Classmates (2006 film)

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Classmates
Classmates (film).jpg
DVD cover
Directed byLal Jose
Written byJames Albert
Story byJames Albert
Produced byPrakash Damodaran
P. K. Muralidharan
Starring
CinematographyRajeev Ravi
Edited byRanjan Abraham
Music byAlex Paul
Production
company
Arya Films
Distributed byLal Release
Release date
  • 31 August 2006 (2006-08-31)
Running time
150 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Budget₹3.4 crore
Box office₹20 crore[1]

Classmates is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama film directed by Lal Jose and written by James Albert. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Narain, Jayasurya, Indrajith Sukumaran and Kavya Madhavan with Jagathy Sreekumar, Balachandra Menon and Radhika in supporting roles.[2] Alex Paul composed film's music while Rajeev Ravi handled the cinematography.[3][4] The story revolves around the college graduate class of 1991. In 2006, working in different corners of the world, the friends get together for a class reunion to revive the joy and laughter of their student days. On the night of the reunion, one of the classmates is almost murdered and goes into a coma.[5]

The film was released on 31 August 2006 to positive reviews from critics and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2006. It is considered by many critics as one of the best campus based films in Malayalam.[6] The film developed a cult following in the years after its release and is frequently referenced in popular Keralite culture.[7] With the release of film, the concept of alumni meetings started trending in Kerala, and schools and colleges started organising such get togethers to help the ex-students keep in touch with each other.[8] The film is now regarded as a classic in Malayalam cinema.[9][10]

The film went on to win the Kerala State Film Awards for Best Popular Film (Prakash Damodaran and P. K. Muralidharan) and Best Story (James Albert).[11] It was later remade into Tamil as Ninaithale Inikkum starring Prithviraj himself, and in Telugu and Marathi as Classmates (2007) and Classmates (2015), respectively.

Plot[]

The film centres on a group of classmates who attended the same Chemistry class in their final year of college. Among them, Murali (Narain) is a singer and P. Sukumaran (Prithviraj) is a firebrand leader of the left-winged students union. Pius (Indrajith), a rich and spoiled brat of parents settled in the Gulf, is the campus Romeo and Sukumaran's best friend. Sukumaran's rival, Satheesan (Jayasurya), leads the opposite faction of student politics and is aided by his sidekick, Valu Vasu (Vijeesh). Thara Kurup (Kavya Madhavan) is the daughter of the Member of the state Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Muvattupuzha; she is a dancer who regularly wins awards for the college with her performances.

It was Murali's dream to have a reunion, but he mysteriously dies before the reunion can be organised. His parents, Professor Iyer (Balachandra Menon) and Lakshmi Teacher ( Shobha Mohan), both teachers at the college, decide to fulfil their departed son's dream and bring his classmates together for a reunion. Sukumaran is now a diamond dealer based in Mumbai, a rich and successful businessman earning in crores and is a divorcee. Satheesan is now an MLA, following his dreams to become a minister , while Vasu continues to be his sidekick. Pius is now settled in the Middle East, while Thara, still unmarried, runs a dancing school.

The coming together of these classmates is the occasion for them to relive the past and to discover how Murali died. When all are together, Razia (Radhika) arrives. Sukumaran attempts suicide but it is later discovered that it was not a suicide attempt but a murder attempt. The suspense is revealed one by one. In the end, Sukumaran moves to Mumbai while all greet him while he feels Murali too greeting him.

Cast[]

Reception[]

The film was a box office success.[12] It broke many box office records and spawned a whole new genre of college-based films in the Malayalam film industry. The film completed 150 days run in Thiruvananthapuram and 100 days in Kottayam and Ernakulam as well. The film went on to gross ₹20 crores (US$ 3.06 million) and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year 2006.[1]

Remakes[]

Classmates has been remade in Tamil as Ninaithale Inikkum, with Prithviraj playing the lead again. Narain is replaced by Shakthi Vasu and Kavya is replaced by Priyamani.[13] A Telugu remake titled Classmates, with Sumanth and Sadha playing the lead roles, released in 2007. In 2015 It was remade in Marathi as Classmates.

Awards[]

Soundtrack[]

The songs were written by Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma and composed by Alex Paul.

# Song Singer(s) Cast
1 "Kattadi Thanalum" Vidhu Prathap, Reju Joseph, Ramesh Babu, Cicily Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Indrajith, Narain, Kavya Madhavan, Radhika
2 "Kathirunna Pennalle" Devanand, Jyotsna Prithviraj, Kavya Madhavan
3 "Vote" M. G. Sreekumar, Pradeep Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Indrajith, Narain, Kavya Madhavan, Radhika
4 "Ente Khalbile" Vineeth Sreenivasan Narain, Radhika, Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Indrajith
5 "Ente Khalbile" Sujatha Narain, Radhika
6 "Chillu Jaalaka" Manjari

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Breaking down the mollywood box office". Manorama News. 6 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Yen for innovation". 2 November 2007 – via www.thehindu.com.
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Balachandra Menon turns nostalgic as 'Classmates' is about to clock 15 - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^ "'Classmates' - Best campus movies". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  8. ^ James, Anu (25 August 2016). "10 years of 'Classmates': Why it still remains an evergreen Malayalam movie?". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  9. ^ "'Classmates,' a trendsetter". 29 September 2006 – via www.thehindu.com.
  10. ^ "10 years of 'Classmates': A Lal Jose classic". www.onmanorama.com. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Ajith strikes gold". Rediff.com. 3 November 2006.
  13. ^ "Shakthi and Prithviraj in Ninaithale Inikkum - Behindwoods.com K Balachander Rajinikanth Kamal Haasan Jayapradha Priya Mani pictures kollywood hot images tamil picture gallery images". www.behindwoods.com.

External links[]

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