Thalappavu is a 2008 Malayalam film directed by Madhupal

Madhupal

Madhupal is a Malayalam cinema actor, writer, and film director. Madhupal made his acting debut through Kashmeeram in 1994 and directorial debut through Thalappavu about Naxal Varghese which won several awards in 2008.-Biography:...

 and written by Babu Janardhanan. The film portrays the social and political issues of the Naxalite

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...

 era of the 1970s in Kerala

Kerala

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....

. It is the adapted story of Naxal Varghese

Naxal Varghese

Arikkad Varghese , popularly known as Naxal Varghese, was an Indian militant communist activist , who fought mainly to protect the Adivasis in Wayanad from the exploitation of the feudal lords , and the police system which then aided the exploitation, during the 1960s.Naxal Varghese is especially...

 and Police Constable P. Ramachandran Pillai.

The film's cast includes Prithviraj

Prithviraj Sukumaran

Prithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....

, Lal

Lal (actor)

Paul Michael , better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian film director, script writer, actor, producer, and film distributor....

, Atul Kulkarni

Atul Kulkarni

Atul Kulkarni born 10 September 1965 is an Indian actor who has won two National Awards and has superstar status in Marathi film industry after successful movies like Valu and Natarang....

, Rohini, and Dhanya Mary. Produced by actor Mohan

Mohan (actor)

Mohan is a popular Kollywood actor. He hails from the Udupi district of Karnataka. He derived his name Kokila Mohan after debuting in a film called Kokila, which starred Kamal Haasan in the lead role. He considers Balu Mahendra as his mentor...

 under the Civic Cinema banner. And distributed by Lal's Lal Release.

The film released on September 12, 2008 to mainly good reviews and critical acclaim.
The movie Thalappavu got Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor (Lal) and Best Debutant Director (Madhupal), Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Film, Best Director, Best Script writer, Amateur Little Theatre Award for Best Debutant Director, Sohan Antony Memorial Film Award for Best Director

The movie Thalappavue screend in 13th International Film Festival of Kerala 2008 and Indian Habitat Film Festival 2009

Plot

How betraying a friend or an acquaintance can ruin ones life is poignantly depicted in the Malayalam film Thalappavu made by actor-turned-director Madhupal. The movie is based on a real-life confession of a police constable about gunning down a naxalite in a fake encounter as per the order of his superiors nearly thirty years ago. The screenplay by Babu Janardhanan uses the stream of consciousness flow to show the mental state of the constable who feels deranged after the incident. Lal plays Constable Raveendran Pillai whose family life is ruined after the killing of Joseph (Prithviraj), a revolutionary leader fighting for the rights of the hapless farmers of Wayanad. Raveendran is a misfit in the police force as he is not courageous or cruel as the others of his ilk. He is a family man to the hilt and dotes on his children. He befriends Joseph on the way while on duty. Joseph introduces him to the revolutionary ideas. Raveendran takes instant liking for Joseph and roams in the forests with Joseph during his free time.

Cast

• Lal
  Lal (actor)
  Paul Michael , better known by his stage name Lal, is an Indian film director, script writer, actor, producer, and film distributor....
  
   as S. Raveendran Pillai
• Prithviraj Sukumaran
  Prithviraj Sukumaran
  Prithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....
  
   as Joseph
• Dhanya Mary Varghese
  Dhanya Mary Varghese
  Dhanya Mary Varghese is an Indian actress known for her performances in Malayalam cinema. She is also a model, dancer and a live performer.- Biography :...
  
   as Saramma
• Atul Kulkarni
  Atul Kulkarni
  Atul Kulkarni born 10 September 1965 is an Indian actor who has won two National Awards and has superstar status in Marathi film industry after successful movies like Valu and Natarang....
  
   as Krishnaneva Saivar
• Rohini
  Rohini (actress)
  Rohini is an actress in south Indian, notably Malayalam and Tamil, films. She started her career in 1976 as a child artist. She was married to actor late Raghuvaran from 1996 to 2003. She is also the most popular dubbing artist in Tamil industry. She lent her voice to actresses like Jyothika ,...
  
  as Karthyayani
• Sudheer Karamana as Nalinakshan