Spadikam

Thomas Chacko, or "Aadu Thoma" as he is widely known, is a local goon and a quarry owner, who is notorious for being the undefeated champion in his confrontations. He is the son of retired school headmaster Chacko (Chacko master), the President's medal winner in mathematics. Thoma is a blemish for respectable Chacko's reputation, and both never get along on any occasion. His mother and sister are left to choose between sides; while Chacko master's brother – Manimala Vakkachan, supports Thoma.

In the flashback, unlike his father, Thomas was not good at math, but was a child prodigy in mechanical and electronic gadgetry. He made an AM radio receiver inside a soap case, at a time when phonographs were the fad of the time. Thomas's talent astonished others, whereas his father saw them as a waste of time. He always compared his son to the best student in the class – Balu, adding to his pressure. His father asked his language teacher Ravunni master to grade his paper so as to fail him, on the belief that only low grades will provoke him to study harder. When Thomas found this, he became outraged and ran away from the village, after stabbing Balu on the palm with a compass. Fourteen years later, he returned as a changed man, no longer a prodigy. His father still hate him and profess to love his sister more, who lived up to the expectations.

Pookoya, a local baron, is the newly made enemy of Thoma, along with his sub-inspector (S.I) friend Kuttikkadan; for supporting Pookoya's daughter's relationship with a penniless teacher. Due to Thoma's relationship with a prostitute, revealed when the police shame him publicly, the arranged marriage of his sister almost fail, further angering his father. This force him to rat his son out to the police on a later occasion, surprising even the S.I. with the act. The relationship between the two further decline after the incident, whereby entering into a fit of rage Thoma cuts off the sleeves of his father's shirts. Chacko master on the other hand, repaint his son's lorry with the name Chekuthan (devil) and plant a coconut tree in front of their house, naming it his son – further insulting him.

Meanwhile, Ravunni master, who resigned after Thomas ran away from the village, comes back with his daughter Thulasi (Thomas's childhood friend). Thulasi as well as the Vicar of the church and Vakkachan, try to mediate between the two by trying to get Thomas invited by his father to his sister's wedding. Thomas who came hoping for the better, gets further insulted by his father. This incident finally make Jansy, Thoma's sister stand against her father, stating she prefers her brother's small necklace to her father's high dowry in marriage. While the necklace was actually a gift from Thulasi given in the name of Thoma, this leads him to be deserted on the day of her wedding. Her mother, who was waiting for the wedding, leave him as well. With his pride struck the worst blow, Chacko master is left all alone to rethink on his actions.

Not so long after, Thoma gets stabbed by another goon employed by Pookoya, when he helps his daughter elope with her lover. Chacko master secretly visit his son in the hospital with regret. Coming back to health, Thoma's attempt at revenge is foiled when Thulasi interferes. On learning that Thulasi loves him, he try to prevent her. With her help, he tries to back out from his wrong course of life. Filled with the guilt of ruining his son's life, Chacko master attempts suicide, which Thomas see and foil and the two reconcile. With a newfound joy, they together bring back his mother.

Thomas's enemies unite against him. In a tragic turn of events, Chacko master is shot by S.I. Kuttikadan while targeting Thoma. Chacko master succumbs to his injuries and dies in front of Thomas. He becomes enraged and attacks Kuttikadan. At last Thomas kills him and is taken into police custody on charges of murder, leaving the hapless family in tears.

The film's original songs and background score were composed by S. P. Venkatesh; lyrics for the songs were written by P. Bhaskaran. The soundtrack album was released by the label Wilson Audios. It consists of three songs. The song "Ezhimala Poonchola" was sung by K. S. Chithra and Mohanlal, "Ormakal" has female and male version sung by Chithra and M. G. Sreekumar, respectively, Chithra also sung "Parumala Cheruvile".[9]

The film was remade in Telugu as Vajram (1995), in Tamil as Veerappu (2007)[14] and in Kannada as Mr. Theertha (2010).

Bhadran has clarified that the film will not have a sequel. He recalled in an interview that producer Mohan once approached him offering a Mercedes Benz as remuneration for making Spadikam 2, but he declined it. He said that the film ended with a closure for the story. The story was about a father who considers his son a devil and later realises that his son was not a devil but pure as crystal. Thomas Chacko became Aadu Thoma because his father never understood his aspirations and dreams, instead compared him with other students and constantly snubbed him. Now that his father has acknowledged him, there is no reason for him to go back to his same despicable life. He has transformed back to Thomas Chacko from Aadu Thoma.[2]

• Spadikam at IMDb