Aranyakam is a 1988 Malayalam film directed by Hariharan

Hariharan (director)

Hariharan is a Malayali film director. His movies mainly revolved around the cultural and relational aspects of a typical Kerala society. His notable works include Pazhassi Raja, Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha, Sargam, Parinayam, Amrutham Gamaya and Nakhakshathangal, which won him national...

, written 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...

, and starring Saleema, Devan

Devan (actor)

Devan is an Indian film actor and politician. He started his film career as the producer of the technically brilliant, but box-office flop movie Vellam and then opted to become an actor. Devan is known for his handling of serious roles, though he started his career with supporting roles...

 and Vineeth

Vineeth

Vineeth is an Indian film actor and classical dancer who has acted in several well received films in his native Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. He studied in Good Shepherd Public School, Ooty, and at St. Joseph's Boys' High School, Thalassery.Vineeth is nephew of the famous Travancore...

. The film was produced by B. Sasikumar. Music was composed by Raghunath Seth

Raghunath Seth

Pandit Raghunath Seth is a noted Indian exponent of Hindustani classical music through the medium of Bansuri, or bamboo flute; he is also a noted film score composer...

, lyriced by O. N. V. Kurup

O. N. V. Kurup

Ottaplakkal Nambiyadikkal Velu Kurup , popularly known as O. N. V. Kurup or simply O. N. V., is a Malayalam poet and lyricist from Kerala, India, who won Jnanpith Award,the highest literary award in India for the year 2007. He is considered one of the finest living lyrical poets in India. O. N....

, and vocals by K. J. Yesudas

K. J. Yesudas

Kattassery 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,...

, and K. S. Chitra.

The film handles the issue of exploitation of Adivasi

Adivasi

Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...

s by feudal lords, and that of Naxalism

Naxalite

The word Naxal, Naxalite or Naksalvadi is a generic term used to refer to various militant Communist groups operating in different parts of India under different organizational envelopes...

 which attempts to resist and counter this, and of how the feudal lords use the 'system' to suppress the resistance.

Cast

• Saleena as Ammini, the protagonist.
• Devan
  Devan (actor)
  Devan is an Indian film actor and politician. He started his film career as the producer of the technically brilliant, but box-office flop movie Vellam and then opted to become an actor. Devan is known for his handling of serious roles, though he started his career with supporting roles...
  
   as a naxal activist.
• Vineeth
  Vineeth
  Vineeth is an Indian film actor and classical dancer who has acted in several well received films in his native Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films. He studied in Good Shepherd Public School, Ooty, and at St. Joseph's Boys' High School, Thalassery.Vineeth is nephew of the famous Travancore...
  
   as Mohan, cousin of the protagonist, and a research scholar who does an academic research on Adivasi
  Adivasi
  Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
  
  s.
• 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 :...
  
   as a feudal lord, and grandfather of the protagonist.
• Jagannatha Varma
  Jagannatha Varma
  K. N. Jagannatha Varma is a Malayalam film and seriel actor. He is also an accomplished Kathakali artist.his son Manu Varma also a recoganized artist and his son in law Viji Thampi is a well known Film Director. He acted in a number of Malayalam movies performing stereo typical roles of a senior...
  
   as Madhavan Nair, a feudal lord, and a relative of the protagonist.
• Parvathi as Shailaja, a cousin of the protagonist.
• Balan K. Nair
  Balan K. Nair
  Balan K. Nair was a Malayalam film actor. Even though he appeared in most films as villain, he was also noted for his performance in strong character roles. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 1981 for his performance in the movie Oppol.-Personal life:Balan K...
  
   as Ravunni, a police officer.
• Bahadoor
  Bahadoor
  Bahadoor , born P. K. Kunjalu, was a Malayalam film comedian who, along with Adoor Bhasi, redefined the way in which comedy and funny scenes were perceived in Malayalam cinema. They made a significant contribution toward establishing comedy as the predominant genre of Malayalam cinema...
  
   as Nanu, house keeper at the feudal home.
• Prathapachandran as Nambiar
• Captain Raju
  Captain Raju
  Captain Raju is a Malayalam film actor. He was born at Omallur in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala.After finishing his graduation in Zoology, Raju joined the Indian Army as a first class officer at the age of 21. He started acting in films after leaving the army service. He has acted in more than...
  
  as a police officer
• Sukumari
• Valsala Menon