Athisayan
Encyclopedia
Athisayan is a 2007
Malayalam science fiction film
directed by Vinayan
, starring Master Devadas, Jackie Shroff
, Mukesh
, Jayasurya
and Kavya Madhavan
in the lead roles. The film is inspired from the 2003 American Superhero film
Hulk
. Athisayan marks the debut of Bollywood
superstar Jackie Shroff
in Malayalam cinema. The film is dubbed and released in Hindi as Naya Ajooba in 2009.
), a young television reporter works for New India Television. Radharamanan (Mukesh
, the Managing Director of the channel has a fascination for Maya, who was brought up in an orphanage by Father Chanthakkadan (Thilakan
). Maya herself takes up the responsibility of bringing up a few orphans, whom she has picked up from the streets. One of these kids is Devan (Master Devadas), who is sort of a child prodigy, with a computer-like mind and very good in studies and extra-curricular activities. R. C. Shekhar (Jackie Shroff
, a scientist, lives very near their house, with his servant Damodaran (Harisree Ashokan
). He is working on a project, which could help in making human beings invisible. On the very day that he successfully experiments his 'magic' potion
on a rabbit, he is urgently called to the U.S
as his daughter, who is studying there, meets with an accident.
Meanwhile Maya's friend and lover Roy (Jayasurya
), who too had been a journalist, is in jail after having been framed in a murder case by some influential politicians including the State Revenue Minister Divakaran (Rajan P. Dev
), another minister Yunus Kunju (Ramu), the Police Commissioner Shanmughan (Bheeman Raghu
) and the very influential Kuwait Nazar (Devan
). With the help of the newly-appointed Collector Anita Williams (Karthika
), Maya shoots a video of these baddies accepting millions of rupees as commission from some Arab businessmen, who are there to sign some business deals with the State Government.
Maya immediately goes to Radharamanan and shows him the clip. Radharamanan is thrilled and agrees to telecast it, after discussing it with the Board of Directors. Somehow Nazar, Divakaran and others come to know of this and they go after Maya, in order to get from her the memory card containing the clipping. On the very same day that R.C.Shekhar goes to the U.S, Maya is abducted by Nazar and group. The kids are baffled. Anita Williams, Father Chanthakkadan and Radharamanan know who are behind this, but nothing can be done without sufficient evidence. And then Devan, who had seen R.C. Shekhar conducting the experiment on the rabbit, steals into Shekhar's lab and drinks the potion. He becomes invisible and sets out to save Maya.
Devan did manage to save Maya, but due to the medicine overdose, he turns into a gigantic monster and has to leave Maya and the children and makes his abode in the deep ocean.
and Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma
. The film has four songs. The singers are Vineeth Sreenivasan
, Rimi Tomy, Vidhu Prathap
, Balu, Karthik and Sithara.
, mainly in locations in Aluva
and Ernakulam
. The film was high on special effects, visual effects
and 2D Animation. These special effects of Athisayan were done at EFX, Chennai
.
.
and the comparison to this proved costly for the film. Also the family audience preferred films like Vinodayathra
and Big B
which released at the same time.
The film received mainly negative reviews. The film received a rating from Nowrunning.com. Metromatinee and Sify.com also gave mainly negative reviews to the film.
The makers actually planned a second part for the film, had Athisayan become the new Superhero
among children. the last scene of the film states that "Athisayan will come back to fight for justice". But with the poor response to the film at the box-office, these plans are dropped.
Malayalam films of 2007
Malayalam films in 2007 ranged from critically acclaimed movies to those which failed at the box office. This year also witnessed the release of some dubbed movies from Telugu, which performed well in the box office....
Malayalam science fiction film
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
directed by Vinayan
Vinayan
Vinayan is an Indian film director, mainly of Malayalam movies. He started his career with the film Super Star, in which he used a Mohanlal look-alike in the lead role....
, starring Master Devadas, Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff is an Indian actor. He has been in the industry for more than 28 years and has appeared in over 150 films.-Personal life:...
, Mukesh
Mukesh (actor)
Mukesh , born Mukesh Babu, is an Indian film actor and producer known for his work in Malayalam cinema.- Personal Life :...
, Jayasurya
Jayasurya
Jayasurya is an Indian film actor and comedian. He made his debut in 2001 in the Malayalam film Dosth and has since acted in about 50 films, notable ones being Swapnakkoodu , Pulival Kalyanam , Chathikkatha Chanthu , Classmates , Gulumaal , Happy Husbands and...
and Kavya Madhavan
Kavya Madhavan
Kavya Madhavan is an Indian film actress who works in Malayalam cinema. She made her debut in Pookkalam Varavayi as a child artist. In 1999, she became a lead actress in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikhil.-Background:...
in the lead roles. The film is inspired from the 2003 American Superhero film
Superhero film
A superhero film, superhero movie, or superhero motion picture is: action, fantasy and science fiction film; that is focused on the actions of one or more superheroes, individuals who usually possess superhuman abilities relative to a normal person and are dedicated to protecting the public...
Hulk
Hulk (film)
Hulk is a 2003 American superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name. Ang Lee directed the film, which stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner, as well as Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte...
. Athisayan marks the debut of Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
superstar Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff is an Indian actor. He has been in the industry for more than 28 years and has appeared in over 150 films.-Personal life:...
in Malayalam cinema. The film is dubbed and released in Hindi as Naya Ajooba in 2009.
Plot
Maya (Kavya MadhavanKavya Madhavan
Kavya Madhavan is an Indian film actress who works in Malayalam cinema. She made her debut in Pookkalam Varavayi as a child artist. In 1999, she became a lead actress in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikhil.-Background:...
), a young television reporter works for New India Television. Radharamanan (Mukesh
Mukesh (actor)
Mukesh , born Mukesh Babu, is an Indian film actor and producer known for his work in Malayalam cinema.- Personal Life :...
, the Managing Director of the channel has a fascination for Maya, who was brought up in an orphanage by Father Chanthakkadan (Thilakan
Thilakan
Surendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
). Maya herself takes up the responsibility of bringing up a few orphans, whom she has picked up from the streets. One of these kids is Devan (Master Devadas), who is sort of a child prodigy, with a computer-like mind and very good in studies and extra-curricular activities. R. C. Shekhar (Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff is an Indian actor. He has been in the industry for more than 28 years and has appeared in over 150 films.-Personal life:...
, a scientist, lives very near their house, with his servant Damodaran (Harisree Ashokan
Harisree Ashokan
Harisree Ashokan is a Malayalam film actor who is known for his comedy roles. He has acted in more than 75 Malayalam films.-Early life:...
). He is working on a project, which could help in making human beings invisible. On the very day that he successfully experiments his 'magic' potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
on a rabbit, he is urgently called to the U.S
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as his daughter, who is studying there, meets with an accident.
Meanwhile Maya's friend and lover Roy (Jayasurya
Jayasurya
Jayasurya is an Indian film actor and comedian. He made his debut in 2001 in the Malayalam film Dosth and has since acted in about 50 films, notable ones being Swapnakkoodu , Pulival Kalyanam , Chathikkatha Chanthu , Classmates , Gulumaal , Happy Husbands and...
), who too had been a journalist, is in jail after having been framed in a murder case by some influential politicians including the State Revenue Minister Divakaran (Rajan P. Dev
Rajan P. Dev
Rajan P Dev was an Indian film and stage actor. He was born in Cherthala in the Alappuzha district of the former state Thiru-Kochi . He had acted in over 140 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada language films. He was noted for his villain roles laced with a touch of humour...
), another minister Yunus Kunju (Ramu), the Police Commissioner Shanmughan (Bheeman Raghu
Bheeman Raghu
Bheeman Reghu is a Malayalam actor best known for his portrayal of villains in Indian cinema.In a career spanning nearly three decades, he has appeared in more than 400 films in Malayalam, and has recently started doing comedy roles...
) and the very influential Kuwait Nazar (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...
). With the help of the newly-appointed Collector Anita Williams (Karthika
Karthika Mathew
Karthika Mathew , better known mononymously as Karthika, is a Malayali film actress, who has appeared in several malayalam and Tamil films. She is probably best known for her performances in Nam Naadu and Dindigul Sarathy....
), Maya shoots a video of these baddies accepting millions of rupees as commission from some Arab businessmen, who are there to sign some business deals with the State Government.
Maya immediately goes to Radharamanan and shows him the clip. Radharamanan is thrilled and agrees to telecast it, after discussing it with the Board of Directors. Somehow Nazar, Divakaran and others come to know of this and they go after Maya, in order to get from her the memory card containing the clipping. On the very same day that R.C.Shekhar goes to the U.S, Maya is abducted by Nazar and group. The kids are baffled. Anita Williams, Father Chanthakkadan and Radharamanan know who are behind this, but nothing can be done without sufficient evidence. And then Devan, who had seen R.C. Shekhar conducting the experiment on the rabbit, steals into Shekhar's lab and drinks the potion. He becomes invisible and sets out to save Maya.
Devan did manage to save Maya, but due to the medicine overdose, he turns into a gigantic monster and has to leave Maya and the children and makes his abode in the deep ocean.
Cast
- Master Devadas as Devan
- Kavya MadhavanKavya MadhavanKavya Madhavan is an Indian film actress who works in Malayalam cinema. She made her debut in Pookkalam Varavayi as a child artist. In 1999, she became a lead actress in Lal Jose's Chandranudikkunna Dikhil.-Background:...
as Reporter Maya - Jackie ShroffJackie ShroffJackie Shroff is an Indian actor. He has been in the industry for more than 28 years and has appeared in over 150 films.-Personal life:...
as Scientist Shekhar - MukeshMukesh (actor)Mukesh , born Mukesh Babu, is an Indian film actor and producer known for his work in Malayalam cinema.- Personal Life :...
as Managing Director Radharamanan - KarthikaKarthika MathewKarthika Mathew , better known mononymously as Karthika, is a Malayali film actress, who has appeared in several malayalam and Tamil films. She is probably best known for her performances in Nam Naadu and Dindigul Sarathy....
as District Collector Anitha Williams - JagadishJagadishP. V. Jagadish Kumar , popularly known as Jagadish, is a Malayalam film actor and script writer. He became popular through performances in films such as Mukhachitram, In Harihar Nagar, Godfather, Welcome to Kodaikanal, Thiruthalvaadi, Mantrikacheppu, and Hitler...
as News-reader Koshy - Harisree AshokanHarisree AshokanHarisree Ashokan is a Malayalam film actor who is known for his comedy roles. He has acted in more than 75 Malayalam films.-Early life:...
as Servant Damodaran - DevanDevan (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 Kuwait Nazar - ThilakanThilakanSurendranatha Thilakan , known mononymously as Thilakan, is an Indian actor who works in Malayalam cinema and theatre. He was awarded Padma Shri on 25 January 2009.- Theatre:...
as Fr. Chanthakkadan - JayasuryaJayasuryaJayasurya is an Indian film actor and comedian. He made his debut in 2001 in the Malayalam film Dosth and has since acted in about 50 films, notable ones being Swapnakkoodu , Pulival Kalyanam , Chathikkatha Chanthu , Classmates , Gulumaal , Happy Husbands and...
as Journalist Roy - Ramu as Minister Yunus Kunju
- Rajan P. DevRajan P. DevRajan P Dev was an Indian film and stage actor. He was born in Cherthala in the Alappuzha district of the former state Thiru-Kochi . He had acted in over 140 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada language films. He was noted for his villain roles laced with a touch of humour...
as Revenue Minister Divakaran - Bheeman RaghuBheeman RaghuBheeman Reghu is a Malayalam actor best known for his portrayal of villains in Indian cinema.In a career spanning nearly three decades, he has appeared in more than 400 films in Malayalam, and has recently started doing comedy roles...
as Inspector Shanmughan - IndransIndransIndrans is a Malayalam film actor and costume designer. He acts mainly in comedy roles. He has acted in over 200 films.Indrans, a Tailor by profession, debuted in the film Choothattam as a costume designer. It was producer Charlie who offered him a chance to assist in costume designing...
- Guinnes Pakru
- Saadique
- Mala AravindanMala AravindanMala Aravindan is a Malayalam film actor.- Biography :He was born in Kerala, India as the eldest son of Ayyappan, an Excise department employee and Ponnamma, a school teacher. Later, he relocated to Mala and started using the place name along with his name....
as Judge - Augustine
Soundtrack
The music of Athisayan is by Alphonse. The lyrics are written by VinayanVinayan
Vinayan is an Indian film director, mainly of Malayalam movies. He started his career with the film Super Star, in which he used a Mohanlal look-alike in the lead role....
and Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma
Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma
Vayalar Sarathchandravarma is a noted Malayalam film lyricist. His lyrics have proved that he has inherited his father, Vayalar Ramavarma’s gift of poetry. He is a youthful entertainer by penning soothe romantic songs. All his recent contribution has got a large amount attention among Malayalam...
. The film has four songs. The singers are Vineeth Sreenivasan
Vineeth Sreenivasan
Vineeth Sreenivasan is an Indian playback singer, film actor, director, and screenwriter. He is the son of actor Sreenivasan. He made his debut as a director with his film Malarvaadi Arts Club .- Biography :...
, Rimi Tomy, Vidhu Prathap
Vidhu Prathap
Vidhu Prathap is an Indian playback singer born on September 1, 1980. He has sung many songs in over a hundred and fifty films in mostly Malayalam and a few in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu languages...
, Balu, Karthik and Sithara.
| Track # | Song | Singer(s) |
| 1 | Aluva Manappurathe | Sithara |
| 2 | Ennomale | Vineeth Sreenivasan Vineeth Sreenivasan Vineeth Sreenivasan is an Indian playback singer, film actor, director, and screenwriter. He is the son of actor Sreenivasan. He made his debut as a director with his film Malarvaadi Arts Club .- Biography :... , Rimi Tomy |
| 3 | Neeyennomal | Karthik |
| 4 | Athishayan (Kuttappanmaaraya) | Vidhu Prathap Vidhu Prathap Vidhu Prathap is an Indian playback singer born on September 1, 1980. He has sung many songs in over a hundred and fifty films in mostly Malayalam and a few in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu languages... , Balu |
Filmimg
The shooting of the film was in KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, mainly in locations in Aluva
Aluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
and Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
. The film was high on special effects, visual effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
and 2D Animation. These special effects of Athisayan were done at EFX, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
.
Release
Athisayan was released in Kerala during the summer vacation, on April 17, 2007, mainly aiming at children. The target audience of the film were school children, whom the makers of the film expected to come in large numbers to the watch the new SuperheroSuperhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
.
Reception
Athisayan was a failure at the box-office, despite the huge promotional activities prior to its release. The evident resemblance to HulkHulk (film)
Hulk is a 2003 American superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name. Ang Lee directed the film, which stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner, as well as Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte...
and the comparison to this proved costly for the film. Also the family audience preferred films like Vinodayathra
Vinodayathra
Vinodaythra is a 2007 Malayalam film written and directed by Sathyan Anthikkad, produced by Dileep, and starring Dileep, Meera Jasmine, Mukesh, Innocent, KPAC Lalitha, and Nedumudi Venu.-Plot:...
and Big B
Big B (film)
Big B is a 2007 Malayalam action-thriller film co-written and directed by Amal Neerad, starring Mammootty in the title role. The cinematography was done by Samir Thahir, and the original score was composed by Gopi Sundar, with Alphons Joseph doing the songs....
which released at the same time.
The film received mainly negative reviews. The film received a rating from Nowrunning.com. Metromatinee and Sify.com also gave mainly negative reviews to the film.
The makers actually planned a second part for the film, had Athisayan become the new Superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
among children. the last scene of the film states that "Athisayan will come back to fight for justice". But with the poor response to the film at the box-office, these plans are dropped.