Sandhesam
Encyclopedia
Sandhesam is a 1991 Malayalam black comedy
/ political satire film written by Sreenivasan and directed by Sathyan Anthikkad
, starring Sreenivasan, Jayaram
, Thilakan
, Siddique
, Kaviyoor Ponnamma
and Maathu in pivotal roles. A massive commercial success upon release, Sandesham is also considered as a classic in Malayalam cinema history.
) is back at his home. His long cherished dream to spend his retired life along with his family consisting of wife (Kaviyoor Ponnamma
), three sons and two daughters gets a blow after seeing his two sons brawling each other over their political differences. Prabhakaran (Sreenivasan), the elder one is a staunch leftist, and an active worker of the Revolutionary Democratic Party (RDP) which has just lost the Kerala state Assembly elections and relinquished office. Prakashan (Jayaram
), popularly known as KRP, his younger brother is involved with the Indian National Socialist Party (INSP) which has now come to power. Though they are both educated, neither has any plans to earn a living on their own and are fully immersed in petty politics, sponging off their parents for their needs. Raghavan Nair becomes deeply worried about their future, and tries to advise his sons, but of his admonitions fall on deaf ears. Anandan (Mala Aravindan
), his son-in-law is a police inspector, but is now on suspension. When the RDP was in power, he arrested and beat up several of the opposition party workers on instruction from the ruling party officials. Now that the previous opposition is in power, they exact their revenge, first by suspending him, and then by transferring him repeatedly to stations as far away from civilisation as is possible. As part of his retired life, Raghavan Nair decides to focus his attention on his agricultural activities and meets the new young agricultural officer (Siddique
) and, with his wife's approval, wants their younger daughter to get married to him, but his elder sons oppose it on flimsy and petty reasons. Prakashan, whose party is in power, pulls strings and get him transferred immediately to a remote location in order to prevent the marriage but Nair gets them married at the registrar's office. In the meantime, Anandan and his wife, Raghavan Nair's eldest daughter, demand partition of the property and their share, which Raghavan Nair objects to. The last straw is when their mother falls ill and is hospitalised for a day or so, and none of her children bother to show up at the hospital - in particular, the two older sons. Raghavan Nair, when he sees all of them milling around his house on returning from the hospital, loses his temper. He throws out all his children and orders them never to enter his house again. But to his surprise he finds both Prakasan and Prabhakaran at the gate, fully repented. He calls them in and they begin a new life. The film ends by showing Prabhakaran going to court as a lawyer and Prakashan for a job interview.
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
/ political satire film written by Sreenivasan and directed by Sathyan Anthikkad
Sathyan Anthikkad
Sathyan Anthikad is an Indian film director and screenwriter known primarily for his family based Malayalam films.He has created many critical and commercially successful films, especially when working with Sreenivasan as the scriptwriter...
, starring Sreenivasan, Jayaram
Jayaram
Jayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
, 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:...
, Siddique
Siddique (actor)
Siddique is a Malayalam film actor, producer, and television compere. He started his film career doing comedy roles and later performed in a variety of roles.-Early career:...
, Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Kaviyoor Ponnamma is a Malayalam film actress. She won the Kerala State Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1994.Ponnamma was born in Kaviyoor village, near Tiruvalla to a conservative upper-class family...
and Maathu in pivotal roles. A massive commercial success upon release, Sandesham is also considered as a classic in Malayalam cinema history.
Plot
After his retirement from Indian Railways, as station master, Raghavan Nair (ThilakanThilakan
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:...
) is back at his home. His long cherished dream to spend his retired life along with his family consisting of wife (Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Kaviyoor Ponnamma
Kaviyoor Ponnamma is a Malayalam film actress. She won the Kerala State Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1994.Ponnamma was born in Kaviyoor village, near Tiruvalla to a conservative upper-class family...
), three sons and two daughters gets a blow after seeing his two sons brawling each other over their political differences. Prabhakaran (Sreenivasan), the elder one is a staunch leftist, and an active worker of the Revolutionary Democratic Party (RDP) which has just lost the Kerala state Assembly elections and relinquished office. Prakashan (Jayaram
Jayaram
Jayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
), popularly known as KRP, his younger brother is involved with the Indian National Socialist Party (INSP) which has now come to power. Though they are both educated, neither has any plans to earn a living on their own and are fully immersed in petty politics, sponging off their parents for their needs. Raghavan Nair becomes deeply worried about their future, and tries to advise his sons, but of his admonitions fall on deaf ears. Anandan (Mala Aravindan
Mala Aravindan
Mala 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....
), his son-in-law is a police inspector, but is now on suspension. When the RDP was in power, he arrested and beat up several of the opposition party workers on instruction from the ruling party officials. Now that the previous opposition is in power, they exact their revenge, first by suspending him, and then by transferring him repeatedly to stations as far away from civilisation as is possible. As part of his retired life, Raghavan Nair decides to focus his attention on his agricultural activities and meets the new young agricultural officer (Siddique
Siddique
Siddique may refer to:*alternate spelling of Siddiqui, last name common among some Muslim groups in South Asia and the Middle East*Siddique , Indian actor*Siddique , Indian director and script writer...
) and, with his wife's approval, wants their younger daughter to get married to him, but his elder sons oppose it on flimsy and petty reasons. Prakashan, whose party is in power, pulls strings and get him transferred immediately to a remote location in order to prevent the marriage but Nair gets them married at the registrar's office. In the meantime, Anandan and his wife, Raghavan Nair's eldest daughter, demand partition of the property and their share, which Raghavan Nair objects to. The last straw is when their mother falls ill and is hospitalised for a day or so, and none of her children bother to show up at the hospital - in particular, the two older sons. Raghavan Nair, when he sees all of them milling around his house on returning from the hospital, loses his temper. He throws out all his children and orders them never to enter his house again. But to his surprise he finds both Prakasan and Prabhakaran at the gate, fully repented. He calls them in and they begin a new life. The film ends by showing Prabhakaran going to court as a lawyer and Prakashan for a job interview.
Cast
- Sreenivasan as Prabhakaran
- JayaramJayaramJayaram is an Indian film actor who mainly acts in Malayalam and Tamil films. He is also a chenda percussionist and mimic artist. In 2011, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India for his contribution towards the arts.-Early life:...
as Prakasan - 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 Raghavan Nair - Mathu as Lathika, Raghavan Nair's daughter
- Kaviyoor PonnammaKaviyoor PonnammaKaviyoor Ponnamma is a Malayalam film actress. She won the Kerala State Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1994.Ponnamma was born in Kaviyoor village, near Tiruvalla to a conservative upper-class family...
as Bhanumathi - Oduvil UnnikrishnanOduvil UnnikrishnanOduvil Unnikrishnan was an award winning Malayalam movie actor known for his versatile acting skills, known for his portrayal of classical ancient aristocratic personalities in Malayalam cinema with his unique provincial linguistic style, expressions and dialect. He was noted as a serious as well...
as Achuthan Nair - MamukkoyaMamukkoyaMamukkoya is a popular Malayalam comedian actor. His unique usage of Mappila dialect and style marks his presence in the industry. He has acted in more than 450 Malayalam films and is the first winner of State award for Best Comedian in malayalam films, the category introduced in 2009- Career...
as K.G. Pothuval - SankaradiSankaradiSankaradi was an Indian actor. He was a veteran Malayalam comedian and character artiste, who had over 700 Malayalam films to his credit....
as Kumarapillai - Innocent as Yashwant Sahai
- Bobby KottarakkaraBobby KottarakkaraBobby Kottarakkara was a Malayalam film actor. He began his acting career on stage. He made his film debut with "Muchcheethukalikkaarante Makal". Bobby soon became a well known actor. He had performed in around 300 roles in a variety of films, some of which are such as Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu,...
as Uthaman - 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 Anandan - Master Rahul Laxman as Raghavan Nair's youngest son
External links
- Sandhesam at the Malayalam Movie Database