Thenmavin Kombath

Thenmavin Kombath
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Directed by	Priyadarshan
Written by	Priyadarshan
Produced by	N. Gopalakrishnan
Starring	Mohanlal Shobana Nedumudi Venu
Cinematography	K. V. Anand
Edited by	N. Gopalakrishnan
Music by	Songs: Berny-Ignatius Score:S. P. Venkatesh
Production company	Prasidhi Creations
Distributed by	Surya Cini Arts Sudev Release
Release date	13 May 1994 (1994-05-13) [1]
Running time	157 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Thenmavin Kombath (transl. On the Branch of Honey Sweet Mango Tree) is a 1994 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Priyadarshan. It was produced and edited by N. Gopalakrishnan. The film stars Mohanlal, Shobana, and Nedumudi Venu, with Kaviyoor Ponnamma, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Sukumari, Kuthiravattam Pappu, Sreenivasan, Sankaradi, and Sharat Saxena in supporting roles. The background score was composed by S. P. Venkatesh, while the Berny-Ignatius duo composed the songs. K. V. Anand was the cinematographer.

The film performed well at the box office and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year.^[2][3] The film won two National Film Awards—Best Cinematography for Anand and Best Production Design for Sabu Cyril, and five Kerala State Film Awards (including Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value).^[4] Thenmavin Kombath is now considered by audiences and critics to be among the best comedy films in Malayalam cinema.^[5]

The film was remade in Tamil as Muthu (1995), in Hindi as Saat Rang Ke Sapne (1998) by Priyadarshan himself and in Kannada as Sahukara (2004). The subplot of a man becoming a stranger amidst people speaking in a language unknown to him went on to inspire the core plot of the 2013 Hindi film Chennai Express.^[6]

Plot[]

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The story revolves around Manikyan (Mohanlal), Sreekrishnan (Nedumudi Venu) and Karthumbi (Shobana) and the love triangle between them. Initially, Manikyan and Karthumbi don't get along and get into intense arguments. But they fall in love as time goes on. Manikyan works for Sreekrishnan and Sreekrishnan sees him as a brother. Appakkala (Sreenivasan) is a servant of Sreekrishnan. Appakala is a jealous swindler who has a rivalry with Manikyan

Once when they both are returning from a fair after shopping, Sreekrishnan sees Karthumbi and gets attracted. But then a fight erupts there and they all have to flee. Sreekrishnan flees alone, while Manikyan has to take Karthumbi with him. At night, he flees in the opposite direction and so loses his way. Karthumbi knows the way back, but she pretends she does not know it and enjoys the fun. Manikyan has to struggle to get out of that place. Manikyan says crude words to a shop owner, an old lady and peeked into a room with two married spouses without consent. He was tied to a tree but then untied. It was Karthumbi who caused Manikyan to land in trouble because he didn't understand what the word meant. Karthumbi later revealed that she has no house and her sister was murdered by a Mallikettu Policeman (Sharat Sexena) who is her brother in law. During that time, they fall in love.

Upon returning to Manikyan's village, Sreekrishnan proposes to her and plans to marry her. Manikyan can not resist because Sreekrishnan is like an elder brother to him. But Karthumbi opposes it. When Sreekrishnan gets to know about this, he gets angry, Manikyan becomes his enemy and he tries to take revenge. One day, The Mallikettu policeman arrived and attacked Sreekrishnan. But Manikyan interferes and so he and the Mallikettu policeman engage in a fight in which Manikyan wins. The Mallikettu policeman fainted and Manikyan would chop his limbs off next time.

Another day, Appakala spreads lies about Manikyan murdering Sreekrishnan when his slipper and towel was in the pond. Manikyan had to prove his innocence to his father and mother. But they don't believe him. Karthumbi feels sympathetic to Manikyan. Manikyan runs into Appakala and is furious with Appakala spreading lies about him. Manikyan engages in a fight with Appakala. Then, the townspeople chased Manikyan and Karthumbi through the woods and the water and through the dusty road. Finally, Sreekrishnan appeared and everyone stopped chasing. Everyone in town realized that Appakalan tricked them all. He is punished by doing sit ups in front of everyone. Sreekrishnan realized his mistakes and married the woman who loved him for so long and reconciles with Manikyan as he unites with Karthumbi.

Cast[]

• Mohanlal as Manikyan, a cattle farmer
• Shobhana as Karthumbi, Manikyan's love interest
• Nedumudi Venu as Sreekrishnan Thampuran
• Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Yeshodhamma, Sreekrishnan's elder widowed sister
• KPAC Lalitha as Karthu, Sreekrishnan's lover
• Sukumari as Ginjimooda Gandhari, Yeshodhamma's sister-in law
• Sreenivasan as Appakala, a jealous servant of Thampuran
• Sankaradi as Kannayyan, Manikyan's father
• Kuthiravattom Pappu as Chakkutty, Karthumbi's annoying uncle
• Geetha Vijayan as Chinnu, Manikyan's younger sister
• Nandhu as Thimmayan, the village astrologer
• Sonia as Kuyilu
• Khadeeja as Aadivasi
• Sharat Saxena as Mallikkettu, a ruthless policeman and murderer of his wife

Soundtrack[]

R. D. Burman was initially signed in as the music composer for the film, as revealed by Burman himself in an interview to journalists in Cochin, during his visit to the city, just a few weeks before his death. But he died before he could complete the compositions of the film and was later replaced.

Berny-Ignatius was accused for plagiarism for at least three of the songs in the film. The song "Ente Manasinoru Naanam" is said to be an adaptation of the popular Hindi classic "Piya Milanko Jaana", sung by Pankaj Mullick. Another song in the film, "Nila Pongal" is accused to be an imitation of a Bengali song, "Sun Mere Bandhu Re". The "Manam Thelinje vanne" song is a copy of the Ilayaraja song "Aasai athigam vechu" from the Tamil movie "Marupadiyum". Berny-Ignatius were awarded the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director despite the allegations, which created a controversy. Veteran music director G. Devarajan returned three of the four state awards he had won claiming that the government was honouring pirates in film music.^[7]

All lyrics are written by Girish Puthenchery; all music is composed by Berny-Ignatius.

Reception[]

The film ran for more than 250 days in theatres and was the second highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year.^[8] The film is remembered as one of the best comedy films in the history of Malayalam cinema.^[9] Film critic Kozhikodan included the film on his list of the 10 best Malayalam movies of all time.^[10]

Awards[]

National Film Awards^[11]

• Best Production Design- Sabu Cyril
• Best Cinematographer- K. V. Anand

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam – Shobhana

Kerala State Film Awards^[12]

• Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value
• Best Art Director – Sabu Cyril
• Best Music Director- Berny-Ignatius
• Second Best Actor – Nedumudi Venu
• Second Best Actress – Kaviyoor Ponnamma

Remakes[]

The film was remade in Tamil as Muthu (1995),^[13] in Hindi as Saat Rang Ke Sapne (1998) by Priyadarshan himself,^[14] in Kannada as Sahukara (2004).^[15] and in Bengali Bangladesh as Raja (1999).

References[]

External links[]

• Thenmavin Kombath at IMDb