Kilukkam

Kilukkam (1991) : Brief Review -

If Sadma was to be made as a Classic rom-com with a twist and family drama.. Kilukkam contains too much content for 90s Indian Dramas. Remember Kamal Haasan and Sridevi's stunning Classic Sadma? Just imagine the same story ending with a twist at the interval point followed by family drama in the second half. It would look very much like Kilukkam, if not exactly. 90s Indian Dramas used to contain only one content or sometimes two. Either it used to be a complete family-drama with emotional melodrama or a rom-com with the ending set in family zone. Kilukkam goes beyond that. It contains too many elements for 90s Indian Dramas like romance, comedy, drama, family segments, twists, blast from the past and then utterly philosophical burning climax just before the happy ending. There is something about Mohanlal films you know, his happy looking films suddenly turns extremely realistic and bitter in the end. Remember his Chithram? It ends with a bitter facts of life when audience were expecting a happy ending and something like that happens here too in Kilukkam in the ending portion. He does not open-up about his love, rather he lets her go for her and his own good referring to life circle by giving an allegorical example of station. Loved that. An instant recall to Hollywood Classic 'Grand Hotel' (1932). How many rom-coms in 90s would do that? The film is about Nandini, an illegitimate child who comes to Ooty in search of her father. She meets Joji, a tourist guide, and pretends to be mentally unstable in order to get shelter in his house. Mohanlal gives yet another fantastic performance and but this film is more about Revathi's memorable portrayal. Priyadarshan was some genius director to watch out for in 80s and 90s. This one is another sensibile mainstream entertainer from him and a Must Watch for his, Mohanalal's and Revathi's fans and for neutral Family Audience as well.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

I wonder whether people who are ranking it this high have watched it recently or are ranking it simply based on nostalgia factor. Overacting, your nickname is Revathy. She was so over the top!! Other than one or two comic scenes, this movie was unbelievable and boring. I'm giving this a generous 3.

A peaceful movie full of touching characters and emotionally stable movie in heart

This one of the best entertaining movies that Malayalam cinema has ever seen. Mohanlal plays the Ooty guide who gets to meet Revathy who plays a mentally abnormal girl and Jagathy plays Mohanlal's Close mate. The comedy scenes and the on screen chemistry between Jagathy and Mohanlal just blows off the audiences and they just laugh out loud. I have personally watched this movie more than 20 times and every time it keeps getting better and better. The twist in the movie is also provided when a secret about Revathy is revealed to Mohanlal and Thilakan is made to play a pivotal role. Innocent as the sentimental butler showcases an excellent ambiance. The movie is a real stress releaser and is rated as one of the best.

The story Joji (Mohanlal) is a guide in Ooty, and comes across a girl (Revathi) whom he thinks is a rich tourist, but turns out to be mentally deranged. A friend of his (Jagathy Sreekumar) then discovers that there is a reward on offer for finding this girl, and they decide to claim it. Then comes the revelation that the girl is actually fleeing from her relatives, who are out for her blood, to claim her inheritance. How our heroes battle the villains for the sake of the girl forms the rest of the story.

It's different... While the above synopsis reads like any Bollywood masala, what sets this movie apart is that it is first and foremost a comedy. Practically every line of the dialogue in the first half, as well as every scene, was made with one intention-to make you laugh. Oops, sorry-there was a second intention-to build a good story line. Even in the second half, when things get serious, both the action and the dialogues follow a light hearted vein, which will be familiar to those who have seen Hera Pheri.

The fine acting of Mohanlal, Jagathy, Thilakan and Revathi has further embellished the quality of this movie, and the few, but excellent dialogues of Innocent leave you rollicking with laughter.

My brother-in-law, like a huge number of Keralites, has seen this movie so many times that he can quote every line of the dialogues. He starts laughing even when nothing funny is happening on the screen, because he is already thinking of the next scene, which is hilarious!

The downside You cannot really enjoy this film if you do not follow the language, because it uses a lot of puns. However, the situational comedy can be enjoyed (much as you would in a silent movie) even by those who do not know Malayalam. Don't blame me if you think that you have already seen the movie in your own language, as this film has been re-made in practically every major language.