Product Code Database
Manichitrathazhu () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language Epic film psychological horror Thriller film film directed by Fazil, written by Madhu Muttam and produced by Swargachitra Appachan. The film stars Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Shobana. It also features Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, Vinaya Prasad, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Sridhar, K.B. Ganesh Kumar, Sudheesh. The story is inspired by a real life tragedy that happened in the Alummoottil tharavad located at Muttom (near Haripad), belonging to central Travancore. The inheritor of the Alummoottil property and his domestic worker girl were murdered by the son-in-law after he had been written-off from the marumakkathayam system of inheritance prevalent in Kerala at the time. The murder gave rise to many local legends which serve as the basis for the film. Muttam, the writer of the film, confirmed the film was inspired by real-life events as he is a member of the Alummoottil tharavad through his maternal family.
Sibi Malayil, Priyadarshan and Siddique–Lal served as the Second unit, who worked separately but simultaneously with Fazil to significantly speed up the filming process. The cinematography was done by Venu, Anandakuttan and Sunny Joseph served as the second-unit cinematographers, and the film was edited by T. R. Shekar. The original songs were composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, while the Film score was composed by Johnson. Mohanlal, though credited as a lead actor, has been noted to have only an extended cameo, the main role being that of Shobana, who won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Ganga / Nagavalli. The film won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. The film also won three Kerala state awards -- Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value (1994), Best Actress and Best Make-up Artist (PN Mani).
The film dealt with an unusual theme which was not common in Indian cinema at the time. The film completed 300 days of run in many theatres. Manichitrathazhu was remade in four languages – in Kannada as Apthamitra (2004) (with some plot changes) which in turn was remade in Tamil language as Chandramukhi (2005), in Bengali language as Rajmohol (2005) and in Hindi as Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007)– all being commercially successful. Madhu has been credited as the sole writer for the remakes after he filed a copyright suit against Fazil when the latter started being listed as the writer of the original script in the remakes.. Geethaanjali, a spin-off directed by Priyadarshan with Mohanlal reprising the role of Dr. Sunny Joseph was made in 2013.
Manichitrathazhu is considered by many critics as one of the best films in Malayalam cinema and developed a cult following, years after its release. It has also been regarded as one of the best psychological thrillers in Indian cinema. It was listed among the "70 Iconic Films of Indian Cinema" by Mint in 2017. A digitally remastered 4K Dolby Atmos version of Manichitrathazhu was released in theatres on 17 August 2024.
A sceptical and curious Ganga enlists the help of Nakulan's cousin Alli, to unlock the Thekkini. After they unlock it, people start seeing apparitions of a woman, objects mysteriously break, and Ganga's sari catches fire. Performing puja does not help and the family eventually begins to believe that another of Nakulan's cousins, Sreedevi, may be possessed by Nagavalli's spirit.
Nakulan calls on his friend Dr. Sunny, a renowned US-based Indian psychiatrist, to investigate the situation. Sunny soon encounters mysterious events, including an attempt on Alli's life, as well as a woman's voice singing and dancing in Tamil language emanating from the locked Thekkini at midnight. Impersonating the Karnavar, Sunny converses with the voice, who reveals herself as Nagavalli and vows revenge on the upcoming Durga Ashtami night by killing the Karnavar. Sunny also goes to a place called Evoor and talks to the people there. He also foils someone's attempt to kill Nakulan by giving him poisoned tea and blaming Sreedevi, locks her up in her bedroom.
On the night before Durgashtami, Sunny finds Ganga supposedly being harassed by Alli's fiancé, Mahadevan, who insists that he is innocent. Sunny deduces that Ganga is orchestrating all the problems in the house and is suffering from dissociative identity disorder which has taken on the personality of Nagavalli. The Nagavalli persona perceives Mahadevan as Ramanathan and Nakulan as Karanavar, and wants to kill Nakulan on Durgashtami night. Sunny explains everything to Sreedevi who starts to help him. Meanwhile, Nakulan's family, skeptical of Sunny's treatment, calls in Tantra expert Pullattuparam Brahmadathan Namboodiri, but it turns out he is an old friend of Sunny's and decides to help Sunny cure Ganga.
On Durgashtami night, Ganga reverts to her Nagavalli persona and, believing Mahadevan to be Ramanathan, follows him to the rituals prepared by the Namboodiri to the shock of everyone. The Namboodiri speaks to Nagavalli and promises to help her behead the Karnavar. Nakulan is brought before her, but just as she prepares to strike, the Namboodiri blows smoke and ash into her face, temporarily blinding her; meanwhile, Sunny swaps Nakulan with a dummy. The Nagavalli persona cuts the dummy into pieces, and convinced that her enemy is dead, becomes dormant. Later, Sunny uses therapy to cure Ganga.
The family bids farewell to Ganga, Nakulan, and Sunny. Before leaving, Sunny proposes to Sreedevi, who accepts.
In January 2016, in an article Ormapookkal published by Manorama Weekly, Fazil revealed that initially Bhagyalakshmi dubbed for both Ganga and Nagavalli, but during post-production, some of the crew, including editor Shekar, had a feeling that both voices sounded somewhat similar even though Bhagyalakshmi tried altering her voice for Nagavalli. Since Nagavalli's dialogues are in the Tamil language, Fazil hired Tamil dubbing artist Durga for the part. But he forgot to inform Bhagyalakshmi, hence she was also unaware of it for a long time. Fazil did not credit Durga in the film; according to him, it was a difficult to make changes in the Opening credits at that time, which was already prepared and her portion in the film was minor. The credits included only Bhagyalakshmi as the dubbing artiste for Shobana. Other dubbing artistes were Anandavally and Ambili, who dubbed for Vinaya Prasad and Rudra.
| National Film Awards | 41st National Film Awards | Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Swargachitra Appachan, Fazil | ||
| Best Actress | Shobana | ||||
| Kerala State Film Awards | 34th Kerala State Film Awards | Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value | Swargachitra Appachan, Fazil | ||
| Best Actress | Shobana | ||||
| Best Makeup Artist | P. N. Mani | ||||
| Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | 17th Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actor | Suresh Gopi | ||
| Best Actress | Shobana | ||||
| Best Music Director | M. G. Radhakrishnan | ||||
| Special Jury Award | Fazil |
The film also deals with the devadasi courtesan practice formerly prevalent in South India and its patronage by local Nair chieftains, caste prejudices and Tantra cults.
In a 2013 online poll in India by IBN Live, Manichitrathazhu was voted second among India's greatest films, by the audience. The poll was conducted as part of the celebration of Indian cinema completing 100 years. The poll constituted a list of 100 films from different Indian languages. A Sari featuring Shobhana in a song scene from this film was released in the market as the Nagavali saree.
One of the most memorable or defining scenes of the movie where Nakulan provokes Ganga to transform into the Nagavalli persona was recreated in later Malayalam films like Om Shanti Oshana.
The film was re-released in theatres after 30 years in August 2024.
"Vijanaveedhi", a Malayalam novel Horror fiction by Aswathi Thirunal, has been listed by some as an inspiration for the film, though director Fazil and writer Madhu both deny this.
| + !Language !Title !Year !Cast !Director !Notes | |||||
| Kannada | Apthamitra | 2004 | Vishnuvardhan, Soundarya | P. Vasu | Some plot changes made according to the director |
| Tamil cinema | Chandramukhi | 2005 | Rajinikanth, Jyothika | ||
| Bengali language | Rajmohol | 2005 | Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anu Choudhury | Swapan Saha | |
| Hindi | Bhool Bhulaiyaa | 2007 | Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan | Priyadarshan |
|
|
