Viruthan Shanku
Encyclopedia
Viruthan Shanku is a 1968 Malayalam comedy
film directed by P. Venu, starring Adoor Bhasi
and Ambika in the lead roles.
) and how he tricks people and steals their valuables in a comic way and also how he wins the heart of Kunjikkavu (Ambika).
The film starts with Vikraman (Adoor Bhasi
) returning home from Madras after completing his studies. On reaching his Tharavad he understands that his elder brother (Kottarakara
) moved out of their house after marrying an young woman and is now under the control of his mother-in-law. He is also controlling all the wealth of the Tharavad, leaving their sister (Aranmula Ponnamma
), who is a widow, and her three daughters in poverty. Vikraman went and asked his brother for money, but he refused to give them any money. Vikraman filed a court case for share in the property. Vikraman is married and his wife (Jayabharathi
) and his young son are at his wife's house. He went to visit them. Meanwhile his wife and child were attacked by a dacoit. In the resultant struggle, she was pushed from the attic by the dacoit and the child was abducted for the gold he was wearing. She died in Vikraman's arms who reached there that time. He got a broken piece of a tiger's claw belonging to the dacoit as evidence, which broke during the struggle. Soon Vikraman came to know that he is affected with Tuberculosis
and left home, carrying his gun, in order to save his sister and her daughters from the disease. He felt unconscious in the forest and was saved by the tribals. His disease was cured by them using their traditional Ayurvedic medicines. On regaining health, Vikraman kills and elephant which was troubling the tribal men. To save the tribals from the Forest officials, Vikraman left them and entered deep jungle. There he was caught by the dacoits, and from the broken tiger's claw in the pendant of a dacoit, Vikraman recognised the one who killed his wife and abducted his child. He was taken before the chief of the dacoits with whom Vikraman's child was safe. Vikraman told him all that happened in his life and how his men ruined his life. The chief ordered his trusted lieutenant to investigate whether Vikraman is telling the truth. Based on the investigation, the chief realised that his gang member actually is responsible for the death of Vikraman's wife and expelled him from the gang. But, since Vikraman is aware of their hideout, he didn't let Vikraman return with his child. Instead he asked him to join their gand and prove that he is trustworthy so that he can release his child. Vikraman accepted the offer and joined the gang.
Vikraman was asked to prove himself as a smart thief by the chief. He also directed his men to observe Vikraman. Vikraman started to trick people by using various disguises. He disguised himself as old Brahmin, washerman, cloth seller etc. He stole various items like diamond ring, expensive silk clothes, gold necklace, bicycle, horse etc. He also adopted the name "Shanku" during this time. Meanwhile the dacoits visited Vikraman's elder brother (Kottarakara
) and punished him for not taking care of his siter and family and make him promise to take care of them in the future. He understood his mistake and returned to his sister and family and look after them. Shanku went to the house of a senior advocate (Thikkurissy
) and tricked his wife (Sukumari
) and his sister Kunjikkavu (Ambika) and stole their gold chain, silk clothes and even their house key. Shanku on seeing Kunjikkavu instantly fell in love with her. Even though fooled, Kunjikkavu developed and admiration towards Shanku and gradually fell in love. Shanku successfully completed his task and the dacoit chief let Shanku return his son back to his home. After that, Shanku returned all the items he stole to their respective owners. Then, Shanku disguised himself as a Carnatic music
teacher and took up the role of Kunjikkavu's music teacher. Even Kunjikkavu didn't realise that the teacher is Shanku. Meanwhile, he tried to understand Kunjikkavu's mind and told her his life story. Hearing all that, Kunjikkavu told Shanku that she too loves him. Then an old and rich Brahmin came to marry Kunjikkavu. Her brother and sister in law agreed for the proposal even though Kunjikkavu sternly opposed it. In the meantime, the expelled dacoit shot the chief and tried to take over as the chief of the gang. But Shanku brought the injured chief to the scene and he killed the rebel dacoit. Before he dies, the chief announce Shanku as the new chief. But Shanku wants the dacoits to lead a normal life and dissolved the gang. Then Shanku with the help of fellow dacoits threatened the groom and made him flee to Kasi
. Then Shanku as music teacher stepped in and offered to marry Kunjikkavu to avoid the embarrassment of having the marriage cancelled. But, Kunjikkavu opposed this proposal also and announced openly that she will only marry Shanku. Then Shanku removed the disguise of the music teacher and revealed who he is. In the end, with the consent and blessing of all their relatives, Shanku and Kunjikkavu got married.
. The music is given by B. A. Chidambaranath
. The background score is given by Joseph Krishna
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
film directed by P. Venu, starring Adoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
and Ambika in the lead roles.
Plot
Viruthan Shanku is the story of Vikraman (Adoor BhasiAdoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
) and how he tricks people and steals their valuables in a comic way and also how he wins the heart of Kunjikkavu (Ambika).
The film starts with Vikraman (Adoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
) returning home from Madras after completing his studies. On reaching his Tharavad he understands that his elder brother (Kottarakara
Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair
Sreedharan Nair , popularly known as Kottarakkara and Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, was an Indian film actor in Malayalam movies. He hailed from Kottarakkara in Kollam district of Kerala.Sreedharan Nair won two Kerala state film awards...
) moved out of their house after marrying an young woman and is now under the control of his mother-in-law. He is also controlling all the wealth of the Tharavad, leaving their sister (Aranmula Ponnamma
Aranmula Ponnamma
Aranmula Ponnamma was a National Award winning Malayalam film actress known for her roles as mother of the protagonist in numerous films. She was widely described as a mother figure in Malayalam cinema.-Early life:...
), who is a widow, and her three daughters in poverty. Vikraman went and asked his brother for money, but he refused to give them any money. Vikraman filed a court case for share in the property. Vikraman is married and his wife (Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi
Jayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....
) and his young son are at his wife's house. He went to visit them. Meanwhile his wife and child were attacked by a dacoit. In the resultant struggle, she was pushed from the attic by the dacoit and the child was abducted for the gold he was wearing. She died in Vikraman's arms who reached there that time. He got a broken piece of a tiger's claw belonging to the dacoit as evidence, which broke during the struggle. Soon Vikraman came to know that he is affected with Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and left home, carrying his gun, in order to save his sister and her daughters from the disease. He felt unconscious in the forest and was saved by the tribals. His disease was cured by them using their traditional Ayurvedic medicines. On regaining health, Vikraman kills and elephant which was troubling the tribal men. To save the tribals from the Forest officials, Vikraman left them and entered deep jungle. There he was caught by the dacoits, and from the broken tiger's claw in the pendant of a dacoit, Vikraman recognised the one who killed his wife and abducted his child. He was taken before the chief of the dacoits with whom Vikraman's child was safe. Vikraman told him all that happened in his life and how his men ruined his life. The chief ordered his trusted lieutenant to investigate whether Vikraman is telling the truth. Based on the investigation, the chief realised that his gang member actually is responsible for the death of Vikraman's wife and expelled him from the gang. But, since Vikraman is aware of their hideout, he didn't let Vikraman return with his child. Instead he asked him to join their gand and prove that he is trustworthy so that he can release his child. Vikraman accepted the offer and joined the gang.
Vikraman was asked to prove himself as a smart thief by the chief. He also directed his men to observe Vikraman. Vikraman started to trick people by using various disguises. He disguised himself as old Brahmin, washerman, cloth seller etc. He stole various items like diamond ring, expensive silk clothes, gold necklace, bicycle, horse etc. He also adopted the name "Shanku" during this time. Meanwhile the dacoits visited Vikraman's elder brother (Kottarakara
Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair
Sreedharan Nair , popularly known as Kottarakkara and Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, was an Indian film actor in Malayalam movies. He hailed from Kottarakkara in Kollam district of Kerala.Sreedharan Nair won two Kerala state film awards...
) and punished him for not taking care of his siter and family and make him promise to take care of them in the future. He understood his mistake and returned to his sister and family and look after them. Shanku went to the house of a senior advocate (Thikkurissy
Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair
Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair was a Malayali Indian poet, playwright, script writer, lyricist, orator, film director and actor, though he is best known as an actor in Malayalam cinema. He is the recipient of Padmashri from the Government of India, which is one of the highest civilian honours in India....
) and tricked his wife (Sukumari
Sukumari
Sukumari 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...
) and his sister Kunjikkavu (Ambika) and stole their gold chain, silk clothes and even their house key. Shanku on seeing Kunjikkavu instantly fell in love with her. Even though fooled, Kunjikkavu developed and admiration towards Shanku and gradually fell in love. Shanku successfully completed his task and the dacoit chief let Shanku return his son back to his home. After that, Shanku returned all the items he stole to their respective owners. Then, Shanku disguised himself as a Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
teacher and took up the role of Kunjikkavu's music teacher. Even Kunjikkavu didn't realise that the teacher is Shanku. Meanwhile, he tried to understand Kunjikkavu's mind and told her his life story. Hearing all that, Kunjikkavu told Shanku that she too loves him. Then an old and rich Brahmin came to marry Kunjikkavu. Her brother and sister in law agreed for the proposal even though Kunjikkavu sternly opposed it. In the meantime, the expelled dacoit shot the chief and tried to take over as the chief of the gang. But Shanku brought the injured chief to the scene and he killed the rebel dacoit. Before he dies, the chief announce Shanku as the new chief. But Shanku wants the dacoits to lead a normal life and dissolved the gang. Then Shanku with the help of fellow dacoits threatened the groom and made him flee to Kasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
. Then Shanku as music teacher stepped in and offered to marry Kunjikkavu to avoid the embarrassment of having the marriage cancelled. But, Kunjikkavu opposed this proposal also and announced openly that she will only marry Shanku. Then Shanku removed the disguise of the music teacher and revealed who he is. In the end, with the consent and blessing of all their relatives, Shanku and Kunjikkavu got married.
Cast
- Adoor BhasiAdoor BhasiAdoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
- Thikkurissy Sukumaran NairThikkurissy Sukumaran NairThikkurissy Sukumaran Nair was a Malayali Indian poet, playwright, script writer, lyricist, orator, film director and actor, though he is best known as an actor in Malayalam cinema. He is the recipient of Padmashri from the Government of India, which is one of the highest civilian honours in India....
- Kottarakkara Sreedharan NairKottarakkara Sreedharan NairSreedharan Nair , popularly known as Kottarakkara and Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, was an Indian film actor in Malayalam movies. He hailed from Kottarakkara in Kollam district of Kerala.Sreedharan Nair won two Kerala state film awards...
- Ambika
- JayabharathiJayabharathiJayabharathi is a popular Malayalam film actress who started her career in late 1960s. She is a two-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for best actress....
- Shankaradi
- Muthukulam Raghavan PillaiMuthukulam Raghavan PillaiMuthukulam Raghavan Pillai was a Malayalam dramatist, poet, screen play writer and actor. He was born on 1900 in Muthukulam, a small village in Alappuzha District, Kerala, India...
- Balan C A
- Panjabi
- P K Sathyapal
- TK Balachandran
- Kaduvakkulam Antony
- Pappukkutty Bhagavathar
- TR Omana
- Meena
- Aranmula PonnammaAranmula PonnammaAranmula Ponnamma was a National Award winning Malayalam film actress known for her roles as mother of the protagonist in numerous films. She was widely described as a mother figure in Malayalam cinema.-Early life:...
Soundtrack
Viruthan Shanku has 6 hit songs. The lyrics are by famous poet and lyricist P. BhaskaranP. Bhaskaran
Pulloottupadathu Bhaskara Menon , better known as P. Bhaskaran, was a famous Malayalam poet and lyricist of Malayalam film songs. He penned more than 3000 songs for about 250 films. He also directed 44 Malayalam feature films and 3 documentaries, produced 6 feature films and acted in several movies...
. The music is given by B. A. Chidambaranath
B. A. Chidambaranath
Bhoothapandi Annavi Chidambaranath was an Indian film score composer and musician who worked mainly in Malayalam films.-Biography:Hailing from a family of reputed musicians from Bhoothapandi, Nagercoil district, Chidambaranath took early lessons in mridangam and Carnatic vocal from his father, B....
. The background score is given by Joseph Krishna
| No | | Title | | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaraamamullakale | P. Leela P. Leela Porayathu Leela better known as P. Leela was a popular Indian playback singer. She was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2006.-Early life:... |
| 2 | Innuvarum Achan | P. Leela P. Leela Porayathu Leela better known as P. Leela was a popular Indian playback singer. She was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2006.-Early life:... |
| 3 | Jananiyum Janakanum | P. Leela P. Leela Porayathu Leela better known as P. Leela was a popular Indian playback singer. She was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2006.-Early life:... , A. P. Komala A. P. Komala A. P. Komala was a South Indian playback singer. She has sung songs in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu languages.-Filmography:These are some of the films where she was playback singer.-References:... |
| 4 | Pushpangal Choodiya | 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,... , P. Leela P. Leela Porayathu Leela better known as P. Leela was a popular Indian playback singer. She was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2006.-Early life:... |
| 5 | Vannaan vannallo hey vannan vannallo | 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,... |
| 6 | Varunnu Pokunnu Vazhipokkar | 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,... |