Mahathma

'Mahathma' is a 1996 Malayalam crime-drama Directed by Shaji Kailas, with Suresh Gopi, Ganesh Kumar, Devan, Rajan P. Dev, Biju Menon and Ramya Krishnan appearing in lead roles, this film revolved the growth of an underworld don. The story is unfolded in flashback, travelling through the memories of Devadevan, the protagonist. Produced at a huge budget however the film was bombed at the box office but this has been considered the most stylish role of Suresh Gopi yet.It is an adaptation of the 1983 Al Pacino film Scarface.^[1]

Plot

Devadevan (Suresh Gopi), an underworld don decides to appear in front of Justice Varma Commission, which is holding up a probe into the serial blasts that claimed hundreds of innocent lives. Devadevan's claim of divulging solid evidence of the hands of several top politicians and underworld in the blasts and communal riots that followed made many of his rivals sleepless. Just on reaching the court premise, he is shot on point blank. Severely wounded Devan is admitted in ICU, from where, his memories travels down to his early days in crime. Devadevan, a suspect under trail along with Mustafa (Biju Menon), his trusted right arm is bailed out by Khan Sahib (Rajan P. Dev), a smuggler on behalf of David Abraham (Kitty), a Dubai based underworld don. Up on release both Devan and Mustafa are provided safe accommodation at Khan's house, where he meets up Nancy (Ramya Krishnan), the daughter of Khan's second wife in her first marriage. An upcoming movie star, Nancy fells in love with Devan within short time. Devan and Mustafa commits several smuggling operations for Khan and slowly rises up in career. Up on realizing that Khan is double crossing him, David Abraham kills him and appoints Devadevan as his representative in India. Devan and Mustafa emerge as undisputed dons in the country. During that time, on a visit to Kerala, Devan meets up Harikrishnan (Ganesh Kumar), his childhood buddy undergoing a fast to protest against the new reservation policy of the government. Devan pledges to support Harikrishnan, a Namboothiri youth, who is in deep financial crisis. Hari is appointed as the second in command of Devan, who upon Devan's advice gives up his yajnopaveetham. James Kutty (Devan), a narcotic drug smuggler along with Reddiar (Sahadevan) tries all ways to finish up the empire of Devan, but all in vain. In retaliation Hari kills the son of Reddiar. Baba Rahim (N. F. Varghese), central home minister, Reddiar and James forms a league to finish off Devan. David Abraham, who was now losing turf to Devan too joins them and provides explosives and ammunition required to create a severe blast along with a communal riot that could deviate public attention from the series of corruption allegations against his men in power, including Baba Rahim. Mustafa in meantime fells in love with Saraswati (Devayani), the younger sister of Hari, who objects her sister's love towards a Muslim. Hari is shocked to find that Mustafa is supported by Devan and splits ways with him. Hari is allured by James and is used effectively to transport explosives into the city. The serial blasts breaks down Devan, who is shocked to find that his name is dragged into it effectively by David Abraham and gang. Mustafa is killed by James. Devan finishes off David Abraham and James. He was then to appear in front of Justice Varma Commission, when was shot point blank by Harikrishnan. At hospital, upon discharging from ICU, Devan is transferred to ward, where Justice Varma meets him up. But Varma plays double game, whereby removing the bullets from Devan's pistol successfully. Just minutes after the exit of Varma, Hari enters his ward and tries to shoot him up. But Devan successfully escapes. While following Devan, Hari gets into a car, but the cabbie was Koshy (Maniyan Pillai Raju), the attorney of Devan (Maniyan Pillai Raju), who locks the car from outside, in which a bomb was planted. Devan, using his remote control blows up the car killing Hari.

Trivia

• This is the only script that T.Damodaran wrote for Shaji Kailas.
• This was made at a huge budget & with a strong casting, the film received mixed reviews and was a box office bomb.
• Though was heroine, Ramya Krishnan appeared in just one song and three scenes, hardly having any dialogues.
• Devayani appeared in just three scenes in the entire movie.
• For the first time Biju Menon appeared in a Shaji Kailas film.
• The film uses ABBA's "Money, Money, Money" as the background song to mark Devadevan's transition as the Mafia kin

Cast

• Suresh Gopi - Devadevan
• Biju Menon - Mustafa
• Ramya Krishnan - Nancy
• Kitty - David Abraham
• Rajan P. Dev - Khan Sahib
• Maniyan Pillai Raju- Attorney
• N. F. Varghese - Baba Rahim
• Ganesh Kumar- Harikrishnan
• Devan- James Kutty
• Sadiq - Sukumaran
• Karamana Janardanan Nair-Ramakrishna Kurup
• Sahadevan - Reddiar
• Appahaja - Reporter
• C. I. Paul - Madhavan Nair
• Kollam Thulasi -Minister
• Kozhikode Narayanan Nair
• Jose Pellissery - Chief Minister
• Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair- Valiya Thirumeni
• Vimal Raj - Satish Shetty
• Devayani-Saraswathi
• Azeez -Jailor
• Usharani -Nancy's Mother
• Renuka -Ramakrishna Kurup's Daughter

Songs^[2]

• Brahma - Swarnalatha
• Dhyaaye Nithyam - Satheesh Babu
• Pullorkudavum - M G Sreekumar
• Raavirulum - K J Yesudas

References

External links

• Mahatma at the Internet Movie Database