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Devaasuram

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Devaasuram (transl. Of Gods and Demons) is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal, Revathi, and Napoleon, with Innocent, V. K. Sreeraman, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Augustine in supporting roles. The songs featured in the film were composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, while S. P. Venkatesh composed the background score. It was Mohanlal's 200th film.

Devasuram
Poster published on newspaper
Directed byI. V. Sasi
Written byRanjith
Produced byV. B. K. Menon
StarringMohanlal
Revathi
Napoleon
Innocent
CinematographyV. Jayaram
Edited byK. Narayanan
Music bySongs:
M. G. Radhakrishnan
Score:
S. P. Venkatesh
Production
company
Anugraha Cine Arts
Distributed byAnugraha Release
Release date
  • 14 April 1993 (1993-04-14)
Running time
160 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Budget₹ 95 lakh[1]

The film depicts the rivalry between two spoiled heirs of two feudal families—Mangalassery Neelakandan (Mohanlal) and Mundakkal Shekaran (Napoleon). The character Neelakandan was created by Ranjith based on a real-life person named Mullasserry Rajagopal (died 2002).[2] The film was shot at Varikkasseri Mana in Ottappalam.

Devaasuram was a critical and commercially successful movie. It is considered to be a classic and the character of Mangalassery Neelakandan is considered as one of the best roles of Mohanlal.[3] It was followed by a sequel, Ravanaprabhu (2001), which was writer Ranjith's directorial debut. The film was remade in Telugu the same year as Kunti Putrudu.[4]

Plot

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Neelakandan is the spoiled heir to the wealthy and well-known Mangalassery family. He squanders away his father's largess, wealth and good name who served as a judicial officer but is loved by the people who know him well, mainly Warrier, his elderly right-hand man. He has been the arch-rival of Shekaran Nambiar of the Mundakkal family since childhood. During a minor ruckus, one of Neelakandan's aides accidentally kills Shekaran's maternal uncle. This incites Shekaran to plan to avenge the death of his uncle. Having lost all the financial backups, Neelakandan agreed to sell his land for the construction of a Dance Centre near the village Temple. When a Gulf-returned son of an erstwhile landless Mappila farmer -who worked under the Mangalassery feudal family- approached him for buying land, Neelakandan ridiculed him. However, later on, Neelakandan had to sell the land to the farmer's son at a low price. Meanwhile, Neelakandan offends Bhanumathi, a talented and educated Bharata Natyam dance graduate, by forcing her to dance in front of him in his house. In retaliation, Bhanumathi quits dancing and curses Neelakandan for desecrating the art so dear to her.

Later, Neelakandan feels regretful and helps her family in many ways and tries to persuade Bhanumathi to take up dancing again, but she doesn't budge. Meanwhile, Neelakandan visits his widowed mother intending to bring her back home, but she passes away after revealing a terrible secret; that he was born of another man, out of wedlock, without revealing the name of his real father. This fact crushes him, and only Bhanumathi finds out this secret when he curses drunkenly (at the car of his deceased "father") that the ancestral heritage which he is proud of, is actually not his. She is surprised by the vulnerable side of Neelakandan. He visits Bhanumathi at her home to persuade her to take up dancing again, only to be refused like before, telling him that she will resume dancing only after his death. That night while returning home from the visit, Shekaran and his aide's ambush (by hitting him with a car from behind) and injure him seriously after inflicting several wounds with swords, knives, iron rods, and wooden sticks. Neelakandan survives the attack, but his left hand and right leg are badly injured and as a cure he undergoes Ayurvedic treatment to rejuvenate his legs.

It is during this time that Bhanumathi falls in love with him (she is also regretful for having cursed him, feeling a bit guilty that the attack was somehow related to her curse). Neelakandan convinces Bhanumathi to dance and he arranges for a classical dance event for her at Delhi. He too loves her ardently, but he refuses to marry Bhanumathi considering her future, but in the end, Warrier persuades him to do so. Neelakandan tries to forget all the past events and his rivalry with Shekaran, but the latter is not satisfied. He wants to defeat Neelakandan in front of the whole village. For this, he kidnaps Bhanumathi and forces Neelakandan to take blows in front of the public during the annual village temple festival organized by the Mundakkal family. Meanwhile, Neelakandan's friends rescue Bhanumathi and after this, he mauls Shekaran badly and cuts off Shekaran's right hand, claiming "Shekaran, I want to live peacefully..." so that he will not again come up with revenge later. However, while severing Shekharan's right hand, Neelakandan uses the backside of the sword, which shows the agony and power he had.

Cast

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Production

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The protagonist Mangalaserry Neelakandan (Mohanlal) is a real-life character sketch of Mullasserry Rajagopal (died 2002).[5] Supposedly, some notable scenes in Devaasuram are real-life incidents. Varikassery Mana near Ottappalam was selected to portray the ancient Mangalaserry house. "It was only after Devaasuram became a hit that producers and directors began to queue up for this location. Until then only one film was shot here," says Murali, one of the managers of the mana.[6] The climax scene of the movie was shot entirely in Pariyanampatta Bhagavathi Temple.

Mullasserry Rajagopal is known as an ardent music lover. "Music was the sole passion in his life. He was a good friend of mine, but we never discussed literature; we talked mainly about music and films," said renowned author M. T. Vasudevan Nair. M. T. was impressed by the way Rajagopal reacted to the setbacks in his life. "I was even more impressed by the way how his wife, Lakshmi, devoted her life to him; he would not have survived but for her."[5] "I met him for the first time at K. J. Yesudas' bungalow in Chennai, way back in 1985," recalls playback singer G. Venugopal. "He was sitting on a wheelchair. I was told that his name was Raju. K. J. Yesudas, his close friend had brought him to Chennai for brain surgery."[5] "I will never forget the evening director and script-writer Ranjith took me along to meet Raju," says director Jayaraj. "When I went there, a ghazal programme was going on; I could sense music everywhere in that house. I could also feel the extraordinary warmth of the man. I was surprised he could take life so lightly, despite being bed-ridden for about two decades. We became very good friends. Ranjith had told me that he was planning to make a film on Raju (Devaasuram). I believe that is the best work by Ranjith till date. Raju used to joke that Ranjith had not managed to show even half of what he did in his life."[5][7] Oduvil's character was based on a real life Sopanam artist from Malabar, Njeralath Rama Pothuval. He was a vagabond sort of and was instrumental in bringing the art outside temple courtyards.

"There were [also] powerful business interests at work when I wrote my hits such as Devaasuram, Narasimham, Ravanaprabhu and so on...", said writer Ranjith.[8][9]

Soundtrack

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Devaasuram
Soundtrack album by
M. G. Radhakrishnan
Released14 April 1993
Recorded1993
StudioPrasad Studios Recording Theatre
GenreFeature film soundtrack
LanguageMalayalam
LabelMagnasound
Sony Music India
ProducerM. G. Radhakrishnan
M. G. Radhakrishnan chronology
Adhwaytham
(1992) 		Devaasuram
(1993) 		Ammayane Sathyam
(1993)

The film includes songs composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, with lyrics by Gireesh Puthenchery.[10] The background score was composed by S. P. Venkatesh.

The song "Vande Mukundahare" is picturised on Oduvil Unnikrishnan, in one of the most dramatic scenes in the film. Unnikrishnan plays the role of a wandering Edakka musician who frequently visits Neelakandan. The Edakka featured in the background of the song is played by Tripunithura Krishnadas.[11]

Track Title Singer(s) Notes
1 "Sree Paadam" M. G. Sreekumar Raga: Aarabhi, Anandabhairavi
2 "Ganga Tharanga" (Bit) M. G. Sreekumar Raga:Bowli
3 "Angopangam" K. S. Chithra Raga: Lalitha
4 "Maappu Nalku" M. G. Sreekumar Raga: Mukhari, Nattakurinji
5 "Kizhakkannam" M. G. Radhakrishnan
6 "Sooryakireedam" M. G. Sreekumar Raga: Chenchurutti
7 "Vande Mukundahare" M. G. Radhakrishnan Raga: Anandabhairavi
8 "Sree Paadam" K. S. Chithra Raga: Aarabhi, Anandabhairavi
9 "Medaponnaniyum" M. G. Sreekumar, B. Arundhathi Raga: Kadanakuthuhalam
10 "Maarimazhakal" M. G. Sreekumar, Jaya
11 "Namasthesthu" (Bit) B. Arundhathi Raga: Anandabhairavi
Traditional slokam by Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
12 "Sarasijanaabha" K. Omanakutty Raga: Nagagandhari
Traditional keerthanam by Muthuswami Dikshitar
13 "Yamuna Kinaare" (Bit) M. G. Sreekumar

Release

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Box office

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Devaasuram, released on 14 April 1993 during the season of Vishu. The film clashed with Mammootty's Vatsalyam, which released a few days before, and Kamal Hassan's Kalaignan, which was released on the same day.[12] Despite stiff competition, the film fared better than its competitors and ended up becoming the 2nd biggest hit of the year completing 200 days of theatrical run.[13][14][15] The movie made on a budget of ₹95 lakhs had earned the producer a profit of ₹35 lakhs, while the satellite right was sold for ₹6 lakhs.[1][16]

Accolades

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Sequel

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Main article: Ravanaprabhu

Devaasuram was followed by a sequel, Ravanaprabhu, in 2001, written and directed by Ranjith in his directorial debut.[18] Because of the success of the film, a number of films falling under the same genre with a feudal backdrop was produced in Malayalam cinema.[19]

Legacy

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Devasuram is considered to be one of IV Sasi's best works.[4][20] The film over the years has attained cult status. The characters played by Mohanlal (Mangalassery Neelakandan) and Napoleon (Mundakkal Shekaran) remains to be two of the most iconic characters in Malayalam cinema with the character of Mohanlal's Neelakandan celebrated as one of the finest anti-heroes in Malayalam cinema.[21][22] The success of the film led to many films being made based on feudal lords and ancestorial homes. The film made Varikassery Mana a popular tourist destination.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b G., Jyothilal (11 July 2018). "V. B. K. Menon producer interview". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  2. ^ "An award in the name of a music lover". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 8 September 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007.
  3. ^ "10 Mohanlal films to watch before you die". The Times of India.
  4. ^ a b Indulge (24 October 2017). "Remembering a legend: Five iconic IV Sasi movies that shaped Mollywood". Indulge Express. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "An award in the name of a music lover". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 8 September 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Theyre shooting like hell at Varikkassery Mana". 29 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012.
  7. ^ Daily, Keralakaumudi. "'He was initially afraid to kick Mohanlal', Renjith opens up about this particular scene in Devasuram". Keralakaumudi Daily.
  8. ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (7 October 2011). "When money talks". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  9. ^ Onmanorama | Latest News Updates | Politics | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Sports | English Manorama
  10. ^ "Songs, Download songs by . Raaga.com Malayalam Songs – Raaga.com – A World Of Music".
  11. ^ K. Pradeep (1 April 2011). "Edakka Notes". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  12. ^ Nimisha. "മമ്മൂട്ടിയും മോഹന്‍ലാലും വാത്സല്യവും ദേവാസുരവുമായി ബോക്സോഫീസില്‍ ഏറ്റുമുട്ടിയപ്പോള്‍ സംഭവിച്ചത്???". Filmibeat. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  13. ^ Nair, Sree Prasad (17 April 2017). "As Devasuram clocks 24 years". InUth. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  14. ^ C. V., Aravind (28 October 2017). "IV Sasi: Remembering the director". The News Minute. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  15. ^ Kumar, Akshay (25 January 2023). "Times When Mohanlal And Mammootty Movies Released During The Same Time". Pinklungi. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  16. ^ P. K., Ajith Kumar (24 October 2017). "I.V. Sasi reigned at the box office, and made classics too". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  17. ^ "41st annual filmfare kannada best music film malayalam best actor actress". Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Painting a portrait of love – Section: The Shooting of Ravana Prabhu"[usurped]. The Hindu. 2001-07-18. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  19. ^ "Journey of music". The Hindu. 19 July 2008. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2011. Ravana Prabhu is one of the biggest hits of Malayalam cinema{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. ^ "Remembering IV Sasi: A look at his 5 best films". Onmanorama. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  21. ^ "Mohanlal's Devasuram Completes 27 Years: 27 Fascinating Trivia Shared by Lalettan Fans on Twitter as They Trend #27YearsOfDevasuram". latestly.com. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  22. ^ "10 Mohanlal films to watch before you die". The Times of India. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  23. ^ "Varikkasseri Mana – The location superstar of Malayalam cinema". Onmanorama. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
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