| Thaniyavarthanam | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Sibi Malayil |
| Produced by | Nandakumar |
| Written by | A. K. Lohithadas |
| Starring | Mammootty Thilakan Mukesh |
| Music by | M G Radhakrishnan |
| Studio | Nandana Films |
| Release date(s) | 1987 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Thaniyavarthanam (Malayalam: തനിയാവര്ത്തനം) is a 1987 Malayalam film written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mammootty, Thilakan, Mukesh, Saritha, Philomina and Kaviyoor Ponnamma in the main roles. The story revolves around a family whose male members have a history of lunacy.
Balan Mash (Mammootty) is a art teacher who lives in a tiny hamlet in Kerala. He has a serene life, with two children, a wife, a mother and a revolutionary brother - Gopi(Mukesh) , a typical kootu kudumbam, or joint family, of Kerala. Balan Mash has a uncle who is mentally challenged. His uncle became a mental patient after a separation with his lover; this underlines the deep-rooted belief among their family that one male from each generation will go mad as a person from their past generation had sinned by throwing the idol of 'Devi' in a well.He was cursed by the goddess and became a lunatic.This curse would pass down through generations.Balan Mash's uncle finally died and the talk of the town became - "Who would be next - Balan or Gopi ?"
One night changes it all, when Balan has a nightmare. People start suspecting Balan of following the footsteps of his uncle into madness because Balan's uncle (Babu Namboodiri) fell mentally ill with a nightmare.
Now Balan's community evaluates each and every move he makes; he is deemed a lunatic and his actions are misinterpreted. Eventually his family joins the gang and he is sent to the asylum. The doctor declares him sane. But society doesn't agree. Helpless, Balan plays mad. Ultimately, Balan's mother (Kaviyoor Ponnamma) poisons him to free him from the world.