August 1 (film)

Last updated

August 1?
August 1 (film).jpg
Directed by Sibi Malayil
Written by S. N. Swamy
Based on The Day of the Jackal
by Frederick Forsyth
Produced byM. Mani
Starring Mammootty
Sukumaran
Cinematography S. Kumar
Edited byV. P. Krishnan
Music by Shyam
Production
company
Sunitha Productions
Distributed byAroma Release
Release date
  • 21 July 1988 (1988-07-21)
Running time
145 minutes
Country India
Language Malayalam

August 1? is a 1988 Indian Malayalam language action thriller film directed by Sibi Malayil, written by S. N. Swamy, starring Mammootty, Sukumaran and Captain Raju. [1] The film was produced and distributed by M. Mani under the banner of Sunitha Productions. August 1? is loosely based on the 1971 British novel The Day of the Jackal , by Frederick Forsyth which had inspired a film of the same name. [2] [3] The film was a commercial success and is considered one of the best investigative thrillers in Malayalam cinema. [4]

Contents

This film was remade in Telugu as Rajakeeya Chadarangam (political chess) in 1990, with Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the chief minister role and Krishna in the inspector role. A sequel titled August 15 , directed by Shaji Kailas, and scripted by S. N. Swamy was released in March 2011. [2]

Plot

K. G. Ramachandran, popularly known as KGR, is elected as the new Chief Minister of Kerala. As a young turk with a clean image, KGR overshadows Kazhuthumuttam Vasudevan Pillai, who is another strong aspirant for CM's chair. Just after the meeting, Kazhuthumuttam joins with Eranjoly Aboobakkar and Mathai Thomas Pappachan at a hotel room to plan the next move. Vishwanathan, commonly referred to as Vishwam is a high-profile business tycoon and political lobbyist, who joins them at the hotel. Vishwam, the political sponsor of Kazhuthumuttam, is in deep trouble as he has several business ambitions in the state. Vishwam has collected million rupees from several people in business, whom he had also given promises. If KGR continues in power, his plans would be ruined.

On the other hand, KGR leads a simple life along with his wife, Vatsala, a homemaker, and brings out several revolutionary changes in the state, including the dismissal of corrupt officers and changes in the liquor policy of the state. Kaimal, his party president, finds him too arrogant to tame and KGR's popularity is on a sudden rise. A desperate Vishwam decides to assassinate KGR, and later presents the plan to his friends, who, though not readily, agree to be part of it. Vishwam contacts Muniyandi Thevar, a Malaysian-based businessman and smuggler in Madras, who introduces him to a professional assassin Nicholas, but after the payment of the amount, Kazhuthumuttam feels cheated again as he has been denied the CM's post.

In a state of intoxication, Kazhuthumuttam calls up Gopu, a journalist and spits out the information that KGR will be assassinated shortly, but without committing his identity. Even though the caller does not give his name, Gopu identifies him as Kazhuthumuttam and therefore passes the information to his friend DYSP Perumal who is an honest and sharp police officer posted in the state Crime Branch. Perumal doesn't seem to take this serious at first, and since the identification of the voice of the caller by the journalist is not favourable, they conclude it is a prank call. Still, they convey the message to the higher officials. Though still not thoroughly convinced, The IG of police orders a routine investigation into the matter.

Perumal is assigned the case, and begins his investigation by arresting Vishwam, but Vishwam couldn't give any further details as he was also unaware about the whereabouts or name of the killer, except that the killer has introduced himself as Gomes, a fake name. Later it is revealed that Perumal and KGR were great friends during their college days. Perumal reaches Madras, from where he arrests Thevar by breaking into his house and brings him to Kerala. Perumal reaches at Nicholas's hiding place. Though he was not there, Perumal finds out from a newspaper that KGR has been admitted into a hospital. Realising that Nicholas went to kill KGR, he rushes to the hospital. Meanwhile, Nicholas enters the hospital disguised as a patient, and enters the CM's room where he tries to kill him, but is interrupted by Vatsala.

When Nicholas gets out of the room, he collides with Perumal, and Perumal chases him, but couldn't get out of the hospital because the cops are everywhere. Nicholas hides himself, where he attacks Perumal and escapes. As a result, Perumal gets hit on the head, but recovers soon. According to an eyewitness, Perumal issues a sketch of Nicholas and gets it broadcast on TV, but he skips from the cops miraculously. The cops search for Nicholas everywhere, where Perumal arranges security in KGR's house and everywhere. Perumal assures the IG that there would be another attempt to kill KGR on 15 August. The IG tells him to request KGR to be absent at the ceremony as he is KGR's friend, to which KGR denies later. On the day of 15 August, KGR is checking the guard of honour, Perumal waits eagerly with all police facilities to grab Nicholas.

While scanning the CCTV footages, Perumal finds Nicholas among the cops disguised in a police uniform, in the line for the guard of honour. (The assassination setting is very similar to the 30 July 1987, attempted assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India). Perumal sprints from the Control room and shoots down Nicholas, before he could attack KGR, thereby saving him. Nicholas is buried in the orthodox way, where Gopu questions Perumal about how the killer had got into the guard of honour. Perumal replies that he doesn't know and that had the killer been alive, then he would have asked him.

Cast

Related Research Articles

<i>Sethurama Iyer CBI</i> 2004 Indian film

Sethurama Iyer CBI is a 2004 Indian Malayalam-language mystery crime film directed by K. Madhu and written by S. N. Swamy. It stars Mammootty in the title role, alongside Mukesh and Jagathy Sreekumar in supporting roles. Shyam composed the background score for the film.

<i>Moonnam Mura</i> 1988 Indian film

Moonnam Mura is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by K. Madhu and written by S. N. Swamy. It stars Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Lalu Alex. The plot deals with a terrorist group led by Charles kidnapping a group of political individuals who were vacationing, and the followed up rescue operation of the police led by Ali Imran.

<i>Neethikkupin Paasam</i> 1963 film by M. A. Thirumugam

Neethikkupin Paasam is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language legal drama film, directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, B. Saroja Devi and M. R. Radha. It was released on 15 August 1963. The film was remade in Telugu as Thandri Kodukula Challenge.

<i>Lelam</i> 1997 Indian film

Lelam (transl. Auction) is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Joshiy and written by Renji Panicker. It stars Suresh Gopi and M. G. Soman with Siddique, N. F. Varghese, Nandini, Maniyanpilla Raju, Vijayakumar, Spadikam George, and Kaviyoor Renuka in supporting roles. It was also the last film of the veteran actor M.G. Soman. The story revolves around the rivalry between two liquor business groups, the Aanakkattil family and Kadayadi family. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Yelam and into Telugu as Royal Challenge. Lelam was a blockbuster at the box-office and is also among the highest grossers of the 1990s.

<i>Oru CBI Diary Kurippu</i> 1988 film by K. Madhu

Oru CBI Diary Kurippu is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film directed by K. Madhu, written by S. N. Swamy, and starring Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Jagathy Sreekumar, Mukesh, and Sukumaran. The lead character, CBI officer Sethurama Iyer is inspired by a police officer named Radha Vinod Raju, Jammu and Kashmir cadre IPS Officer, who in 2009 was appointed as the first chief of India's National Investigation Agency. It was the highest grossing Malayalam film at that time. Considered one of the best crime thrillers in Malayalam, it eventually developed a cult following. This is the first installment in the CBI film series featuring Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer.

<i>Roudram</i> 2008 Indian film

Roudram is a 2008 Indian Malayalam-language action crime thriller film written and directed by Renji Panicker. It stars Mammootty, Sai Kumar, Vijayaraghavan and Rajan P Dev.

<i>Bharathchandran I.P.S.</i> 2005 film by Renji Panicker

Bharathchandran I.P.S is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film written, directed and produced by Renji Panicker. It is a sequel to the 1994 film Commissioner and Suresh Gopi reprises the titular character, while Sai Kumar, Rajan P. Dev, Mamukkoya, Shreya Reddy and Lalu Alex appear in supporting roles. The background score was composed by C. Rajamani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pillai (Kerala title)</span> Noble title in Kerala, India

Pillai, meaning Prince, is a title of nobility which can either refer to a ruling chief, members of the nobility, or junior princes of the royal family and was mostly used by the upper-caste Nair feudal lords who were historically ranked as or immediately below the king. The oldest lineages of Pillais include not only Kshatriyas but also brahmins who took up the sword. From the early modern period, the title also came to be bestowed upon Savarna subjects by the Kings for services military or political, most of whom were of Nair origin. The Nair Pillai caste is unrelated to other Pillais. It is important not to confuse them with the Vellala Pillai, Chetti Pillai, illathu Pillai, etc. Some of them also use 'Pillai' surname in some parts of Kerala, they have distinct identities and no relation with Kerala title "Pillai".

<i>I. G. – Inspector General</i> 2009 film by B. Unnikrishnan

I. G. – Inspector General is a 2009 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film written and directed by B. Unnikrishnan. The film stars Suresh Gopi in the title lead role, with Govind Padmasoorya, Nandini and Ashish Vidyarthi in supporting roles.

<i>Valliettan</i> 2000 Indian film

Valyettan is a 2000 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Shaji Kailas and scripted by Ranjith. It stars Mammootty, Shobana, Sai Kumar, N. F. Varghese, Siddique and Manoj K Jayan. It was remade in Kannada as Jyeshta by director Suresh Krissna with Vishnuvardhan in the lead role. The film was released in Kerala on 10 September 2000. The film was one of the highest grosser

August 15 is a 2011 Malayalam-language crime thriller film directed by Shaji Kailas, written by S. N. Swamy, and produced by M. Mani. It stars Mammootty, Meghana Raj, Nedumudi Venu, Siddique, Sai Kumar, Shwetha Menon, and Lalu Alex.

<i>The Truth</i> (1998 film) 1998 Indian film

The Truth is a 1998 Malayalam-language police procedural thriller film written by S. N. Swamy and directed by Shaji Kailas. Mammootty plays the lead role of an IPS officer investigating a political assassination of the CM. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Unmai and in Telugu as Delhi Simham. It was remade in Kannada as Naxalite in 2000.

<i>Nariman</i> (film) 2001 film by K. Madhu

Nariman is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language investigative film directed by K. Madhu and written by S. N. Swamy. It stars Suresh Gopi in the title role, with Samyuktha Varma, Siddique, Jagadish, Sadiq, Vijayakumar, Janardhanan, Jagathy Sreekumar, Spadikam George, N. F. Varghese and Rajan P. Dev in supporting roles. The plot follows Ashok Nariman, a Crime Branch DySP who is assigned to re-investigate the "couple murder case" and then to investigate the "Ammini missing case". The film was dubbed in Hindi as Farz Ki Pukaar and in Telugu as Senathipathi.

<i>F.I.R.</i> (1999 film) 1999 Indian film

F.I.R is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language action film directed by Shaji Kailas, written by Dennis Joseph and produced by M. Mani. It stars Suresh Gopi, Rajeev, Biju Menon, Indraja, N. F. Varghese and Maniyan Pillai Raju

<i>Janathipathyam</i> 1997 Indian film

Janathipathyam (transl. Democracy) is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by K. Madhu and produced by M. Mani. The film stars Suresh Gopi, Urvashi, Balachandra Menon, and Vani Viswanath in lead roles.

The Thachudaya Kaimals were a lineage of ruling Nair chiefs in Travancore, now in the Indian state of Kerala. The Thachudaya Kaimal is a sacerdotal dignitary in Kerala and is considered the spiritual chief and temporal ruler of the Koodalmanikyam Temple and its estates. The line goes back into antiquity and is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Tradition dictates that the Guruvayur temple belonging to the Zamorin of Malabar, the Koodalmanikyam temple of the Thachudaya Kaimal family of Travancore and the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple of the Travancore royal family are the grandest temples in Kerala in terms of size and proportion of offerings.

<i>Abrahaminte Santhathikal</i> 2018 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film

Abrahaminte Santhathikal is an Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film released in 2018, directed by debutant Shaji Padoor and written by Haneef Adeni. The film stars Mammootty and Anson Paul in the lead roles and pivotal roles of Kaniha, Tarushi, Renji Panicker, Yog Japee and Kalabhavan Shajon. Shot in Ernakulam, principal photography began on 5 January 2018 and ended in March. Gopi Sundar scores music for the film, and Mahesh Narayan handles editing.

<i>One</i> (2021 film) 2021 film directed by Santhosh Viswanath

One is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language political drama film directed by Santhosh Vishwanath and written by Bobby & Sanjay. The film stars Mammootty in the lead role. Mathew Thomas, Murali Gopy, Siddique, Joju George, Ishaani Krishna, Gayatri Arun and Nimisha Sajayan plays the supporting roles.

<i>Pathonpatham Noottandu</i> 2022 Indian film

Pathonpatham Noottandu is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language action period drama film written and directed by Vinayan. Set in the 19th century Travancore, the story is based on the life of Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, a warrior who fought against social injustices suffered by the lower caste. The film stars Siju Wilson and Kayadu Lohar in the lead role, alongside Anoop Menon, Chemban Vinod Jose, Sudev Nair, Vishnu Vinay, and Senthil Krishna in important supporting roles. The background score was composed by Santhosh Narayanan and songs were composed by M. Jayachandran.

<i>CBI 5: The Brain</i> 2022 film directed by K. Madhu

CBI 5: The Brain is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film directed by K. Madhu and written by S. N. Swamy. The film stars Mammootty reprising his role as CBI officer Sethurama Iyer along with an ensemble cast. It is the fifth installment of CBI film series.

References

  1. ↑ "Aye Aye, Captain". www.outlookindia.com/. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Shaji Kailas starts Mammootty's film". Sify. 2010-10-12.
  3. ↑ "The Day of the Jackal: Cunning 'Fox'". 13 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Celluloid sultans of Kerala". India Today . 31 December 1988.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.