imported>WikiCleanerBot: v2.04b - Bot T21 CW#557 - Fix errors for CW project (Missing whitespace before a link)

2021-08-31T17:01:31Z

v2.04b - Bot T21 CW#557 - Fix errors for CW project (Missing whitespace before a link)

New page

{{short description|Fictional character}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{About|the character|the film|Sethurama Iyer CBI}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Sethurama Iyer
| series = [[CBI (film series)|CBI series]]
| image = Sethurama Iyer.jpg
| caption = [[Mammootty]] as Deputy Superintendent Sethurama Iyer of CBI
| first = ''[[Oru CBI Diary Kurippu ]] (1988)
| last = ''[[Nerariyan CBI]]'' (2005)
| creator = [[S. N. Swamy]]<br> [[K. Madhu]]
| portrayer = [[Mammootty]]
| gender = [[Male]]
| occupation = [[Central Bureau of Investigation|Deputy Superintendent in The Central Bureau of Investigation]]
| religion = [[Hindus|Hindu]] ([[Iyer]])
| nationality = [[India]]n
}}

'''Deputy Superintendent Sethurama Iyer CBI''' (alternate spelling '''Sethuramayyar''') is a [[Character (arts)|fictional character]], and the main [[protagonist]] of the [[CBI (film series)|CBI series of investigative thriller films]] in [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] directed by [[K. Madhu]]. The character was played by [[Mammootty]] in four films so far.<ref name="IWTPLR">{{cite news| url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005072202270100.htm&date=2005/07/22/&prd=fr& | title=`I want to play lead roles' | accessdate=26 September 2013 | last=Pillai | first=Sreedhar |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005101054/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/07/22/stories/2005072202270100.htm |archivedate=5 October 2009}}</ref>

Deputy Superintendent Sethurama Iyer is an investigative officer of the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI), the Indian equivalent of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]. Iyer's popularity is attributed to the fact that he uses his brain rather than brawn to solve cases.<ref name="TOI">{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/unforgettable-dectective-roles-in-mollywood/photostory/53192862.cms|title=Unforgettable Dectective roles in Mollywood|date=13 July 2016|work=Times of India}}</ref> The suspense-filled narration of the movies and the novelty of the investigative thriller genre also contributed to its success and becoming a household name among the moviegoers of [[Kerala]]. The character was inspired by a police officer named [[Radha Vinod Raju|Radhavinod Raju]], who in 2009 was appointed as the first chief of India's [[National Investigation Agency]].<ref name="ori">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/thiruvananthapuram/NIA-chief-inspired-hit-film-20-yrs-ago/Article1-368114.aspx |title=NIA chief inspired hit film 20 yrs ago |date=18 January 2009 |website=Hindusthan Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417164322/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/thiruvananthapuram/NIA-chief-inspired-hit-film-20-yrs-ago/Article1-368114.aspx |archive-date=17 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1503/15030120.htm|title=A crack investigative team|publisher=hindu|accessdate=20 August 2010}}</ref>

==Inspiration==

The character is said to have been inspired by the police officer [[Radha Vinod Raju|Radhavinod Raju]], who in 2009 was appointed as the first chief of India's [[National Investigation Agency (India)|National Investigation Agency]].<ref name="ori">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/thiruvananthapuram/NIA-chief-inspired-hit-film-20-yrs-ago/Article1-368114.aspx |title=NIA chief inspired hit film 20 yrs ago |date=18 January 2009 |website=Hindusthan Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417164322/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/thiruvananthapuram/NIA-chief-inspired-hit-film-20-yrs-ago/Article1-368114.aspx |archive-date=17 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="TOI">{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/unforgettable-dectective-roles-in-mollywood/photostory/53192862.cms|title=Unforgettable Dectective roles in Mollywood|date=13 July 2016|work=Times of India}}</ref> Raju's excellence while probing the Polakulam Peethambaran murder case<ref name="SIFY">{{cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/10-facts-about-the-cbi-diarykkurippu-series-news-malayalam-pl2lANjjbebhb.html|title=10 facts about the 'CBI Diarykkurippu' series|date=28 November 2015|work=Sify}}</ref> and SI Soman murder case, when he was acting as Superintend of CBI Kochi, attracted the attention of many.<ref name="BW">{{cite web|url=https://m.behindwoods.com/amp/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/mammootty-to-act-as-sethurama-iyer-cbi-for-the-fifth-time.html|work=Behindwoods|title=Mammootty to do this character for the fifth time!|date=30 April 2017}}</ref> His "Dummy-to-Dummy" experiment in Polakulam Peethambaran murder case was used in ''[[Oru CBI Diary Kurippu]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/not-just-sukumara-kurup-6-spine-chilling-real-life-murders-have-inspired-malayalam-films|title=Not just Sukumara Kurup: 6 spine-chilling real-life murders that have inspired Malayalam films|work=The News Minute}}</ref> When ''Oru CBI Diary Kurippu'' became a hit, Mammootty became more famous in films and Raju in his services. Incidentally, Raju was Mammootty's senior in [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam|Maharajas College]].<ref name="RVRaju">{{cite web|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/movies/malayalam/125228/|title=Mamooty pays obeisance to `Sethurama Iyer' |publisher=Mathrubhumi|accessdate=22 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="BW">{{cite web|url=https://m.behindwoods.com/amp/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/mammootty-to-act-as-sethurama-iyer-cbi-for-the-fifth-time.html|work=Behindwoods|title=Mammootty to do this character for the fifth time!|date=30 April 2017}}</ref>

[[Radha Vinod Raju|Radhavinod Raju]] was also associated with the probes into [[Rajiv Gandhi]] assassination case and hijacking of Indian Airlines plane to [[Kandahar]]. The films ''[[Mission 90 Days]]'' and ''[[Kandahar (2010 film)|Kandahar]]'' were respectively inspired by the operations of Raju in these cases.<ref name="RVRaju" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-21/kochi/32351223_1_jammu-and-kashmir-radha-vinod-raju-probe-terror-related-cases|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103214658/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-21/kochi/32351223_1_jammu-and-kashmir-radha-vinod-raju-probe-terror-related-cases|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=NIA founder RV Raju passes away|access-date=21 June 2012}}</ref>

== Characterisation ==
[[File:Mammootty2013SOP.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|alt=Mammootty|[[Mammootty]], who portrayed Sethurama Iyer in the four films so far]]
Sethurama Iyer is depicted with a distinctive style in the films. The character is heavily based on [[Kerala Iyers]].<ref name="BH">{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/happy-birthday-mammootty-4-films-will-make-fans-wish-return-superstars-beloved-characters-sethurama-iyer/|work=Bollywood Hungama|title=Happy Birthday Mammootty: 4 films that will make fans WISH for the return of the superstar’s most beloved characters - Sethurama Iyer|date=7 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="TNM">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-why-mammoottys-detective-film-unsurpassed-124201|title='Oru CBI Diary Kurippu': Why Mammootty's detective film is unsurpassed|date=8 May 2020|work=The News Minute}}</ref> Mammootty thus in the series speaks [[Malayalam]] with traces of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] to represent the fact that the native language of this community is Tamil.<ref name="TNM">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-why-mammoottys-detective-film-unsurpassed-124201|title='Oru CBI Diary Kurippu': Why Mammootty's detective film is unsurpassed|date=8 May 2020|work=The News Minute}}</ref> The most characteristic mannerism associated with him is his peculiar gait, as he folds both his arms behind his back while walking.<ref name="MB">{{cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/movie-news/ali-imran-cbi-became-sethurama-iyer-cbi-because-of-mammootty-k-madhu-director-cbi-movie-series-1.2307681|work=Mathrubhumi|title=Ali Imran CBI became Sethurama Iyer CBI because of Mammootty!|date=13 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="TNM">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-why-mammoottys-detective-film-unsurpassed-124201|title='Oru CBI Diary Kurippu': Why Mammootty's detective film is unsurpassed|date=8 May 2020|work=The News Minute}}</ref> He used to scratch his head using forefinger as a gesture while he is in intense conceptualization.{{cn|date=May 2021}} In the second movie, ''Jagratha'', he was shown chewing [[betel]], but this was dropped in the later films.<ref name="Newsminute">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958|work=The News Minute|title=30 years of 'Oru CBI Diary Kurippu', the Mammootty film that redefined crime thrillers}}</ref> He is deceptively calm, rarely raises his voice and walks briskly.<ref name="Newsminute">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958|work=The News Minute|title=30 years of 'Oru CBI Diary Kurippu', the Mammootty film that redefined crime thrillers}}</ref> His entries and exits in most scenes of the movies are punctuated by the signature background score of the series, composed by [[Shyam (composer)|Shyam]].<ref name="TNM">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-why-mammoottys-detective-film-unsurpassed-124201|title='Oru CBI Diary Kurippu': Why Mammootty's detective film is unsurpassed|date=8 May 2020|work=The News Minute}}</ref><ref name="Newsminute">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958|work=The News Minute|title=30 years of 'Oru CBI Diary Kurippu', the Mammootty film that redefined crime thrillers}}</ref> He is always shown wearing a [[kumkum]] stripe on his forehead.<ref name="BH">{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/happy-birthday-mammootty-4-films-will-make-fans-wish-return-superstars-beloved-characters-sethurama-iyer/|work=Bollywood Hungama|title=Happy Birthday Mammootty: 4 films that will make fans WISH for the return of the superstar’s most beloved characters - Sethurama Iyer|date=7 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="TNM">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-why-mammoottys-detective-film-unsurpassed-124201|title='Oru CBI Diary Kurippu': Why Mammootty's detective film is unsurpassed|date=8 May 2020|work=The News Minute}}</ref> He usually wears plain light-coloured half-sleeve shirts and dark plain trousers, without tucking in.<ref name="BH">{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/amp/news/features/happy-birthday-mammootty-4-films-will-make-fans-wish-return-superstars-beloved-characters-sethurama-iyer/|work=Bollywood Hungama|title=Happy Birthday Mammootty: 4 films that will make fans WISH for the return of the superstar’s most beloved characters - Sethurama Iyer|date=7 September 2018}}</ref> He is married, and has a son, who appears in the film ''Jagratha'', though not reappearing later.<ref name="SIFY">{{cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/10-facts-about-the-cbi-diarykkurippu-series-news-malayalam-pl2lANjjbebhb.html|title=10 facts about the 'CBI Diarykkurippu' series|date=28 November 2015|work=Sify}}</ref><ref name="TNM">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-why-mammoottys-detective-film-unsurpassed-124201|title='Oru CBI Diary Kurippu': Why Mammootty's detective film is unsurpassed|date=8 May 2020|work=The News Minute}}</ref> He is a teetotaler, vegetarian and a God-fearing, devout family man.<ref name="Newsminute">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958|work=The News Minute|title=30 years of 'Oru CBI Diary Kurippu', the Mammootty film that redefined crime thrillers}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/trends/2018/aug/20/brains-and-brawn-style-and-substance-7511.html|work=Cinema Express|title=Brains and brawn, style and substance}}</ref>

Originally [[K. Madhu]], the director of the film series had visualised the protagonist of the first film in the series as a tough cop named Ali Imran. It was Mammootty who convinced him that a pious intelligent Tamil Brahmin would be better.<ref name="IWTPLR">{{cite news| url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2005072202270100.htm&date=2005/07/22/&prd=fr& | title=`I want to play lead roles' | accessdate=26 September 2013 | last=Pillai | first=Sreedhar |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005101054/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2005/07/22/stories/2005072202270100.htm |archivedate=5 October 2009}}</ref><ref name="MB">{{cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/movie-news/ali-imran-cbi-became-sethurama-iyer-cbi-because-of-mammootty-k-madhu-director-cbi-movie-series-1.2307681|work=Mathrubhumi|title=Ali Imran CBI became Sethurama Iyer CBI because of Mammootty!|date=13 October 2017}}</ref>

== Appearances ==

===[[CBI film series]]===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:centre;"
|-
!Year
!Movie
!Directed
|-
|1988
|''[[Oru CBI Diary Kurippu|Oru CBI Diarykkurippu]]''
|K. Madhu
|-
|1989
|''[[Jagratha]]''
|K. Madhu
|-
|2004
|''[[Sethurama Iyer CBI]]''
|K. Madhu
|-
|2005
|''[[Nerariyan CBI]]''
|K. Madhu
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{CBI film series}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iyer, Sethurama}}
[[Category:Fictional Indian police officers]]
[[Category:Fictional police detectives]]
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 1988]]
[[Category:Indian film characters]]

Sethurama Iyer - Revision history

imported>WikiCleanerBot: v2.04b - Bot T21 CW#557 - Fix errors for CW project (Missing whitespace before a link)