Utharam
Encyclopedia
Utharam is a 1989 Malayalam mystery
-thriller film starring Mammootty
, Suparna
, Sukumaran
and Parvathy
. It was written by acclaimed Malayalam writer M. T. Vasudevan Nair
based on the short story No Motive by Daphne du Maurier
. The film was a commercial success and also received critical acclaim. It deals with a very different story said in an unusual way by director Pavithran
. It has achieved cult status
in Kerala.
) a budding poet, leading a very happy family life, on a very 'usual' day, commits suicide by shooting herself by her husband's gun. Up on request from Mathew (Sukumaran
), her husband, Balachandran Nair (Mammootty
), his friend, a Delhi based journalist decides to probe the reasons that led her to suicide. Balu unfolds the truths behind Selina's death with the help of her childhood friend Shyamala Menon (Parvathy
). Selina happened to be pregnant at her childhood in a gang rape. But what makes the film different is that Selina is unaware of this incident. She did not accept the fact even after the birth of her baby. She considered herself as a virgin and called her son Immanuel
meaning the son of Holy virgin Mary. Her child was moved to an orphanage by her father Antony (Karamana Janardanan Nair
). She lost her memory after losing the child. But on seeing her son again years after, she is terribly distracted and commits suicide.
The film has a lot of memorable scenes including the climax scenes, when Shyamala comes to know that she and Selina were raped by a gang.
. The background score of the film was done by Johnson
.
Mystery film
Mystery film is a sub-genre of the more general category of crime film and at times the thriller genre. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction.The...
-thriller film starring Mammootty
Mammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
, Suparna
Suparna Anand
Suparna Anand is an Indian actress. She has appeared in Malayalam and Hindi films.Suparna Anand was one of the promising actress during late '80s and early '90s. She acted as Jyoti in the mega hit Anil Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit starrer Tehzab. She also had a very good stint in Malayalam industry in...
, Sukumaran
Sukumaran
Edappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Sukumaran Nair , popularly known as Sukumaran, was an Indian film actor, and producer....
and Parvathy
Parvathy Jayaram
Ashwathy Kurup , better known by her stage name Parvathy, is an award-winning film actress from Kerala, India. Parvathy was a popular actress of Malayalam cinema industry and was active in films between 1986 and 1996. Her most notable works include "Amrutham Gamaya" ,"Oru Minnaminuginte Nurungu...
. It was written by acclaimed Malayalam writer 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...
based on the short story No Motive by Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
. The film was a commercial success and also received critical acclaim. It deals with a very different story said in an unusual way by director Pavithran
Pavithran
Vattapparambil Krishnan Pavithran, known mononymously as Pavithran was a famous Malayalam film director.-Biography:...
. It has achieved cult status
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
in Kerala.
Plot
Selina Joseph (SuparnaSuparna Anand
Suparna Anand is an Indian actress. She has appeared in Malayalam and Hindi films.Suparna Anand was one of the promising actress during late '80s and early '90s. She acted as Jyoti in the mega hit Anil Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit starrer Tehzab. She also had a very good stint in Malayalam industry in...
) a budding poet, leading a very happy family life, on a very 'usual' day, commits suicide by shooting herself by her husband's gun. Up on request from Mathew (Sukumaran
Sukumaran
Edappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Sukumaran Nair , popularly known as Sukumaran, was an Indian film actor, and producer....
), her husband, Balachandran Nair (Mammootty
Mammootty
Mammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
), his friend, a Delhi based journalist decides to probe the reasons that led her to suicide. Balu unfolds the truths behind Selina's death with the help of her childhood friend Shyamala Menon (Parvathy
Parvathy Jayaram
Ashwathy Kurup , better known by her stage name Parvathy, is an award-winning film actress from Kerala, India. Parvathy was a popular actress of Malayalam cinema industry and was active in films between 1986 and 1996. Her most notable works include "Amrutham Gamaya" ,"Oru Minnaminuginte Nurungu...
). Selina happened to be pregnant at her childhood in a gang rape. But what makes the film different is that Selina is unaware of this incident. She did not accept the fact even after the birth of her baby. She considered herself as a virgin and called her son Immanuel
Immanuel
Immanuel or Emmanuel or Imanu'el . It is a theophoric name used in the Bible in and...
meaning the son of Holy virgin Mary. Her child was moved to an orphanage by her father Antony (Karamana Janardanan Nair
Karamana Janardanan Nair
Karamana Janardanan Nair was one of the most famous Malayalam film actors during the 80s and 90s. He won wide acclaim especially for the role of the protagonist in Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Elippathayam. He is best remembered for his roles in Agnidevan and in Sphadikam . His last role was as Fr....
). She lost her memory after losing the child. But on seeing her son again years after, she is terribly distracted and commits suicide.
The film has a lot of memorable scenes including the climax scenes, when Shyamala comes to know that she and Selina were raped by a gang.
Cast
- MammoottyMammoottyMammootty is an Indian film actor and producer who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. He has also acted in a few Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, and Kannada films. During a career spanning more than three decades, he has acted in more than 360 films, and is only next to Prem Nazir in the number of lead roles...
as Balachandran aka Balu - SuparnaSuparna AnandSuparna Anand is an Indian actress. She has appeared in Malayalam and Hindi films.Suparna Anand was one of the promising actress during late '80s and early '90s. She acted as Jyoti in the mega hit Anil Kapoor-Madhuri Dixit starrer Tehzab. She also had a very good stint in Malayalam industry in...
as Selina Joseph aka Leena - SukumaranSukumaranEdappal Ponnamkuzhi Veettil Sukumaran Nair , popularly known as Sukumaran, was an Indian film actor, and producer....
as Mathew aka Mathukkutty - ParvathyParvathy JayaramAshwathy Kurup , better known by her stage name Parvathy, is an award-winning film actress from Kerala, India. Parvathy was a popular actress of Malayalam cinema industry and was active in films between 1986 and 1996. Her most notable works include "Amrutham Gamaya" ,"Oru Minnaminuginte Nurungu...
as Shyamala Menon - Karamana Janardanan NairKaramana Janardanan NairKaramana Janardanan Nair was one of the most famous Malayalam film actors during the 80s and 90s. He won wide acclaim especially for the role of the protagonist in Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Elippathayam. He is best remembered for his roles in Agnidevan and in Sphadikam . His last role was as Fr....
as Antony aka Kunnathurachan - Innocent as Nanu
- SankaradiSankaradiSankaradi was an Indian actor. He was a veteran Malayalam comedian and character artiste, who had over 700 Malayalam films to his credit....
as Achuvettan - SukumariSukumariSukumari is an Indian film actress who has primarily acted in Malayalam and Tamil films. She has been acting since she was 10 years old and has acted in various roles. The total number of her films is presumed to be about two-thousand. In 2003, she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of...
as Molly Aunty - Chandran Nair as Kapyar Mathai
- V. K. Sriraman as Superintendent
- Valsala Menon as Wardon Annie
- Santhakumari as Nurse
- Jayalalitha as Dr. Malathi Krishna
- Jagannathan as Manager Subrahmaniyam
- Akbar as 'Principal
- Murukan as Immanuel
Soundtrack
All songs are composed by Vidhyadharan with lyrics by O. N. V. KurupO. 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....
. The background score of the film was done by Johnson
Johnson (composer)
Johnson was an Indian film score composer and music director who has given music to some of the most important motion pictures of Malayalam cinema, including those for Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal, Oru Minnaminunginte Nurunguvettam, Vadakkunokkiyantram, Perumthachan, Amaram, Njan...
.
| Track # | Song | Singer(s) |
| 1 | "Manjin Vilolamam (M)" | G. Venugopal G. Venugopal G. Venugopal is an Indian playback singer, active mainly in Malayalam films. He also has Tamil and Telugu songs to his credit. Venugopal started his career in the film Odarathammava Aalariyam and has sung in more than 280 films and over 250 albums since then.G. Venugopal is a graduate of Kerala... |
| 2 | "Manjin Vilolamam (F)" | B. Arundhathi |
| 3 | "Ninnilasooyayarnnu" | B. Arundhathi |
| 4 | "Swaramidarathe" | G. Venugopal G. Venugopal G. Venugopal is an Indian playback singer, active mainly in Malayalam films. He also has Tamil and Telugu songs to his credit. Venugopal started his career in the film Odarathammava Aalariyam and has sung in more than 280 films and over 250 albums since then.G. Venugopal is a graduate of Kerala... , B. Arundhathi |
| 5 | "Aalthirakkilum" | B. Arundhathi |
| 6 | "Snehikkunnu Njan" | B. Arundhathi |
| 7 | "Tibetan Folk Song" | Various Artists |