Munnariyippu

2022-06-23T13:14:20Z

103.27.49.141:

{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Munnariyippu
| image = Munnariyippu.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Venu (cinematographer)|Venu]]
| producer = [[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]]
| screenplay = [[Unni R.]]
| story = Venu
| starring = {{unbulleted list|[[Mammootty]]|[[Aparna Gopinath]]}}
| music = [[Bijibal]]
| cinematography = Venu
| editing = [[Beena Paul]]
| studio =
| distributor = Gold Coin Motion Pictures
| released = {{Film date|2014|08|22|df=y}}
| runtime = 115 minutes
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget =
| gross =
}}

'''''Munnariyippu''''' ({{Translation|Warning}}) is a 2014 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[psychological thriller]] film directed by [[Venu (cinematographer)|Venu]]<ref>[http://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news-and-interviews/Munnariyippu-is-not-an-art-film-R-Unni/articleshow/36104684.cms Munnariyippu is not an art film: R Unni]</ref> and produced by [[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]], screenplay by [[Unni R.]]<ref>[http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/110324.html Directors galore in 'Munnariyippu']</ref> The film stars [[Mammootty]] and [[Aparna Gopinath]], with [[Nedumudi Venu]], [[Joy Mathew]], [[Prathap K. Pothan|Prathap Pothan]], [[V. K. Sreeraman|Sreeraman]], [[Renji Panicker]], [[Saiju Kurup]], [[Joshy Mathew]], and [[Sudheesh]] in supporting roles.<ref>[http://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Four-Mollywood-filmmakers-to-act-in-Munnariyippu/articleshow/33010187.cms Four Mollywood filmmakers to act in Munnariyippu]</ref>

The film follows Anjali Arakkal (Aparna Gopinath), a junior journalist, who has set out to write an autobiography on convict C.K. Raghavan (Mammootty) who professes that he never committed the crimes he is in prison for.<ref>[http://timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news-and-interviews/Filmmakers-go-behind-bars/articleshow/37904077.cms Filmmakers go ‘behind bars’]</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In search of freedom|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/aparna-gopinath-plays-lead-lady-in-venus-mammoottystarrer-munnariyippu/article6338244.ece|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=21 August 2014}}</ref> It released on 22 August 2014 to critical and commercial acclaim.<ref name="Reviews">{{cite news|title='Munnariyippu' Review Round up: Mammootty Starrer Rated as One of the Best|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/munnariyippu-review-round-mammootty-starrer-rated-one-best-607430|newspaper=[[International Business Times|IBTimes]]|date=22 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/15185/malayalam/munnariyippu/4797/review.htm|title=Munnariyippu Review | Munnariyippu Malayalam Movie Review by Veeyen}}</ref>

Gopinath and Mammootty's performance in the film were critically acclaimed. However the latter performance in the film was ranked by ''Film Companion'' amongst 100 Greatest Performances of the Decade.

==Plot==
Anjali Arakkal, a freelance journalist, while interacting with a retiring jail superintendent named Rama Moorthy for ghostwriting his autobiography, meets C. K. Raghavan, a prisoner committed for double homicide serving twenty years even after his official term in jail. His preference and oddball comfortability piques Anjali's interest in Raghavan. Raghavan was tried for killing his wife and the daughter of his employer, yet he occasionally proclaims his innocence.

With Moorthy's information the young journalist discovers that Raghavan writes. She gets access to his writings in which Raghavan interprets world around him in his own way. Sentences like "Does the reflected image in a mirror looks back at him or does it accepts him and comes along with him"; "A Prison should be a place for people to understand their mistakes and correct them rather than a place for punishment"; "Life is a struggle before death". All this makes her attracted to the mystery Raghavan has built. Further Raghavan's outlook on freedom and responsibility with his own brand of philosophy impresses Anjali and she decides to write a feature about him.

The featured article gains much attention and proposals come for publishing Raghavan's Biography with his philosophies. Anjali decides use this opportunity to make a name for herself with cooperation from Raghavan's side. Raghavan is much happy about the newly gained attention he is receiving. Anjali decides to visit Raghavan in jail and process release for him from jail. After release she finds accommodation for him and compels him to write-up events and interpretation of them for making it a book. Though Raghavan hesitates. Later while Raghavan lollygagging he meets up with his aspirants and they invite him for a drink. Under influence there he reveals his ideology about Freedom as "Removing elements that obstructs the person is known as freedom. If it happens in home, it is called as domestic abuse. If it happens in society it is revolution. Irrespective of where it happens where there is revolution, blood will spill". Anjali reaches the limit with Raghavan's lollygagging and reacts badly in presence of her colleague Mohan. Mohan advises Anjali to not pressurize a person who was reluctant to come out from Jail. Anjali faces problem when the deadline to submit the material for the book is nearing and Raghavan has not even started writing, above that there are other journalists who try to get full picture of Raghavan's Story. She decides its best to move Raghavan to an undisclosed place.

Anjali is pressurized by the publishers. The new accommodation and lack of facilities irks Raghavan. Anjali's marriage seems almost fixed with Chackochan and she decides to leave the book publishing project and settle the deal in court. Anjali meets with Raghavan and gives his diary and money received from jail for his rehabilitation and lashes out on him on how his stubbornness and complaints to the various accommodation and surroundings didn't suit him. Raghavan smirks at her. Raghavan gives her the full script of the story. Skipping through it she comes in grip with the reality of Raghavan's true nature. Fear creeps under her skin. Raghavan tell her that he wants a new accommodation, wanting to go back to jail. With that he murders her with one blow to the head.

Finally, Raghavan is shown peacefully sleeping at Jail. Photo of Anjali along with his other victims is seen pasted near to Jail Wall as trophies of his victory to his own psychotic idealization of freedom.

==Cast==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Mammootty]] as C. K. Raghavan
* [[Aparna Gopinath]] as Anjali Arakkal
* [[Nedumudi Venu]] as Superindent Rama Moorthy
* [[Prithviraj Sukumaran]] as Chacko in an extended cameo
* [[Prathap K. Pothan|Prathap Pothan]] as KK
* [[Renji Panicker]] as Mohan Das
* [[Joy Mathew]] as Chandraji
* [[Kochu Preman]] as Advocate Eeppan
* [[Kottayam Naseer]] as Police S.I. (Sub-Inspector).
* [[V. K. Sreeraman]] as Sasikumar
* [[Saiju Kurup]] as Rajeev Thomas
* Kris Iyer as Publisher
* [[Joshy Mathew]] as Bar-mate
* [[Sudheesh]] as Bar-mate
* [[Santhosh Keezhattoor]] as Bar-mate
* [[Minon]] as K. P. Anil Kumar
* [[Sasi Kalinga]] as Appu Ettan
* [[Muthumani]] as Priya Joseph
* [[Parvathi T]] as Mother of Anjali
* Kiran Aravindakshan as Anwar
* Saradha Kozhokode as Mother of Ramani
* [[Anjali Nair|Anjali Aneesh Upasana]]
* Pauly as Servant
{{colend}}

==Production==
[[Venu (cinematographer)|Venu]] was directing a film after 16 years, after his directorial debut ''[[Daya (film)|Daya]]'' (1998) written by [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]]. Venu created an idea including the opening and the conclusion for the plot since 2010. During the intervals between his busy schedule as a cinematographer, his wife and editor [[Bina Paul]] advised Venu to develop the thread into a story.<ref name="cp">{{cite news
|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/prisoners-of-circumstance/article6081702.ece
|title= Prisoners of circumstance
|date=5 June 2014
|accessdate=1 December 2017
|url-status=live
|author= Saraswathy Nagarajan
|newspaper= The Hindu
|agency=[[The Hindu]]
|archive-date=6 December 2017
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206023241/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/prisoners-of-circumstance/article6081702.ece}}</ref> Initially, Venu wanted to direct the film in [[Hindi]] and developed the story with [[Mumbai]] as the background. It was Bina Paul who noted that Malayalam would be better.<ref name="cp"/><ref name="hindi">{{cite web|url=http://sv1.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/478743/|date=22 August 2014|accessdate=20 August 2017|agency=[[Mathrubhumi]]|title=മുന്നറിയിപ്പ്‌ ‌ ഹിന്ദിയിൽ ചെയ്യാനായിരുന്നു താൽപര്യമെന്ന് വേണു }}</ref>

Venu's plan to write the screenplay by himself did not work out. After some days, he employed author and scenarist [[Unni R.]] Since then, Unni completed the whole screenplay with dialogues in a short span of time.<ref name="article">{{cite web|url= http://m.manoramaonline.com/movies/columns/claps/mamooty-in-munnarippu.html|date=28 April 2015|accessdate=10 November 2017|agency=[[Malayala Manorama]]|author=Unni K. Warrier|title=മമ്മൂട്ടി; 30 സെക്കന്റിലെ മഹാവിസ്മയം}}</ref>

Initial choice for protagonist role was either [[Mammootty]] or [[Sreenivasan]]. Sreenivasan listened the story, but he did not sign in the film due to his highly tight schedule.
After a few months, director Ranjith came in to finance the film. Ranjith narrated the story to Mammootty via phone. Mammootty committed the film within a 10-minute-long phone talk.<ref name="article"/>

In early February 2014, Venu announced that in his upcoming directorial [[Rima Kallingal]] would play a role of a journalist who writes the biography of a person released from prison, played by Mammootty.<ref>{{cite web
|url= https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Rima-to-play-a-Journalist-alongside-Mammootty/articleshow/30163246.cms
|title= Rima to play a Journalist alongside Mammootty
|date=11 February 2014
|accessdate=1 December 2017
|url-status=live
|agency=[[Times of India]]
|archive-date=6 December 2017
|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20171206023930/https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Rima-to-play-a-Journalist-alongside-Mammootty/articleshow/30163246.cms }}</ref> However, by the end of February, Kallingal backed out from the project, citing date issues. The makers then decided to replace the actress by [[Aparna Gopinath]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Aparna Gopinath will replace Rima opposite Mammootty |date=21 February 2014|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Aparna-Gopinath-will-replace-Rima-opposite-Mammootty/articleshow/30774841.cms |agency=[[Times of India]]|author=Radhika C Pillai}}</ref> In late March, actress [[Muthumani]] announced that she had signed up in the film. She acted with Mammootty second time and her role was reported to be of a [[Delhi]]-based journalist.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Muthumani-is-Manju-Warriers-friend/articleshow/32715820.cms|title= Muthumani is Manju Warrier's friend|date=26 March 2014|agency=[[Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Scope-for-performance-matters-Muthumani/articleshow/38857588.cms|title= Scope for performance matters: Muthumani|author=Radhika C Pillai|agency=[[Times of India]]|date=July 22, 2014}}</ref> Young actor [[Minon|Minon John]] played a prominent role in the film, about which he said that he was guided and eased by Mammootty in their collaboration scenes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140829/entertainment-mollywood/article/man-child’s-body|title= A man in a child's body|author=Priya Sreekumar|date= 29 August 2014|accessdate=20 November 2017|agency=[[Deccan Chronicle]]}}</ref>

The filming, participated by Mammootty, Aparna Gopinath and [[Renji Panicker]], took place in an old building at the Gujarathi Street in [[Kozhikkode]] as well as in and around Kozhikkode town.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://archives.mathrubhumi.com/movies/welcome/printpage/440910/|agency=[[Mathrubhumi]]|accessdate=10 November 2017|title=മുന്നറിയിപ്പ്‌ വരുന്നു }}</ref> The film was made on low budget and was completed filming in just 28 days.<ref name="hindi"/>

==Release==
The film was released on 22 August 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title='Munnariyippu' Review Round up: Mammootty Starrer Rated as One of the Best|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/munnariyippu-review-round-mammootty-starrer-rated-one-best-607430|newspaper=[[International Business Times]]|date=22 August 2014}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
Nidheesh M K of ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' described ''Munnariyippu'' as "a film that demands from us more than few bucks at the pay counter." He also wrote, "For the classic that it is, ''Munnariyippu'' is bound to remain in the hearts of those who care for the art of visual storytelling for long time to come."<ref>{{cite web|title=A Classic Premonition|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/A-Classic-Premonition/2014/08/24/article2395799.ece|work=Nidheesh M K|publisher=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=24 August 2014}}</ref> Akhila Menon of [[Oneindia.in|Filmibeat.com]] gave the film 4 stars out of 5 and concluded her review, "A must watch movie recommended for the movie lovers." She also wrote, "Mammootty delivers his best performance in recent times and excels as C K Raghavan. Aparna Gopinath proves her mettle as an actress with the meaty role."<ref>{{cite web|title=Munnariyippu Movie Review - Filmibeat|url=http://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/reviews/2014/munnariyippu-movie-review-157526.html|publisher=[[Oneindia.in|Filmibeat]]|work=Akhila Menon|date=22 August 2014}}{{Rating|4|5}}</ref>

Raj Vikram of Metromatinee.com wrote, "''Munnariyippu'' is a many layered movie; seeps deep into the inner layers of sensibility. Mammootty takes the film to a different level with his expressive acting and subdued mannerisms."<ref>{{cite web|title=Munnariyippu Review|url=http://www.metromatinee.com/movie-review/munnariyippu-review-506html|publisher=Metro Matinee|work=Raj Vikram|date=23 August 2014|access-date=23 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016003106/http://www.metromatinee.com/movie-review/munnariyippu-review-506html|archive-date=16 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Padmakumar K of ''[[Malayala Manorama]]'' gave the film 3.5/5 and wrote, "Offering an experience which Malayali audience has so far been alien to, ''Munnariyippu'' gives an artistic mix of what is captivating as well as outlandish in terms of narrative, thanks to the brilliant work by script writer Unni R." He also said that the film "can be viewed as a movie with a different approach. Or the story of a person with a strange aptitude. Mammootty's character that stands out, stunningly. He is every inch the Raghavan of the film, in looks and in conduct."<ref>{{cite web|title=Munnariyippu: Captivating finesse, arresting ambience|url=http://beta.english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/munnariyippu-movie-review-mammootty1.html|work=Padmakumar K|publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]]|date=22 August 2014|access-date=24 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825020433/http://beta.english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/munnariyippu-movie-review-mammootty1.html|archive-date=25 August 2014|url-status=dead}}{{Rating|3.5|5}}</ref> Aswin J Kumar of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave a rating of 3.5/5 and wrote, "It feels good to watch Mammootty in ''Munnariyippu''. It's as though the waxy glow on his face has melted away revealing a face that looks so human and so earthy." He concluded that the film "might not go well with a section of viewers, but this is a smart way of making a film and reinventing an actor."<ref>{{cite web|title=Munnariyippu - The Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/Munnariyippu/movie-review/40856874.cms|work=Aswin J Kumar|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|date=24 August 2014}}{{Rating|3.5|5}}</ref> S.R. Praveen of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote in his review, "''Munnariyippu'', with its skeletal approach, delivers a thumping jolt to the viewer and reclaims the actor who was lost in the jungle of superstardom. One ends up wishing for a little more detail in places but at the same time it looks like holding everything back worked in the end."<ref>{{cite news|title=Far from the madding crowd|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/far-from-the-madding-crowd/article6346135.ece|work=S.R. Praveen|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 August 2014|last1=Praveen|first1=S. r.}}</ref>

Indiaglitz.com gave the film 7/10 and concluded, "A movie with no masala events, but one that is sure to be applauded in desi and international level, ''Munnariyippu'' is a must see for connoisseurs of all good cinema."<ref>{{cite web|title=Munnariyippu Review - Munnariyippu is good|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/review/18592.html|publisher=Indiaglitz|date=22 August 2014}}{{Rating|7|10}}</ref> Veeyen of Nowrunning.com wrote, "There is a deconstruction of sorts that occurs in Venu's ''Munnariyippu'', as conventionalities are discarded without a second thought." He gave the film 3 stars out of 5 and wrote about the film as, "a revelatory drama that throws together an emphatic, no-nonsense narrative with a couple of out-of-the-world performances." He also lauded the performance of [[Mammootty]] as he wrote that the film "marks the reinvention of an actor [Mammootty] whom we simply adore, and lays forth a hundred reasons as to why we have been in awe of him for so long."<ref>{{cite web|title=Munnariyippu Review - NowRunning|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/15185/malayalam/munnariyippu/4797/review.htm|work=Veeyen|publisher=NowRunning|date=24 August 2014}}{{Rating|3|5}}</ref> [[Sify.com]] gave the film a verdict of "Above Average" and wrote, "''Munnariyippu'' is aimed at those sections of viewers, who would like to be part of the narration, creating a visual of their own while watching the movie on screen. But even then, the film leaves you wanting for more."<ref>{{cite web|title=Movie Review: Munnariyippu|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/munnariyippu-review-malayalam-15058184.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827143659/http://www.sify.com/movies/munnariyippu-review-malayalam-15058184.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2014|publisher=[[Sify]]|accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref>

===Box office===
The film was both commercial and critical success.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/malayalam-best-lead-actors-2014-mammootty-dulquer-nivin-fahadh-others-top-10-list-618005|title=Malayalam Best Lead Actors 2014: Mammootty, Dulquer, Nivin, Fahadh and Others in Top 10 List|work=[[International Business Times]]|date=23 December 2014}}</ref>

==Awards==
*[[2014 Kerala State Film Awards]] - [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Dubbing Artist|Best Dubbing Artist]] : [[Vimmy Mariam George]]<ref>[http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/just-in/state-film-awards-mammootty-nivin-pauly-dulquer-manju-.html "State Awards: Nazriya, Nivin, Sudev bag top honours"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813003515/http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/just-in/state-film-awards-mammootty-nivin-pauly-dulquer-manju-.html |date=13 August 2015 }}. ''Malayala Manorama''. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.</ref>
*[[Moscow International Film Festival]] - [[Official Category]] and [[Asian Category]]<ref name="filmibeat.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2015/munnariyippu-enters-moscow-international-film-festival-184830.html|title=Mammootty's Munnariyippu Enters Moscow International Film Festival|date=28 May 2015}}</ref>
*[[Indian Panorama of International Film Festival of India of 2014]] - Selected<ref name="filmibeat.com"/>
*[[Chicago International Film Festival]] - Selected<ref name="filmibeat.com"/>
*[[Asianet Film Awards]] for Best Actor - [[Mammootty]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|3885736}}
{{Ranjith}}

[[Category:2014 films]]
[[Category:2010s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]

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