadan (Ashokan
Ashokan (actor)
Ashokan is Malayalam actor who is best known for his roles in Peruvazhiyambalam, In Harihar Nagar and Amaram.-Career:He made debut in 1978 was Peruvazhiyambalam was directed by Padmarajan where he played as a 15 year old boy who becomes fugitive after killing of bully...
), the son of rajaguru was in love with Vaishali (Suparna Anand
Suparna Anand
Suparna Anand is an Indian actress. She has appeared in Malayalam and Hindi films.Suparna Anand was one of the promising actress during late '80s and early '90s. She acted as Jyoti in the mega hit Anil Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit starrer Tehzab. She also had a very good stint in Malayalam industry in...
), daughter of a devadasi, which was against the social customs. Rajaguru had migrated away from capital with an aim of separating his rebellious son from her lover. Now, with the repeated requests from King, Rajaguru decides to shift back to Champapuri to perform a yagam to please Lord Indra, the god of rain. On the night of arrival at the capital, Rajaguru, gets a mystic vision, in which his guru advices him to bring Rishyashrungan (Sanjay Mitra), the only son of Mahirshi Vibhandakan to perform a mahayagam at Angarajyam. Only the son of Vibhandakan can now save the nation. Rishyashrungan is a teenager, living deep inside a dense forest, along with his father, who is famous for his spiritual powers. Vibhandakan had taken all care to keep his son away from the rest of the world, since the day he was born. Rishyashrungan had not met any human being in his whole life apart from his father, and is unaware of the world outside his ashram inside the deep forest. Lomapadan and his group of ministers decide to send a beautiful girl to seduce and bring Rishyashrungan to Champapuri. Rajaguru, who had a deep rooted anger against Vaishali (Suparna Anand
Suparna Anand
Suparna Anand is an Indian actress. She has appeared in Malayalam and Hindi films.Suparna Anand was one of the promising actress during late '80s and early '90s. She acted as Jyoti in the mega hit Anil Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit starrer Tehzab. She also had a very good stint in Malayalam industry in...
) asks king to send her to the forest. Vaishali, daughter of Malini (Geetha), a famous dancer in the palace, is also the illegitimate daughter of King Lomapadan, which he is unaware of. Malini, on the demand of the king sets out with her daughter to the forest. While the rest of the team waits outside the deep forest, Vaishali sets in and meets Rishyashrungan and attempts to seduce him with her looks. He unaware of the existence of any human being on the earth, is easily carried away by her exotic looks. But by evening Vibhandakan smells out the trouble and warns his son about the danger. But the teenager is again lost by the charm of Vaishali. But soon realizing his mistake, Rishyashrungan decides to take up deep meditation to attain mental power to win over Vaishali, whom he mistakes to be a Mayavi, who had come to prevent him from gaining eternal happiness and salvation. Vaishali, who by now had started loving him seriously is completely broken by seeing him on meditation in midst of fire. She, in her final attempt starts dancing sensuously in front of Rishyashrungan, and succeeds in alluring and taking him to Angarajyam. But the boy hermit regains his sense at the boat and is about to curse her. Malini, by then begs for mercy. On seeing Malini, another woman, the teenager hermit is surprised. Vaishali explains her mission to Rishyashrungan and convinces him of his power to bring rain. They start back to the kingdom. They are welcomed royally at the capital. King Lomapadan welcomes Rishyashrungan personally and takes him to the stage where the yaga has to be performed. Malini, who by now is expecting the King to accept Vaishali as his child tries to move towards him, but is stopped by the Rajaguru. Rishyashrungan performs the yagam successfully, and it rains heavily by the time havan ends. The entire nation is now on joyous mood and they celebrate by singing and dancing. Vaishali and her mother Malini, are completely forgotten by the King now. The Rajaguru, by then advises the king to offer Princess Shanta (Parvathi
Parvathy Jayaram
Ashwathy Kurup , better known by her stage name Parvathy, is an award-winning film actress from Kerala, India. Parvathy was a popular actress of Malayalam cinema industry and was active in films between 1986 and 1996. Her most notable works include "Amrutham Gamaya" ,"Oru Minnaminuginte Nurungu...
), his daughter to Rishyashrungan, which means that the offspring of Rishyashrungan will rule Angarajyam after the time of Lomapadan. The King obeys the order and announces the marriage of the young saint and the princess, which is welcomed by the crowd whole heartedly. Vaishali, who, with in this time was completely in love with the saint is heartbroken. Her attempts to reach the king ends in vain and she along with her mother falls down on the ground. The mother is trampled to death by crowd. The crowd is no more bothered about them and the heavy rain continues.
Cast
- Suparna AnandSuparna AnandSuparna Anand is an Indian actress. She has appeared in Malayalam and Hindi films.Suparna Anand was one of the promising actress during late '80s and early '90s. She acted as Jyoti in the mega hit Anil Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit starrer Tehzab. She also had a very good stint in Malayalam industry in...
as Vaishali - Voice dubbed by Sreeja - Sanjay Mitra as Rishyashrungan - Voice dubbed by Krishnachandran
- Geetha as Malini - Voice dubbed by Ananthavalli
- Babu AntonyBabu AntonyBabu Antony is an Indian film actor, noted mainly for his negative character roles. He has also acted as a lead actor in a number of films. His life and movie roles are much debated in film industry at one time....
as King Lomapadhan - Voice dubbed by Narendraprasad - 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 Rajaguru - V. K. Sriraman as Vibhanthakan
- ParvathiParvathy JayaramAshwathy Kurup , better known by her stage name Parvathy, is an award-winning film actress from Kerala, India. Parvathy was a popular actress of Malayalam cinema industry and was active in films between 1986 and 1996. Her most notable works include "Amrutham Gamaya" ,"Oru Minnaminuginte Nurungu...
as Shantha - AshokanAshokan (actor)Ashokan is Malayalam actor who is best known for his roles in Peruvazhiyambalam, In Harihar Nagar and Amaram.-Career:He made debut in 1978 was Peruvazhiyambalam was directed by Padmarajan where he played as a 15 year old boy who becomes fugitive after killing of bully...
as Chandrangadan
Pre production
- BharathanBharathanBharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...
had been planning to film Vaishali since 1982. But several factors made him to wait till 1988. - BharathanBharathanBharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...
was searching for an actor to play the role of King Lomapadan. The moment he came across Babu Antony, he decided to cast him. As Bharathan was then working on Chilambu, he decided to launch Babu AntonyBabu AntonyBabu Antony is an Indian film actor, noted mainly for his negative character roles. He has also acted as a lead actor in a number of films. His life and movie roles are much debated in film industry at one time....
as the main villain in it.
Trivia
- This was the first script by M.T. Vasudevan Nair for Bharathan. Later they worked again in ThazhvaramThazhvaramThazhvaram is a 1990 Malayalam revenge-thriller musical film directed by Bharathan and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, starring Mohanlal, Salim Ghouse, Sumalatha, and Sankaradi in the lead roles....
in 1990. - Narendra PrasadNarendra prasadNarendra Prasad was a popular Indian movie actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikara, Alappuzha District, in the south Indian state of Kerala....
dubbed for Babu AntonyBabu AntonyBabu Antony is an Indian film actor, noted mainly for his negative character roles. He has also acted as a lead actor in a number of films. His life and movie roles are much debated in film industry at one time....
. - The editing of Vaishali was done by BharathanBharathanBharathan was an Indian film director, artist, lyricist, music director, sculptor, poster designer, editor and art director. Bharathan is noted for being the founder of a new school of film making in Malayalam cinema, along with Padmarajan, in the 1980s, which created films that were widely...
himself. - The lyrics were written by O.N.V Kurup and music was composed by RaviRavi (music director)Ravi Shankar Sharma , often referred to mononymously as Ravi, is an Indian music director, who has composed music for several Hindi and Malayalam films...
. - O.N.V. Kurup won the National AwardNational Film Award for Best LyricsThe National Film Award for Best Lyrics winners:Vairamuthu won the award for maximum number of times . Javed Akhtar is the only lyricist to win the award for three consecutive years .-References:...
for his work. - K.S.Chithra won both Kerala StateKerala State Film Award for Best SingerThe Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer winners:-Best Classical Music Singer:-References:**Specific...
and National AwardNational Film Award for Best Female Playback SingerThe National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer winners are given below. Lata Mangeshkar is the oldest winner in this category, whereas Anjali Marathe is the youngest winner; while K. S. Chithra been awarded for the maximum number of times .-Superlatives:...
for the song "Indupushpam Choodi" - The cinematography by Madhu AmbatMadhu AmbatMadhu Ambat is a Indian cinematographer. With a wide variety of films under his belt he is one of the most experienced cinematographers in the Indian cinema industry. Noted for his lighting techniques, he has shot a number of award-winning films. He is quite well known for his amazing work in films...
was the major attraction of this movie. - The art direction was done by Krishnamoorthy.
- This film was produced by M.M.Ramachandran, popularly known as Atlas Ramachandran. He later produced films including DhanamDhanamDhanam is a Malayalam film released in 1991. Directed by Sibi Malayil, this film had a strong casting line including Mohanlal, Murali, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Charmila and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. The script was done by A. K. Lohithadas. Dhanam was a huge hit at box office.-Soundtrack:The evergreen...
, and SukruthamSukruthamSukrutham is a 1994 Malayalam film directed by Harikumar, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, with background music by Johnson. It is considered one of the outstanding Malayalam films of the mid-1990s...
. He also directed a movie titled HolidaysHolidays (2010 film)Holidays is 2010 Malayalam film directed by M M Ramachandran , starring Vinu Mohan, Ranjith Menon, Muktha and Priya Lal in the lead roles...
in 2010.