| Devaasuram | |
|---|---|
DVD cover |
|
| Directed by | I. V. Sasi |
| Produced by | V. B. K. Menon |
| Written by | Ranjith |
| Starring | Mohanlal Revathi Nedumudi Venu Innocent Napoleon Sreeraman Manian Pillai Raju |
| Music by | Songs: M. G. Radhakrishnan Background Score: S. P. Venkatesh |
| Cinematography | V. Jayaram |
| Editing by | K. Narayanan |
| Studio | Anugraha Cine Arts |
| Distributed by | Anugraha Release |
| Release date(s) | August 29, 1993 |
| Running time | 159 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Devaasuram (ദേവാസുരം English: The God-Demon) is a 1993 Malayalam film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith. The rivalry between Mangalassery Neelakantan (Mohanlal) and Mundakkal Shekaran (Napoleon) is the main theme of the film.
The film was one of the most successful Malayalam films of all time and the story, dialogues, and characters have achieved cult status. The film was a blockbuster hit and ran for more than 250 days. Mohanlal won the Filmfare Award and Kerala Film Journalists Award for Best Actor for his performance as Neelakantan. It was followed by a sequel Ravanaprabhu (2001).
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Neelakantan (Mohanlal) is the heir to the well-known Mangalassery family. He squanders away his father's largess and good name, but is loved by the people who know him well. Neelakantan has been the arch-rival of Shekaran of the Mundakkal family since childhood. During a minor ruckus, one of Neelakantan's aides accidentally kills Shekaran's uncle (Janardanan). This incites Shekaran to plan to avenge the death of his uncle. Meanwhile, Neelakantan offends Bhanumathi (Revathi), a talented Carnatic dance graduate, by forcing her to dance in front of him in his house. In retaliation, Bhanumathi quits dancing and curses Neelakantan for desecrating the art so dear to her. Later he feels regretful and helps her family in many ways and tries to persuade Bhanumathi to take up dancing again, but she doesn't budge. Meantime, Neelakantan visits his widowed mother intending to bring her back home, but she passes away after revealing a terrible secret; that he was born of another man, out of wedlock. This fact crushes him, and only Bhanumathi finds out this secret when he curses drunkenly (at the car of his deceased "father") that the ancestral heritage which he is proud of, is actually not his. She is surprised by the vulnerable side of Neelakantan.
He visits Banumathi at her home to persuade her to take up dancing again, only to be refused like before, telling him that she will resume dancing only after his death. That night while returning home from the visit, Shekaran and his aides ambush (by hitting him with a car from behind) and injure him seriously after also inflicting several wounds with swords and wooden sticks.
Neelakantan survives the attack, but his left hand and right leg are badly injured and as a cure he undergoes Ayurvedic treatment to rejuvenate his legs. It is during this time that Bhanumathi falls in love with him (she is also regretful for having cursed him, feeling a bit guilty that the attack was somehow related to her curse). Neelakantan convinces Bhanumathi to dance and he arranges for a dance event for her at Delhi. He refuses to marry Bhanumathi considering her future, but in the end she and Warrier (his elderly right hand man) persuade him to do so. Neelakantan tries to forget all the past events and his rivalry with Shekaran, but Shekaran is not satisfied and wants to defeat Neelakantan in front of the whole village. For this he kidnaps Bhanumathi and forces Neelakantan to take blows in front of the public during a village festival organized by the Mundakkal family. Meanwhile Neelakantan's friends rescue Bhanumathi and after this Neelakantan mauls Shekaran badly and cuts off Shekaran's right hand, claiming "Shekeran, I want to live peacefully..." so that he will not again come up with revenge later.This film remade in telugu as kunti putrudu with mohan babu.
The film includes songs written by the late lyricist Gireesh Puthenchery and composed by late M. G. Radhakrishnan.[1] Background music was composed by S. P. Venkatesh. The songs became chartbusters. Mohanlal has rendered his voice for some songs as its intro.
| Song Title | Singer(s) | Other notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angopangan | K. S. Chithra | Raga: Lalitha |
| Ganga Tharanga (Bit) | M. G. Sreekumar | |
| Kizhakkannam | M. G. Radhakrishnan | |
| Maappu Nalku"" | M. G. Sreekumar | Raga: Mukhari |
| Maarimazhakal | M. G. Sreekumar, Jaya | |
| Medaponnaniyum | M. G. Sreekumar, B. Arundhathi | Raga: Kadanakuthuhala |
| Namasthesthu (Bit) | B. Arundhathi | Traditional Slokam by Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam |
| Sarasijanaabha | K. Omanakutty | Traditional Keerthanam by Muthuswami Dikshitar Raga: Nagagandhari |
| Sooryakireedam | M. G. Sreekumar | Raga: Chenchurutti |
| Sree Paadam | M. G. Sreekumar | Raga: Aarabhi, Anandabhairavi |
| Sree Paadam | K. S. Chithra]] | Raga: Aarabhi, Anandabhairavi |
| Vande Mukundahare | M. G. Radhakrishnan | Raga: Anandabhairavi |
| Yamuna Kinaare (Bit) | M. G. Sreekumar |
The song "Vande Mukunda Hare" is picturised on Oduvil Unnikrishnan, and is considered the most dramatic scene in the film. Though Oduvil Unnikrishnan plays only a small role, it was his performance that got the most applause. He plays the role of a wandering Edakka musician who frequently visits Neelakandan. The Edakka featured in the background of the song is played by Tripunithura Krishnadas.[2]
Devasuram followed up with a sequel, Ravanaprabhu, in 2001.[3] Because of the success of this film, a number of movies of the same genre (called Thampuran movies) were made, but only two of them, both starring Mohanlal — Aaraam Thampuran (1997) and Ravanaprabhu (2001) — were blockbusters.[4]
The protagonist "Mangalaserry Neelakandan" is a real-life character sketch of Mullasserry Rajagopal, who passed away in 2002. Supposedly, some notable scenes in the movie are real-life incidents. He was an ardent music lover and the "Mullasserry Raju Music Award" was instituted in his memory. Music directors Ouseppachan, Sharreth and Bijibal have been recipients of the award. Director Jayaraj once said in an interview that "Raju (Mullasserry Rajagopal) used to joke that Ranjith had not managed to show even half of what he did in his life.".[5]