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Tale of two fighting families Film Review

Madambi

The redeeming feature of this film is an emotionally charged mother-son confrontation towards the end. Superb acting by KPAC Lalitha and Mohanlal heightens the effect. But for this, the story is all too familiar, dwelling on the bitter rivalry between two rich power-wielding ‘madambi’ families. Actor Suresh Gopi’s voice-over at the outset sets the tone of the film, which is written and directed by B. Unnikrishnan.

Gopalakrishna Pillai (Mohanlal) is a private moneylender with a difference — he lends money at bank interest rates. When he was a teenager, his debt-ridden father had left home. With what was left of the family property, young Gopalakrishnan starts this business. Now, he is one of the richest men in the village. His mother (KPAC Lalitha) and brother Ramakrishnan (Ajmal Ameer) complain that Gopalakrishnan loves money more than anything else. The other rich family of the village is that of Parameswaran (C V Sriraman), who made his money by tricking Gopalakrishnan’s father. So, there is bitter enmity between Gopalakrishnan and Parameswaran’s family which includes his son Sreedharan (Siddique). But then Ramakrishnan falls in love with Parameswaran’s daughter. Gopalakrishnan proposes marriage between them and Parameswaran agrees.

But, soon after the wedding, some of Gopalakrishnan’s actions turn Ramakrishnan against his brother. A highpoint of the film is the rendering of Amma mazhakarinum kanneeru by K.J. Yesudas. The songs penned by Girish Puthenchery and Anil Panachooran are set to music by M. Jayachandran. Vijay Ulakanathan wields the camera.

The cast includes Madhu, Jagathi Sreekumar, Innocent, Kollam Thulasi, Venjaramood Suraj, M.R. Gopakumar, Kavya Madhavan and Mallika Kapur. ‘Madambi’ has been produced by B.C.Joshi.

G. Jayakumar

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