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Last edited March 22, 2026
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| story          = [[Sudhakar Mangalodayam]]
| story          = [[Sudhakar Mangalodayam]]
| narrator      =  
| narrator      =  
| starring      = [[Mammootty]]<br>[[Mohanlal]]<br>[[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]<br>[[Sripriya]]<br>[[Karthika (Malayalam_actress)|Karthika]]<br>[[Jalaja]]<br>[[Unni Mary]]  
| starring      = [[Mohanlal]]&lt;br&gt;[[Mammootty]]&lt;br&gt;[[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]&lt;br&gt;[[Sripriya]]&lt;br&gt;[[Karthika (Malayalam actress)|Karthika]]&lt;br&gt;[[Jalaja]]&lt;br&gt;[[Unni Mary]]  
| music          = [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]]
| music          = [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]]
| cinematography = [[Venu (cinematographer)|Venu]]
| cinematography = [[Venu (cinematographer)|Venu]]
| editing        = [[B. Lenin]]
| editing        = [[B. Lenin]]
| studio        = Vishudhi Films
| studio        = [[Vishudhi Films]]
| distributor    = [[Jubilee Productions]]
| distributor    = [[Jubilee Productions]]
| released      = {{Film date|1986|3|21|df=y}}
| released      = {{Film date|1986|3|21|df=y}}
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| gross          =  
| gross          =  
}}
}}
'''''Kariyilakkattu Pole''''' ({{trans|Like a zephyr of dry leaves}}) is a 1986 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[mystery film|mystery]] [[thriller film]] written and directed by [[P. Padmarajan]]. It is based on the [[radio drama]] ''Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham'' by Sudhakar Mangalodayam, the plot follows [[Deputy superintendent of police|DySP]] Achuthankutty who is investigating the murder of a film director, Harikrishnan.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Midhun|date=2021-01-15|title=Top 10 Malayalam Thriller Movies of 90s|url=https://theprimetime.in/top-10-malayalam-thriller-movies-of-90s/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The PrimeTime|language=en-US}}</ref> The film stars [[Mammootty]], [[Mohanlal]], [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]], [[Sripriya]], [[Karthika (Malayalam_actress|Karthika]], [[Jalaja]], and [[Unni Mary]]. The background score was composed by [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]].<ref>{{cite web|last= Ravindranath|first=Sarita|title=Murder and the Malayalee|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/murder-and-the-malayalee-news-malayalam-oifmk1jaejjfg.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224010605/http://www.sify.com/movies/murder-and-the-malayalee-news-malayalam-oifmk1jaejjfg.html|archive-date=24 December 2015|publisher=[[Sify.com]]|access-date=20 December 2015|date=5 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
'''''Kariyilakkattu Pole''''' ({{Translation|Like a zephyr of dry leaves}}) is a 1986 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[mystery film|mystery]] [[thriller film]] written and directed by [[P. Padmarajan]]. It is based on the [[radio drama]] ''Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham'' by [[Sudhakar Mangalodayam]], the plot follows [[Deputy superintendent of police|DySP]] Achuthankutty who is investigating the murder of a film director, Harikrishnan.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|last=Midhun|date=2021-01-15|title=Top 10 Malayalam Thriller Movies of 90s|url=https://theprimetime.in/top-10-malayalam-thriller-movies-of-90s/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=The PrimeTime|language=en-US}}&lt;/ref&gt; The film stars [[Mohanlal]], [[Mammootty]], [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]], [[Sripriya]], [[Karthika (Malayalam actress)|Karthika]], [[Jalaja]], and [[Unni Mary]]. The background score was composed by [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]].&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|last= Ravindranath|first=Sarita|title=Murder and the Malayalee|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/murder-and-the-malayalee-news-malayalam-oifmk1jaejjfg.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224010605/http://www.sify.com/movies/murder-and-the-malayalee-news-malayalam-oifmk1jaejjfg.html|archive-date=24 December 2015|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=20 December 2015|date=5 August 2014|url-status=dead}}&lt;/ref&gt;
A Padmarajan classic, the film is widely considered one of the best investigative thrillers ever made in Malayalam.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/five-mollywood-investigative-thrillers-world-should-watch-802051?utm_source=Internal&utm_medium=amparticle&utm_campaign=related|title=Five Mollywood investigative thrillers the world should watch|work=[[International Business Times]]|date=21 July 2019}}</ref>
A Padmarajan classic, the film is widely considered one of the best investigative thrillers ever made in Malayalam.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/five-mollywood-investigative-thrillers-world-should-watch-802051|title=Five Mollywood investigative thrillers the world should watch|work=[[International Business Times]]|date=21 July 2019}}&lt;/ref&gt;


==Plot==
==Plot==
Harikrishnan, a famous movie director, is found dead at his house one morning. [[Deputy Superintendent of Police]] Achuthankutty is assigned to probe the death. Anilkumar, his younger brother, is in love with Shilpa, who is in shock after receiving news of the murder. Achuthan Kutty's investigation leads to three different female suspects.
Harikrishnan, a famous movie director, is found dead at his house one morning. [[Deputy Superintendent of Police]] Achuthankutty is assigned to probe the death. Anilkumar, his younger brother, is in love with Shilpa, who had personally known the director and was shocked by his death. Achuthan Kutty's investigation leads to three different female suspects.


A women's shoe from the murder scene and other shreds of evidence leads Achuthankutty to conclude that a woman was the killer. Achuthankutty finds Parvathi's (Unni Mary) photograph in Harikrishnan's diary. The investigation leads it to a middle-aged woman, Bhagini Sevamayi, leading the life of a Saint in a Hindu Ashramam. He arrests her as she refuses to answer his questions. Shilpa tries to talk to Achuthankutty because Bhagini is her aunt.
A woman's shoe from the murder scene and other shreds of evidence leads Achuthankutty to conclude that a woman was the killer. Achuthankutty finds a woman's photograph in Harikrishnan's diary. The investigation leads to a middle-aged woman: Parvathi, who has now become Bhagini Sevamayi, a saint who has long renounced her identity and has been living in a Hindu ashram ever since. He arrests her as she refuses to answer his questions. Shilpa tries to talk to Achuthankutty as Bhagini turns out to be her aunt.


He is told about a relation between Harikrishnan and Shilpa. He is not able to figure out whether the relationship is paternal or romantic. Shilpa breaks down and tells him that Harikrishnan was like an uncle and guide for her, but somehow her mother could not digest their relationship. Achuthankutty then uncovers Harikrishnan's past from Shilpa's mother.
Later, he is told more about the relation between Harikrishnan and Shilpa by Shilpa's mother and that she would visit him a lot. He is not able to figure out whether the relationship is purely paternal, seeing as she does not have a father figure in her life, or romantic. Shilpa breaks down and tells him that Harikrishnan was like an uncle and guide for her, but somehow her mother could not digest their relationship. Achuthankutty then uncovers Harikrishnan's past from Shilpa's mother.


As lecturers in their youth, Harikrishnan was trying to woo her friend. She tried to stand between them, and Harikrishnan rapes her. Her dejected friend eventually took up the life of a nun. Shilpa is Harikrishnan's illicit child and she was unhappy with their relationship because she suspected Harikrishnan would abuse his own daughter. She accepts that she had planned to kill Harikrishnan, but found him dead when she arrived at his house.
As lecturers in their youth, Harikrishnan was a flirt. He gets into a relationship with a girl, who is revealed to be Parvathi, the woman that had been apprehended early. She tries to warn Parvathi about his flirtatious nature and bad intentions yet she wouldn't listen. Harikrishnan denies this and convinces Parvathi that he is loyal. He then rapes Shilpa's mother and leaves, breaking Parvathi's heart who eventually took up the life of a nun. Shilpa is revealed to be Harikrishnan's illicit child and her mother was afraid he would do the same to his own daughter without the knowledge that she was his child. She accepts that she had planned to kill Harikrishnan, but found him dead when she arrived at his house.


Achuthankutty decides to question Shilpa and her mother again, with more brutal methods. His brother Anil unsuccessfully tries to change his mind. Anil finally confesses his love for Shilpa, became jealous of Harikrishnan and killed him. He then commits suicide, leaving a bewildered Achuthankutty staring at his corpse. Achuthankutty burns Anil's suicide note.
Achuthankutty decides to question Shilpa and her mother again, with more brutal methods. His brother Anil unsuccessfully tries to change his mind. Anil finally confesses his love for Shilpa. He then reveals that it was he who had murdered Harikrishnan out of jealousy but that it was an accident. He then commits suicide, leaving a bewildered Achuthankutty staring at his corpse. Achuthankutty burns Anil's suicide note and declares that he is unable to find the culprit.


==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Mammootty]] as Film director Harikrishnan
*[[Mohanlal]] as [[Deputy superintendent of police|DySP]] Achuthankutty
*[[Mohanlal]] as [[Deputy superintendent of police|DySP]] Achuthankutty
*[[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]] as Anil Kumar / Achuthankutty's brother  
*[[Mammootty]] as Film director Harikrishnan(Character that in flashback seen)
*[[Karthika (Malayalam_actress)|Karthika]] as Shilpa  
*[[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]] as Anil Kumar, Achuthankutty's brother  
*[[Karthika (Malayalam actress)|Karthika]] as Shilpa  
*[[Sripriya]] as Shilpa's mother
*[[Sripriya]] as Shilpa's mother
*[[Jalaja]] as Ragini
*[[Jalaja]] as Ragini
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*[[Valsala Menon]] as actress Thulasi's mother
*[[Valsala Menon]] as actress Thulasi's mother
*Krishnankutty Nair as watchman Appu Pilla
*Krishnankutty Nair as watchman Appu Pilla
*Prem Prakash as Menon
*[[Prem Prakash]] as Menon


==Production==
==Production==
The film is based on the [[radio drama]] ''Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham'' written by Sudhakar Mangalodayam and broadcast on [[Akashavani]]. His name was credited as Sudhakar P. Nair in the film. The film was first titled ''Aram'' (''അറം''), but later changed to ''Kariyilakkattu Pole'' due to superstitious reasons.<ref>{{cite news |title='അറം' അങ്ങനെ കരിയിലക്കാറ്റ് പോലെ'യായി; അന്ധവിശ്വാസങ്ങളുടെ ഫലമായി പേര് മാറ്റിയ അറിയാക്കഥ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/sudhakar-mangalodhayam-padmarajan-ananthapadmanabhan-kariyilakkattupole-movie-1.4913805 |access-date=1 August 2020 |work=[[Mathrubhumi|മാതൃഭൂമി]] |date=18 July 2020 |language=ml}}</ref> The title was taken from a short story written by Padmarajan titled "Kariyilakkattu Pole".{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
The film is based on the [[radio drama]] ''Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham'' written by [[Sudhakar Mangalodayam]] and broadcast on [[Akashavani]]. His name was credited as Sudhakar P. Nair in the film. The film was first titled ''Aram'' (''അറം''), but later changed to ''Kariyilakkattu Pole'' due to superstitious reasons.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news |title='അറം' അങ്ങനെ കരിയിലക്കാറ്റ് പോലെ'യായി; അന്ധവിശ്വാസങ്ങളുടെ ഫലമായി പേര് മാറ്റിയ അറിയാക്കഥ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/sudhakar-mangalodhayam-padmarajan-ananthapadmanabhan-kariyilakkattupole-movie-1.4913805 |access-date=1 August 2020 |work=[[Mathrubhumi|മാതൃഭൂമി]] |date=18 July 2020 |language=ml}}&lt;/ref&gt; The title was taken from a short story written by Padmarajan titled "Kariyilakkattu Pole".{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1986 films]]
[[Category:1986 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:1986 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:1980s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:1980s mystery films]]
[[Category:1980s mystery films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Indian mystery thriller films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Padmarajan]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Padmarajan]]
[[Category:Films scored by Johnson]]
[[Category:Films directed by Padmarajan]]
[[Category:Films directed by Padmarajan]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]

Revision as of 02:32, 4 March 2026

Kariyilakkattu Pole
Poster designed by Roy P. Thomas
Directed byP. Padmarajan
Produced byThankachan
Screenplay byP. Padmarajan
Story bySudhakar Mangalodayam
StarringMohanlal<br>Mammootty<br>Rahman<br>Sripriya<br>Karthika<br>Jalaja<br>Unni Mary
Music byJohnson
CinematographyVenu
Edited byB. Lenin
Production
company
Distributed byJubilee Productions
Release date
  • 21 March 1986 (1986-03-21)
Running time
138 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Kariyilakkattu Pole (transl. Like a zephyr of dry leaves) is a 1986 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film written and directed by P. Padmarajan. It is based on the radio drama Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham by Sudhakar Mangalodayam, the plot follows DySP Achuthankutty who is investigating the murder of a film director, Harikrishnan.<ref>Midhun (15 January 2021). "Top 10 Malayalam Thriller Movies of 90s". The PrimeTime. Retrieved 11 July 2021.</ref> The film stars Mohanlal, Mammootty, Rahman, Sripriya, Karthika, Jalaja, and Unni Mary. The background score was composed by Johnson.<ref>Ravindranath, Sarita (5 August 2014). "Murder and the Malayalee". Sify. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.</ref> A Padmarajan classic, the film is widely considered one of the best investigative thrillers ever made in Malayalam.<ref>"Five Mollywood investigative thrillers the world should watch". International Business Times. 21 July 2019.</ref>

Plot

Harikrishnan, a famous movie director, is found dead at his house one morning. Deputy Superintendent of Police Achuthankutty is assigned to probe the death. Anilkumar, his younger brother, is in love with Shilpa, who had personally known the director and was shocked by his death. Achuthan Kutty's investigation leads to three different female suspects.

A woman's shoe from the murder scene and other shreds of evidence leads Achuthankutty to conclude that a woman was the killer. Achuthankutty finds a woman's photograph in Harikrishnan's diary. The investigation leads to a middle-aged woman: Parvathi, who has now become Bhagini Sevamayi, a saint who has long renounced her identity and has been living in a Hindu ashram ever since. He arrests her as she refuses to answer his questions. Shilpa tries to talk to Achuthankutty as Bhagini turns out to be her aunt.

Later, he is told more about the relation between Harikrishnan and Shilpa by Shilpa's mother and that she would visit him a lot. He is not able to figure out whether the relationship is purely paternal, seeing as she does not have a father figure in her life, or romantic. Shilpa breaks down and tells him that Harikrishnan was like an uncle and guide for her, but somehow her mother could not digest their relationship. Achuthankutty then uncovers Harikrishnan's past from Shilpa's mother.

As lecturers in their youth, Harikrishnan was a flirt. He gets into a relationship with a girl, who is revealed to be Parvathi, the woman that had been apprehended early. She tries to warn Parvathi about his flirtatious nature and bad intentions yet she wouldn't listen. Harikrishnan denies this and convinces Parvathi that he is loyal. He then rapes Shilpa's mother and leaves, breaking Parvathi's heart who eventually took up the life of a nun. Shilpa is revealed to be Harikrishnan's illicit child and her mother was afraid he would do the same to his own daughter without the knowledge that she was his child. She accepts that she had planned to kill Harikrishnan, but found him dead when she arrived at his house.

Achuthankutty decides to question Shilpa and her mother again, with more brutal methods. His brother Anil unsuccessfully tries to change his mind. Anil finally confesses his love for Shilpa. He then reveals that it was he who had murdered Harikrishnan out of jealousy but that it was an accident. He then commits suicide, leaving a bewildered Achuthankutty staring at his corpse. Achuthankutty burns Anil's suicide note and declares that he is unable to find the culprit.

Cast

Production

The film is based on the radio drama Sisirathil Oru Prabhatham written by Sudhakar Mangalodayam and broadcast on Akashavani. His name was credited as Sudhakar P. Nair in the film. The film was first titled Aram (അറം), but later changed to Kariyilakkattu Pole due to superstitious reasons.<ref>"'അറം' അങ്ങനെ കരിയിലക്കാറ്റ് പോലെ'യായി; അന്ധവിശ്വാസങ്ങളുടെ ഫലമായി പേര് മാറ്റിയ അറിയാക്കഥ". മാതൃഭൂമി (in മലയാളം). 18 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.</ref> The title was taken from a short story written by Padmarajan titled "Kariyilakkattu Pole".[citation needed]

References

External links