Ekalavyan | |
---|---|
Directed by | Shaji Kailas |
Written by | Renji Panicker |
Produced by | P. V. Gangadharan |
Starring | Suresh Gopi |
Cinematography | Ravi K. Chandran |
Edited by | L. Bhoominathan |
Music by | Rajamani |
Production company | Grahalakshmi Productions |
Distributed by | Kalpaka Release |
Release date |
|
Running time | 160 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Malayalam |
Ekalavyan is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language neo-noir action thriller film directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Renji Panicker. It stars Suresh Gopi un the lead role, alongside an ensemble cast of Siddique, Geetha, Narendra Prasad, Vijayaraghavan, Ganesh Kumar, Janardhanan, Madhu, Maathu, Jagathy Sreekumar, Kuthiravattam Pappu and Devan. [1] [2]
Ekalavyan became a blockbuster and ran for 200 days in theatres. With consecutive box office hits from The News, Thalastaanam , Mafia and Ekalavyan, Suresh Gopi was catapulted to the status of a matinée idol. After the success of the 1994 blockbuster Commissioner in Andhra Pradesh, the film was released in Telugu as CBI Officer and became a commercial success. The film was remade in Hindi as Singham Returns . [3] [4]
Swami Amoorthananda, a psychotic holy godman with strong international connections, runs a powerful narcotics mafia in Kerala. He also has several connections within political circles and is also a good orator, where he draws many devotees from abroad and turns them into addicts.
A series of murders at Kovalam beach invites sharp criticism of the Kerala Government and the C.M Sreedharan decides to bring Madhavan, a Narcotics Wing officer, to investigate the case. Arriving in Kerala from New Delhi and assisted by a smart CI Sharath Chandran, Madhavan's aggressive way of investigation leads him to Amoorthananda's ashram, which creates a panic in the state.
Amoorthananda decides to eliminate Madhavan and also plans to topple Sreedharan by appointing his aide Velayudhan as the new CM. Upon the orders from Amoorthananda, Mahesh Nair, a notorious terrorist, arrives in Kerala and kills Sharath Chandran. An enraged Madhavan raids the ashram and botches Amoorthananda's plot to cause a series of bomb blasts in the state. Madhavan also kills Amoorthananda and Mahesh Nair, thus saving the state from the blasts and communal riots.
The film was shot mostly around Trivandrum and Kovalam and a large part was also shot in Kozhikode. The film was produced by P. V. Gangadharan under Grihalakshmi Productions. The cinematography was handled by Ravi K. Chandran and editing by L. Bhoominathan. Rajamani composed the musical score, while Boban was the art director.
Initially, Shaji Kailas and Renji Panicker had planned to sign Mammootty in the lead role and Suresh Gopi as the second lead role. After hearing the script, Mammootty told Shaji Kailas that he was not impressed with the dialogues. Due to this, Shaji Kailas decided to start the project with Suresh Gopi in the lead and the originally planned role for Suresh Gopi was later given to Siddique. [5] [6]
Ekalavyan became a commercial success and ran for 200 days in theatres. The film shattered many collection records and elevated Suresh Gopi to the status of the matinée idol and the second action superstar in Malayalam cinema after Jayan. It also helped him to fetch more action-oriented roles. [7] After the success of the original version, along with Telugu and Tamil versions of Commissioner, Ekalavyan, which was actually released before Commissioner , was released in Telugu and Tamil as CBI Officer. The film had earned Suresh Gopi the title of Supreme Star in Andhra Pradesh. [8]
Ekalavyan was the second in a trilogy of films that established Suresh Gopi as the new superstar in the Malayalam cinema, the other two being Thalastaanam and Mafia. Suresh Gopi reprised his role of Madhavan IPS in 1995 film The King starring Mammootty and also written and directed by Shaji Kailas and Renji Panicker.
The film was remade in Hindi as Singham Returns and was directed by Rohit Shetty. [9]
Suresh Gopi is an Indian actor, politician, playback singer and television presenter. He works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and has also appeared in some Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bollywood films. Suresh made his acting debut as a child in the 1965 film Odayil Ninnu. He made his debut as an adult in 1986 and since then, he has acted in more than 250 films. Suresh Gopi is a recipient of the National Film Award and the Kerala State Film Award in 1998 for his performance in Kaliyattam. He was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Parliament of India.
Sai Kumar, also credited as Saikumar, is an Indian actor who appears in Malayalam films. He is the son of Malayalam actor late Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair. He appears in both positive and negative roles. He notably plays the hero role in Ramji Rao Speaking, and the villain in Makkal Mahatmyam.
Shaji Kailas is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Malayalam cinema. Shaji got a breakthrough with the comedy film Dr. Pasupathy (1990).
Renji Panicker is an Indian actor, scriptwriter, director, film producer, and journalist best known for his Malayalam films. He made his debut as a director with Bharatchandran IPS in 2005.
Commissioner is a 1994 Indian Malayalam-language neo-noir action thriller film directed by Shaji Kailas, written by Ranji Panicker, and produced by M. Mani. It stars Suresh Gopi as police commissioner Bharathchandran IPS, and also features Ratheesh, Shobana, Vijayaraghavan, M. G. Soman, Rajan P. Dev, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, N. F. Varghese, Karamana Janardanan Nair, and Maniyanpilla Raju in pivotal roles. The background score was composed by Rajamani.
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.
Thalasthanam is a 1992 Malayalam-language crime action film written by Renji Panicker and directed by Shaji Kailas. The film stars Suresh Gopi in the lead role, along with Geetha, Narendra Prasad, Monisha, M. G. Soman, K. B. Ganesh Kumar and Vijayakumar in supporting roles. The film explores the concepts of campus politics and the impact of anti social elements in students.
Rudraksham is a 1994 Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Ranjith. It stars Suresh Gopi, Annie and Devan.
Crime File is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language action crime thriller film by K. Madhu starring Suresh Gopi, Siddique and Sangita Madhavan Nair. The film is loosely based on the 1992 murder of Sister Abhaya in Kerala.
The King is a 1995 Indian Malayalam-language political thriller film written by Renji Panicker and directed by Shaji Kailas, with Mammootty in the lead role as district collector Joseph Alex IAS.
Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans is 1993 Malayalam-language political thriller film directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Renji Panicker. The film revolved around the current affairs of Kerala in 90s and was a commercial success.
Mafia is a 1993 Indian Malayalam- language action crime film directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Renji Panicker. It stars Suresh Gopi, Vikram, Tiger Prabhakar, Janardhanan, Vijayaraghavan and Babu Antony.
The King & the Commissioner is a 2012 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written by Renji Panicker and directed by Shaji Kailas, starring Mammootty and Suresh Gopi. The film is a crossover of the films The King (1995), Commissioner (1994), Ekalavyan (1993) and Bharathchandran I.P.S. (2005).
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
Arhatha is a 1990 Indian Malayalam film, directed by I. V. Sasi and produced by P. K. R. Pillai. The film stars Mohanlal, Urvashi, Rekha and Suresh Gopi in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Shyam.
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.
Madhura Raja is a 2019 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy film directed by Vysakh, written by Udaykrishna and starring Mammootty, Jagapathi Babu and Jai alongside Anusree, Siddique, Nedumudi Venu, Vijayaraghavan, Salim Kumar, Mahima Nambiar, Anna Rajan and Shamna Kasim in supporting roles. The music is composed by Gopi Sundar. This film marks the debut of Jai in Malayalam cinema. The film is a spin-off to 2010 film Pokkiri Raja and Mammootty reprises his role as Raja.
Simhasanam (transl. Throne) is a 2012 Malayalam action film written and directed by Shaji Kailas starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Sai Kumar with supporting cast including Siddique and Devan. The music was composed by Ronnie Raphael.
Dr. Pasupathy is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Shaji Kailas, written by Renji Panicker. The film stars Innocent in the title role along with, Rizabawa, Parvathy, Nedumudi Venu, Jagathy Sreekumar, Kuthiravattom Pappu, Jagadish, KPAC Lalitha, Kalpana in supporting roles. The film follows Bhairavan, a con artist who is hired by the Panchayat leader of a small village to pose as a veterinary doctor.
The Tiger is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language political action thriller film directed by Shaji Kailas and written by B. Unnikrishnan. It stars Suresh Gopi and Siddique in the lead roles, while, Sai Kumar, Anand and Rajan P. Dev appear in supporting roles.