Rajamanickam

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Rajamanickam is one of the biggest hits of 2005 in the Malayalam film industry in India.^[1] The producer-distributor, Siraj Valiyaveettil, is reported to be convinced to ask a high price for the film before the release,^[2] and made the release in Kerala while the Football World Cup was running.^[3] The film, released elsewhere on November 3, the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, collected Rs. 20 million in theater advances from 52 prints, making it a superhit by Indian standards.^[4] In the first four weeks of running the film grossed Rs. 48.7 millions from 41 screens, which was a record in the local market.^[5]

The film established Mammooty as the biggest star in that industry,^[6] who plays a comic hero in the film^[7] supported by actors like Padmapriya, Rahman and Manoj K. Jayan. Anwar Rasheed, who made his directorial debut through the 2 hours and 10 minutes long Rajamanickam, remade the film in Tamil with Sarath Kumar in the lead.^[8] His second film Chotta Mumbai, featuring Mohanlal and Bhavana in the lead in the lead, followed the success of first one in 2007.^[9] Valiyaveettil, Rasheed and T.A. Shaeed, the writer of Rajamanickam, are reported to be working on a sequel.^[10]

[edit] Plot

Rajaratnam Pillai, a feudal lord with a large business empire in a small town Udayankoil on the Kerala-Tamilnadu border, marries for second time after his wife dies leaving a son, Raja Selvam, behind. But, he refuses to acknowledge his second wife's son, Rajamanickam, who was born before the marriage. Rajamanickam grows up as an orphan in Bellary to become "Bellary Raja", a local thug and rich buffalo dealer. Then Pillai is framed in a murder case by Selva, and when he he leaves his wealth to "Bellary Raja" for the next 25 years by his last will. Rajamanickam comes to Udayankoil with his friends, and comedy follows from there.