Vellimoonga
Vellimoonga (English: Barn Owl) is a 2014 Indian Malayalam political satire film directed by Jibu Jacob and written by Joji Thomas. It stars Biju Menon with Aju Varghese, Nikki Galrani, Tini Tom, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Sasi Kalinga, Saju Navodaya, Kalabhavan Shajon, Veena Nair, and Siddique in supporting roles. Asif Ali appears in a cameo role.
Vellimoonga | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Jibu Jacob |
Produced by | Shashidharan Ullattil Ex-Producer Sonu Singh |
Written by | Joji Thomas |
Starring | Biju Menon Aju Varghese Nikki Galrani Asif Ali K. P. A. C. Lalitha Siddique |
Narrated by | Lal Jose |
Music by | Bijibal |
Cinematography | Vishnu Narayan |
Edited by | Sooraj E. S. |
Production company | Ullattil Visual Media Release and Indian movies uk & Tricolor Entertainments |
Distributed by | Manorama Music Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 130 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Malayalam |
Budget | ₹2.8 crore[1] |
Box office | ₹20 crore[2] |
The film was released on 25 September 2014 in 60 centres across Kerala. The film became one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of 2014, with ticket sales estimated at ₹60 crore (US$8.4 million).[3] The movie was remade in Tamil in 2016 as Muthina Kathirika.
Summary
Mamachan (Biju Menon) is an unmarried male who is in his 40’s. Mamachan who always wanted to become a politician joins a relative unknown party based in North India that barely has any presence in Kerala.He is subject to taunts and retorts due to this though he is the national leader of the party he belongs to.
Well known for his cunning and slimy tactics Mamachan has his share of haters in the village.Mamachan eventually decides to get married and visits a prospective bride , only to be chased away by the brides father (Siddique) as Mamachan and the bride’s mother were classmates and friends while in their teens.
Mamachan in an attempt to get serious in life decides to progress in his political career after he is taunted for being a good-for-nothing lazing around in a party without any scope or future.Mamachan visits Delhi and is given instructions to stand in elections with the understanding that if he loses his election deposit in Kerala he will be elevated to a role in centre which is viewed with jealousy by his colleague Gopi(Kalabhavan Shajon).
Gopi decides it’s better to let Mamachan wins in Kerala and stays as an MLA rather than losing and moving to Delhi for a better role . Gopi subsequently rallies all of Mamachan’s rivals together to work for mamachans victory so that they can prevent him from going to Delhi resulting in mamachans victory in polls. Only after elections it’s revealed everything was mamachans plans to win elections as an MLA making others to work for his victory and there was nothing in Delhi.
Mamachans prospective bride’s alliance is fixed with a guy from Mumbai named Charlie.(Asif Ali) who disappears on the day of the wedding. To save the brides and her family’s honour Mamachan is requested by the village elders and priest to marry her. After the marriage Charlie appears and reveals he was Mamachans friend and his disappearance was a part of a plan by Mamachan to marry her.
Both are shown to be happily married and moving on after that
Cast
- Biju Menon as Maamachan C.P
- Nikki Galrani as Lisa Wareed
- Aju Varghese as Tony Vakkathanam/Paachan
- Tini Tom as V.P Jose
- Asif Ali as Charlie/Jose Kutty Pala
- Lena as Mollykutty Wareed
- Siddique as Kunnel Wareed
- K. P. A. C. Lalitha as Annakutty Cheriyan Poulowmattam
- Revathi Sivakumar as Manju Pappan
- Basil as Tom Cheriyan
- Sunil Sukhada as Father
- Kalabhavan Shajon as Gopi
- Anu Joseph as Sally Cheriyan .P
- Geetha Salam as K.P Joseph
- Veena Nair as Sholi Mathew
- Saju Navodaya as Mathew
- Sasi Kalinga
- Chembil Ashokan as Maniyanikutti
- Shivaji Guruvayoor as Communist Party leader
- Baby Rachael as Little Girl
Reception
Vellimoonga received positive reviews upon release.[4] Nowrunning.com gave 4.5/5 and called it a "surprise winner".[5]
Sify reported that Vellimoonga had a good opening and called the film an "instant hit".[6] The film became one of the highest grossing Malayalam film of the year, with a box office collection estimated at ₹20 crore (US$2.8 million).[2] It also earned ₹4.5 crore (US$630,000) from satellite rights.[7]
The film was remade in Tamil as Muthina Kathirika by Sundar C.. Tini Tom won the Asianet Film Award for Best Supporting Actor - Male for this film in 2014.
Soundtrack
Vellimoonga | |
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Soundtrack album by | |
Released | 21 September 2014 |
Recorded | 2014 |
Genre | Film soundtrack |
Language | Malayalam |
Label | Manorama Music |
Producer | Bijibal |
Track | Song Title | Lyricist | Singer(s) |
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1 | "Vellimoonga" | Santhosh Varma | Lola, Daya, Thamanna, Swathi, Dev |
2 | "Punchiri Kannulla" | Rajeev Nair | Ganesh Sundaram |
3 | "Mavelikku Shesham" | Santhosh Varma | Najim Arshad |
4 | "Punchiri Kannulla" | Rajeev Nair | Vijay Yesudas |
References
- "Satellite booming for hit films". IndiaGlitz. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- "2014: When little gems outclassed big guns in southern cinema". Hindustan Times. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- Onmanorama desk (26 June 2015). "Mohanlal's next with 'Vellimoonga' director Jibu Jacob". Malayala Manorama.
- Nicy V. P. (25 September 2014). "'Vellimoonga' Review Roundup: Gets a Clean Entertainer Tag from Critics". IB Times. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- "Vellimoonga review". Veeyen. Nowrunning.com. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- "Kerala Box-Office – September". Sify. 8 October 2014.
- G. Krishnakumar. (20 December 2014). "Another year of box-office turkeys passes by". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 January 2015.