Christian Brothers (film)

Christian Brothers
Directed by	Joshiy
Produced by	A. V. Anoop Maha Subair
Written by	Udayakrishna Siby K. Thomas
Starring	Mohanlal Suresh Gopi Dileep Sarath Kumar Lakshmi Rai Kanika Kavya Madhavan Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
Music by	Deepak Dev Rajamani(Background Score)
Cinematography	Anil Nair
Edited by	Ranjan Abraham
Production company	AVA Productions Varnachithra Big Screen
Distributed by	Varnachithra Big Screen & Ayngaran UK Through PJ Entertainments
Release dates	March 18, 2011 (2011-03-18) (India) March 25, 2011 (2011-03-25) (UK, USA, Australia) March 31, 2011 (2011-03-31) (Gulf)
Running time	180 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam
Budget	8 crores
Box office	18.7crores

Christian Brothers is a 2011 Malayalam action-thriller film directed by Joshiy. The ensemble cast include Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Dileep, Sarath Kumar, Lakshmi Rai, Kanika, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy and Kavya Madhavan. The film is scripted by Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas duo while musical score was composed by Rajamani and songs are composed by Deepak Dev.

Plot

The film is about Palamattathu Varghese Mappila (Saikumar), a wealthy Nasrani, retired captain of the Indian Army. He has four children, Christy (Mohanlal), Joji (Dileep), Jessy (Lakshmi Gopalaswamy) and Stella (Kanika). Christy is a high profile police informer who is working in Mumbai and getting high amounts as remuneration. His brother Joji goes to Italy to study theology, but later opts out of it after he falls in love with Meenakshi (Kavya Madhavan), daughter of the state home minister (Devan). His family has no clear idea about the nature of Christy's activities before Christy's brother-in-law tells a lie about him as Christy finds about brother-in-law's relationship between rowdies and cases which he was arrested for sex-racketing . All these come as a shock to Varghese Mappila. Varghese Mappila kicks Christy out of their house believing the brother-in-law. Joji is having a relationship with Meenakshi. Her parents come to know about that. And while returning home she is being kidnapped. For regaining the daughter her father calls Christy. Christy finds that his brother-in-law was the person who kidnapped Meenakshi. He fights with his brother-in-law and safely brings Meenakshi back to her home. The next day, police finds that Christy's brother-in-law was killed. Police arrests Christy for the crime. Christy's friend (Sarath Kumar) brings him out of the jail. Meanwhile, a police officer (Suresh Gopi) marries Stella. Christy helps Joji to marry Meenakshi by bringing her out of her house. Both Christy and the police officer finds out the killer of their brother-in-law was Joji. Knowing that the killer was Joji, Christy tells the police officer to arrest him instead of his beloved brother Joji.Meawhile, the villains attack mappila.To take revenge of his fathers death, christy along with gopi and sarath kumar kill the villains.

Cast

• Mohanlal as Christi Varghese Mappila alias Sherson
• Suresh Gopi as Joseph Vadakkan IPS
• Dileep as Joji Varghese Mappilla (Younger brother of Christi)
• Sarath Kumar as Andrews Bandra aka Kareem Lala (Friend of Christi)
• Kaniha as Stella (Younger sister of Christi)
• Lakshmi Rai as Sofie (Love interest of Christi)
• Lakshmi Gopalaswamy as Jessy (Younger sister of Christi)
• Kavya Madhavan as Meenakshi (Daughter of the Home Minister)
• Saikumar as Captain Varghese Mappila (father of Christi)
• Jagathy Sreekumar as Kochuthomma (Younger brother of Varghese Mappila)
• Biju Menon as Hariharan Thampy IPS (Son of Kunnel Kumaran Thampy)
• Vijayaraghavan as Kunnel Kumaran Thampy
• Suresh Krishna as George Kutti (Bother in-law of Christi/ Husband of Jessy)
• Devan as Sudhakaran (Home Minister)
• Salim Kumar as Purushothaman (Minister's PA)
• Babu Antony as Rashed Rahman
• Harisree Ashokan (Marriage Broker)
• Suraj Venjaramood(master chef in minister's house)
• Kunchan(Minister's Driver)
• Subair as Manoj Varma
• Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Joseph Vadakkan's mother
• Anand as assistant of Christi
• Niyas as assistant of Christi
• Shobha Mohan (Home Minister's wife)
• Anoop chandran as Kunjachan
• Kalabhavan shajon as Dhamodharan (Police Man)
• Kiran Raj as assistant of Andrews
• Santhosh Jogi as Jhonson (Police Man)
• Jayan as Brother of Hariharan Thambi IPS
• Guruvayoor Sivaji
• P. Sreekumar
• Jagannatha varma as priest in church

Production

The film was announced as a big budget film but the Association had set a norm that no Malayalam film should have a budget of more than 3.5 crore. The Association refused to give a clearance for the film’s shoot. The producers stated that given the star-cast and the subject of the film, it is not possible to make it at a lesser budget. Following the interests from stars, exhibitors and theatre-owners, the film was given a clearance despite its budget, which was many times the restriction set by the Association.^[1]

The film started its production on 11 January 2010. First schedule of the film occurred at various locales in Kerala from January through September 2010. Palamattam tharavadu, where the major parts of the film are set was shot from Netto's bungalow near Edakochi.^[2] The second schedule, which mainly included picturisation of a song, commenced in London the same month.^[3] The principal photography completed by the end of 2010.

Tamil actor Arjun registered a complaint with Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) about using his name and photographs in connection with Christian Brothers without his consent or knowledge.^[4]Template:Verify credibiity Arjun commented that no one has approached him to act in Christian Brothers and all this has happened without his consent or knowledge.^[1] However, the issue was resolved when there came an official clarification that Arjun will not be a part of the film,.^[5]Template:Verify credibiity In February 2010, it was reported that the producer of Christian Brothers excluded actorThilakan from the film at the request of the FEFKA, the predominant film technicians association. Thilakan had been earlier signed for the role played by Saikumar in the film.^[6] On February 3, 2010, Thilakan publicly protested against the unofficial ban enforced on him by FEFKA. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) issued a show cause notice to Thilakan for bringing the issue into the public domain. Thilakan accused AMMA, of which he too is a member.^[7] Several political parties came out openly in support of Thilakan.^[8]

Reception

Critical response

The film received positive reviews upon release.^[9] Neethu Reghukumar of Bangalore Mirror gave a positive review and said, "The much-anticipated Christian Brothers proved to be worth the wait. Finally, Mohanlal fans have something to rejoice as he has made a rollicking start this year. Back in his elements, Lal steals the show, firing on all cylinders. However, at no stage the multi-starrer film does appear as a one-man show.^[10]

M. Ashitha of Deccan Herald commented, "True, too many cooks spoil the broth. Despite having the luxury of actors like Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Dileep and Sarath Kumar together in the movie, Christian Brothers turns out not to be a disappointment. The film, heavily depending on the star power, is a good entertainment."^[11]

Paresh C. Palicha of Rediff.com stated, "Christian Brothers is a typical multi-starrer that is made with an eye at the box office with not much depth in the subject. But you still get entertained."^[12]

Sify.com's reviewer rated the film as a "Racy Entertainer" and stated, "Christian Brothers is a loud and high voltage thriller, for which you don't have to use your brains much. It could have definitely been more enjoyable if it was shorter by some twenty minutes or so, but even in the current form it could make you smile as the end credits start rolling. It's absolutely a no logic-popcorn fun and perhaps not meant to be taken too seriously."^[13]

Release and rights

The film released worldwide with a total of 327 prints on 18 March; 157 centres in Kerala and 90 centres outside Kerala and 80 centres overseas making it the widest release for a Malayalam Movie at that time.^[14]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack features four songs composed by Deepak Dev with lyrics by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. The songs managed to top the music charts in the initial weeks.^[15]

Home video

AP International released the movie on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in India in 2011.

References

External links

• Official website
• Christian Brothers at the Internet Movie Database
• Christian Brothers at AllMovie
• Christian Brothers at Box Office Mojo