Ramji Rao Speaking: Difference between revisions

| director      = [[Siddique-Lal]]

| producer      = [[Fazil (director)|Fazil]]<br/>Ousepachan Vaalakuzhy

| writer        = Siddique-Lal

| music          = [[S. Balakrishnan (composer)|S. Balakrishnan]]

'''''Ramji Rao Speaking''''' is a 1989 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[comedy-drama]] film written and directed by the duo [[Siddique-Lal]] (in their directorial debut) and produced by [[Fazil (director)|Fazil]], [[Swargachitra Appachan]], and Ousepachan Vaalakuzhy. It stars [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]], [[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]], [[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]], [[Rekha (Tamil actress)|Rekha]], [[Sankaradi]], [[Vijayaraghavan]] and [[Devan (actor)|Devan]]. The film deals with social factors affecting [[Kerala]] including unemployment during the 1980s, and went on to achieve a cult classic status.<ref>{{cite web|last1=ജ്യോതിഷ്|first1=വി.ആര്‍.|title=ഫാസിൽ മനുഷ്യനെ പറ്റിക്കാൻ ഇറങ്ങിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്...റാംജിറാവുവിനൊപ്പം കഥകളും ഇറങ്ങി; സിദ്ദിഖ്–ലാൽ|url=http://www.vanitha.in/just-in/latest-news/ramji-rau-speaking-film-back-scenes.html|publisher=[[Vanitha]]|access-date=21 October 2016|date=21 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Vijay George|title=Three of a kind|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/three-of-a-kind/article5325288.ece/amp/|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Malayalam films remade in Hindi|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/three-of-a-kind/article5325288.ece/amp/|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|date=29 July 2015}}</ref>

''Ramji Rao Speaking'' marked the debut of director duo [[Siddique (director)|Siddique]] and [[Lal (actor)|Lal]], actors [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]], [[Rekha (Tamil actress)|Rekha]], [[N. F. Varghese]], [[Harishree Ashokan]], and music director [[S. Balakrishnan (composer)|S. Balakrishnan]]. ''[[Mannar Mathai Speaking]]'' (1995) and ''[[Mannar Mathai Speaking 2]]'' (2014) are the sequels to the film.  

The core plot of the movie is based on the 1971 TV movie ''See The Man Run''. <ref>https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/priyardarshan-on-20-years-of-hera-pheri-humour-can-never-die/amp_articleshow/74893757.cms</ref><ref>https://www.indiatvnews.com/amp/entertainment/celebrities/humour-can-never-die-priyadarshan-on-20-years-of-hera-pheri-603046</ref> [[Fazil (director)|Fazil]] remade this film in [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] as ''[[Arangetra Velai]]'', with [[Mamukkoya]] and Vijayaraghavan reprising their role and the character of "Gopalakrishnan" being replaced by a female. [[Priyadarshan]] remade the film in Hindi, titled ''[[Hera Pheri (2000 film)|Hera Pheri]]''. It was also remade in Telugu as ''Dhanalakshmi I Love You'', in Kannada as ''Trin Trin'' and in Odia as ''Wrong Number''.

==Plot==

The story revolves around three unemployed people (the third is a middle aged unsuccessful theatre owner). The story opens with the arrival of Balakrishnan in [[Kochi]] to dispute the denial of his company job which he was supposed to receive several years ago. Several candidates overtook his chance and the last one was Rani who pretends to be an influential figure, the daughter of Shivashankaran Panicker, a candidate who overtook his chance. Rani threatens Balakrishnan to continue to work despite his efforts to overthrow her. The company manager who knows about her family situation and helps her keep the job. Balakrishnan is determined to stay in the town until he succeeds in getting the job.

During his stay, Balakrishnan finds a temporary lodging in 'Urvasi Theatre', owned by Mannar Mathai, with another tenant Gopalakrishnan, both unemployed and with insignificant earnings. Mathai is constantly pestered by calls intended for Urumees Thampan, a rich businessman, and vice versa. Initially, Gopalakrishnan does not like the new tenant because of a misunderstanding made by Balakrishnan that Gopalakrishnan is a pickpocket at the market, in vain. Gopalakrishnan is tricky and cunning. He lies to his mother by telling her that he works in a large company based in Calcutta and that he is building a new house in Kochi. Balakrishnan discovers the truth and mistakes Gopalakrishnan as a fraud. Gopalakrishnan makes Balakrishnan sign white paper and betrays him by writing a no-objection letter to Rani, giving her the job. Balakrishnan is later told by his former friend Hamzukkoya that he would commit suicide if Balakrishnan does not pay for his daughter's wedding. He demands the money from Rani, but what shocks Balakrishnan most was the realisation of Rani's family situation. He feels sympathetic towards her and decides to let her keep the job. That night Balakrishnan gets drunk and reveals the fraud play of Gopalakrishnan to Mannar Mathai. Goplakrishnan confesses and justifies that projecting himself as rich and employed was the only way in front of him to comfort his mother, who has suicidal tendencies. The truth melts the minds of both Balakrishnan and Mannar Mathai and they all became friends enjoy the night despite their unending problems.

Further into the night, Balakrishnan wakes up to a ringing telephone. A gang leader named Ramji Rao has kidnapped the daughter of Urumees Thampan and are asking for a ransom of one lakh rupees. The three unemployed have no relation with Urumees Thampan; the gang had apparently dialled the wrong number. Panicking, Balakrishan tries to find the number of Urumees Thampan from a phone directory, only to find out that the numbers of Urvasi Theaters and Urumees Thampan are interchanged in the directory. Gopalakrishnan comes up with an idea and asks Balakrishnan to act as a dealer between Ramji Rao with Urumees Thampan, without letting them know about each other, and demand a ransom of four lakh to Urumees Thampan, instead of a lakh, get the girl from Ramji Rao, and take the remaining three lakh for themselves. They narrowly escape Hamzukkoya who tries to assault Balakrishnan, who has not paid for the wedding. They find it difficult as the police suspect them and they find it hard to keep Urumees Thampan and Ramji Rao anonymous to each other. Finally, after a struggle, the three rescue the girl from the gang leader and hand her over to Urumees Thamapan. Ramji Rao is arrested, and they confess the ploy to him upon a police encounter. Gopalakrishnan gives Hamzukkoya his money, but is arrested soon after he reaches home. Urumees forgives them and is thankful for returning his daughter, and offers them the three lakh rupees as a reward. The film ends with the girl calling Urumees, mocking Ramji Rao.

==Cast==

* [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]] as Balakrishnan

* [[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]] as Gopalakrishnan

* [[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]] as Mannar Mathai

* [[Rekha (Tamil actress)|Rekha]] as Rani

* [[Devan (actor)|Devan]] as Urumees Thampan

* [[Vijayaraghavan (actor)|Vijayaraghavan]] as Ramji Rao

* [[Sukumari]] as Gopalakrishnan's mother Saraswati

* [[Sankaradi]] as Manager

* [[N. F. Varghese]] as a staff of Balakrishnan's office

* [[Kunchan (actor)|Kunchan]] as Mathai the servant

* [[Nisha]] as Urumees Thampan's daughter

* P. C. George as Police Inspector

==Production==

The movie is directed by [[Siddique-Lal]] duo, who were assistants of [[Fazil (director)|Fazil]]. The film is also produced by [[Fazil (director)|Fazil]].

[[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]], son of late veteran actor [[Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair]] made his acting debut with this film.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/second-innings/article3230370.ece</ref>

==Soundtrack==

The film's soundtrack contains 4 songs, all composed by [[S. Balakrishnan (composer)|S. Balakrishnan]] in his debut, with the lyrics by [[Bichu Thirumala]]. This is the first movie [[A. R. Rahman]] programmed a song for a film; "Kalikalam".<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/recalling-a-musical-legacy/article7328966.ece</ref>

==Box office==

The film became a commercial success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/Malayalam-films-remade-in-Hindi/photostory/48267580.cms|title=Malayalam films remade in Hindi|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=29 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/popular-mollywood-comedian-indrans-gets-to-play-villain-in-movie/|title=Popular Mollywood comedian Indrans gets to play villain in movie|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=6 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/01/02/stories/2009010250630200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131103614/http://hindu.com/fr/2009/01/02/stories/2009010250630200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 January 2009|title=Return to Harihar Nagar |author=Vijay George|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/others/news-interviews/Meleparambil-Aanveedu-Mannar-Mathai-Speaking-sequels/articleshow/9968598.cms|title=Meleparambil Aanveedu Mannar Mathai Speaking sequels|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=13 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/coronavirus-outbreak-tsunami-team-calls-off-shoot/amp_articleshow/74667480.cms|title=Coronavirus outbreak: ‘Tsunami’ team calls off shoot|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=17 May 2020}}</ref>

==Remakes==

! Director

|[[Fazil (director)|Fazil]]

|[[Priyadarshan]]

| ''Dhanalakshmi I Love You''

|[[Shiva Nageswara Rao]]

|Adithya Chikkanna

|  

| [[Bobby Islam]]

==Legacy==

Mukesh's mother's warden's dialogue in the film "Kambilipothappu" became a catchphrase.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/malayalam-online-in-wonderful-calligraphy/article4546026.ece</ref>

==References==

==External links==

[[Category:Malayalam-language films]]