Mohanlal Viswanathan, known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada-language films. Mohanlal has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 400 films. Mohanlal's contributions to the Malayalam cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri in 2001, and Padma Bhushan in 2019, India's fourth and third highest civilian honours, for his contributions to Indian cinema. In 2009, he became the first actor in India to be awarded the honorary rank of Lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army.
Sathyan Anthikad is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and lyricist who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. In a career spanning five decades he has directed more than 50 films, been the lyricist for 12 films and been the scriptwriter for 6 films. He is the recipient of several accolades including a National Film Award, five Kerala State Film Awards and three Filmfare Awards. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour in 2019 for his book, Eeswaran Mathram Sakshi.
Sreenivasan is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, dubbing artist and producer who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema. Sreenivasan has starred in over 225 films. Sreenivasan wrote the screenplays of films such as Odaruthammava Aalariyam (1984), Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam (1986), Gandhinagar 2nd Street (1986), Nadodikkattu (1987), Pattanapravesham (1988), Varavelpu (1989), Thalayanamanthram (1990), Sandesam (1991), Midhunam (1993), Mazhayethum Munpe (1995), Azhakiya Ravanan (1996), Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998), Udayananu Tharam (2005), Katha Parayumpol (2007), and Njan Prakashan (2018) among which the latter is one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time. He has won two Kerala State Film Awards for Best Screenplay, for Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe.
Kilukkam (transl. Jingle) is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language musical romantic comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Venu Nagavalli. The story set in Ooty revolves around tourist guide Joji (Mohanlal) and photographer Nishchal. They happen to meet a lavish tourist Nandini (Revathi), whom they bet their fortunes on. It also stars Thilakan, Innocent, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Sukumari, and Sharat Saxena, with Murali and Jagadish making cameo appearances. The music was composed by S. P. Venkatesh. Kilukkam was released on 15 August 1991. The film was the highest-grossing Malayalam film at that time and ran for more than 365-days at the theaters. Kilukkam won five Kerala State Film Awards, including Best Actor for Mohanlal, Second Best Actor for Jagathy Sreekumar, Best Editor for N. Gopalakrishnan, and Best Cinematographer for S. Kumar. The film is regarded as one of the best comedy films of Malayalam cinema. It was remade in Telugu as Allari Pilla and in Hindi as Muskurahat by Priyadarshan himself. Later, the film had a sequel Kilukkam Kilukilukkam (2006). The movie was reported to be inspired by the 1953 movie Roman Holiday.
Nadodikkattu is a 1987 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan based on a story by the Siddique–Lal duo. It stars Mohanlal and Sreenivasan in the lead roles, along with an ensemble supporting cast featuring Shobhana, Thilakan, Innocent, Mamukkoya and Captain Raju. The story revolves around two impecunious young men, Ramdas and Vijayan who not being able to find any job in Kerala, plan to immigrate to Dubai to make their fortunes but get deceived and end up in Chennai. The film drew upon relevant social factors affecting Kerala of the 1980s such as widespread unemployment and poverty.
Akkareyakkareyakkare, also known Akkare Akkare Akkare is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language buddy cop comedy film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Sreenivasan. It stars Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, M. G. Soman, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Parvathy and Nedumudi Venu in major roles. It is a sequel to 1987's Nadodikkattu and 1988s Pattanapravesham; Mohanlal and Sreenivasan reprises their roles. However, Thilakan and Innocent, who have appeared in the previous films, do not appear in this film. Also, a new cast of Nedumudi Venu, Mukesh and Maniyanpilla Raju appears. M. G. Soman plays a character role, having appeared as himself in Nadodikkattu. The story follows C.I.Ds Dasan and Vijayan on an investigation for a gold crown stolen to the United States.
Sadayam (transl. 'Mercifully') is a 1992 Indian Malayalam-language psychological drama written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mohanlal, Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Murali, Sreenivasan, Maathu, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, and T. G. Ravi. The film was produced and distributed by G. P. Vijayakumar of Seven Arts Films. The film score was composed by Johnson.
Kadathanadan Ambadi is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language sword and sorcery film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Cochin Haneefa. It is a sequel to the 1964 film Thacholi Othenan and the 1970 film Othenente Makan. The film star Mohanlal in the title role, along with Prem Nazir, Swapna, and Raadhu. A few shots from Thacholi Othenan was shown in this film. Kadathanadan Ambadi was released after the death of Prem Nazir.
Pappan Priyappetta Pappan is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-Fantasy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Siddique–Lal. It stars Mohanlal, Rahman, Thilakan, Lissy, Bahadoor, Unni Mary, Rajan P. Dev and Sankaradi. This is the debut film of Siddique-Lal duo and Harisree Ashokan. The storyline is similar to Heaven Can Wait.
Pingami is a 1994 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Reghunath Paleri based on his own short story Kumarettan Parayaatha Kadha. It was produced by Mohanlal through the company Pranavam Arts, and stars himself along with Puneet Issar, Jagathy Sreekumar, Thilakan, Innocent, Kanaka, Sukumaran, Janardhanan and Oduvil Unnikrishnan in supporting roles. The film follows Captain Vijay, who forms a close bond with Kumaran, a severely injured man. However, when he dies, Vijay decides to investigate the cause of his death.
Aye Auto is a 1990 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Venu Nagavalli and produced by Maniyanpilla Raju. The film stars Mohanlal and Rekha in the lead roles. The songs were composed by Raveendran, while Johnson provided the background score. The plot follows the life of auto drivers in the city of Kozhikode in Kerala. Aye Auto was the second highest-grossing Malayalam film of 1990 at the box office, behind His Highness Abdullah.
Kuttettan is a 1990 Malayalam romantic comedy movie, directed by Joshiy and written by A. K. Lohithadas. The film stars Mammootty, Saritha, Urvashi, Lizy, Maathu, Sukumari, Jagadish, Murali and Jagannatha Varma. The film was a critical success but was an average grosser at the box office.
Thooval Kottaram is a 1996 Indian Malayalam drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by A. K. Lohithadas. It stars Jayaram, Sukanya, Dileep, Manju Warrier, Oduvil Unnikrishnan and Murali in the main roles. The music was composed by Johnson. The film won three Filmfare Awards South.
My Dear Muthachan is a 1992 Malayalam film written by Sreenivasan and directed by Sathyan Anthikad and produced by Joy Thomas. It stars Thilakan, Madhurima Narla, Baby Jomol, Baby Renju and Master Tarun in lead roles, and Murali, Sreenivasan, Innocent, Urvashi, K.P.A.C. Lalitha, Jayaram and Philomina in major supporting roles.
Kudumbapuranam is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language drama film, written by Lohithadas and directed by Sathyan Anthikad, with Thilakan, Balachandra Menon, Ambika, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Parvathy and Sreenivasan in major roles. The film was a remake of the 1986 Tamil film Samsaram Adhu Minsaram, directed by Visu. The film revolves around a middle-class Malayalee family and the strained relationship between father and son. The film clearly highlights the circumstances that the family goes through after their son raises questions about the division of family expenditure after he becomes an earning member of the family, disregarding the hardships his parents went through to raise him and other members of the family.
Aduthaduthu is a 1984 Indian Malayalam film, directed by Sathyan Anthikkad. The film stars Rahman, Sukumari, Thilakan, KPAC Lalitha and Ahalya in the lead roles. The film has musical score by Raveendran.
Ennum Eppozhum is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Ranjan Pramod based on a story by Raveendran. It was produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the production company Aashirvad Cinemas. It stars Mohanlal and Manju Warrier, alongside a supporting cast including Innocent, Reenu Mathews, Jacob Gregory, Lena and Renji Panicker. It also marked the reunion of Mohanlal and Manju Warrier after 17 years. Ennum Eppozhum was released across India on 27 March 2015 and met with mixed reviews from critics. The film was a commercial success though at the box office. The song "Malarvaka Kombathu" won Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer for P. Jayachandran.
Dasan and Vijayan are the protagonists of the Nadodikkattu trilogy. The comical characters were created by directors Sathyan Anthikkad and are portrayed by Mohanlal (Dasan) and Sreenivasan (Vijayan). They first appeared as unemployed workers, later becoming detectives by profession working in the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Tamil Nadu Police, India. The characters first appeared in the 1987 black comedy film Nadodikkattu and later in its sequels Pattanapravesham (1988), and Akkare Akkare Akkare (1990).
Njan Prakashan is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language satirical comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan and starring Fahadh Faasil in the titular role. Sethu Mannarkkad produced the film under the banner of Full Moon Cinema. The film was released on 21 December 2018 to highly positive reviews. At the box office, it grossed ₹52 crore worldwide in 40 days into release, becoming one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
Makal is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film directed by Sathyan Anthikkad and written by Iqbal Kuttippuram. The film stars Jayaram, Meera Jasmine, Devika Sanjay, Sreenivasan, Innocent, and Naslen K. Gafoor. The film is produced by Central Pictures, the company that previously produced Anthikad's Kudumbapuranam, Kalikkalam and Oru Indian Pranayakatha. This marks Meera Jasmine's comeback film after a six-year hiatus and also her 25th Malayalam film. The film also marks Jayaram's return to mollywood after a 3 year gap
