Praja

Praja
Directed by	Joshiy
Written by	Renji Panicker
Starring	Mohanlal Anupam Kher Aishwarya Cochin Haneefa
Music by	M. G. Radhakrishnan Gireesh Puthenchery, M D Rajendran (lyrics)
Release dates	2001
Running time	179 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Budget	8 crore

Praja is a 2001 Malayalam film by Joshiy starring Mohanlal, N. F. Varghese, Cochin Haneefa and Aishwarya. The film was produced by Joshiy and Renji Panicker under the banner of Mukhyadhara Films. It's huge star cast,and even though receiving heavy initial pull, the movie ultimately turned out to be a disaster at the box office.

Plot

Ex-underworld don Zakkir Ali Hussein (Mohanlal), after giving up violence, is settled peacefully in the suburbs of Kochi. It was under the strong influence of his foster father, Bappu Haji Mustafa (Anupam Kher), that he left Mumbai. An unsuccessful assassination attempt on Haji Mustafa in Mumbai by Raman Naik, an underworld don ignites old wounds in Zakir. He, despite repeated pleas from Haji Mustafa and Ilanthaloor Rama Varma (Babu Namboothiri), a fatherlike figure, sets out to Mumbai along with his trusted lieutenant Hamid Pilavilakandi Mather, alias Malayalees (Cochin Haneefa). With the help of his friend Arjun (Biju Menon), Zakeer kills down Raman Naik and reaches back in Kochi. On his way back, at Kochi, he meets up with Maya Mary Kurien (Aishwarya), Asst. Commissioner of Police, who slowly starts developing a crush on him. Zakir Hussein is visited by Balaraman (Shammi Thilakan), a liquor baron and ex-MP, who warns Zakkir of dire consequences if he continues to interfere in the Mumbai crime world. He also attempts to woo Zakir, but the latter refuses to bow down, sending strong warning to Balaraman and his group. Balaraman, along with Devadevan Nambiar, alias DD (Vijayaraghavan), and Arun Naik, the brother of Raman Naik in Mumbai, is planning to finish off Zakir Hussein and Haji Mustafa to regain the lost turf in Mumbai. They are supported by Lahayil Vakkachan (N. F. Varghese), the tainted state home minister. Joseph Madachery, the IG of police conducts a raid at Haji Mustafa's poor home on behalf of Vakachan, and beats up Rama Varma Thirumulpad brutally, but the sudden arrival of Zakir saves him. Joseph is severely beaten by Zakir in full public presence, which infuriates Balaraman and DD, who try to demoralize Zakir by publishing fabricated stories about his relationship with ACP Maya Kurein and inmates of Haji Mustafa's poor home. Lahayil Vakachan tries to create a truce between Zakir and Balaraman, but fails miserably. This leads to a series of problems, including the arrest of Jaganathan, a close buddy of Zakir, on false narcotic drug charges. Jaganathan is killed in police custody. Balaraman and DD kill Rama Varma Thirumulpad, which prompts Zakir to take the law in his own hands. At a public gathering while addressing thousands of party workers, Zakir Hussein enters by duping police and kills Balaraman, DD and Lahayil Vakkachan.

Cast

• Mohanlal as Zakkir Ali Hussein
• Aishwarya as Maya Mary Kurien
• Cochin Haneefa as Hamid Methar/Malayalees
• Manoj K. Jayan as David Abraham
• Babu Namboothiri as Raman Thilumulppadu
• N. F. Varghese as Lahayil Vakkachan (Home Minister)
• Vijayaraghavan as Devadevan Nambiar(DD)
• Shammi Thilakan as Balaraman
• Baburaj as Joseph Madacherry(D.I.G. of Police)
• Biju Menon as Arjun
• Jagannadha Varma as Mannel Mammachan
• Anupam Kher as Haji Mustafa
• Joju George
• Vijayakumar as Jagannadhan Alias Appu
• Suresh Krishna as a Journalist

Soundtrack

This film includes 4 songs written by late Gireesh Puthenchery, M. D. Rajendran and M. P. Muralidharan. The songs were composed by composer M. G. Radhakrishnan. There is also the song Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai from the 1953 movie Anarkali.

External links

• Praja at the Internet Movie Database
• http://popcorn.oneindia.in/title/3036/praja.html