Adharvam
Adharvam (Malayalam: അഥര്വ്വം) is a 1989 Malayalam drama film directed by Dennis Joseph and written by Shibu Chakravarthy, starring Mammootty, Ganesh Kumar, Charuhasan, Silk Smitha, Thilakan, and Parvathy. Mammootty played the role of Anantha Padmanabhan, an expert in mystic tantric rituals. The songs and background score of the movie were by Ilaiyaraaja.
| Adharvam | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Dennis Joseph |
| Produced by | Eeraly Balan |
| Written by | Shibu Chakravarthy |
| Starring | Mammootty Charuhasan Ganesh Kumar Silk Smitha Thilakan Jose Prakash Parvathy Jayabharathi |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Cinematography | Anandakuttan Ajayan Vincent |
| Edited by | K. Shankunny |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Plot
Thevalli Namboodiri(Charuhasan) is a renowned Astrologer, one day while helping the people of his village to find the root cause of some mishaps, Thevalli finds out that the problems are due the black magic and other tantric kriyas performed by Mekkadan Namboodiri, on the request of the villagers Thevalli goes to meet Mekkadan who is also a childhood friend, but Mekkadan does not value the words of Thevalli and more over tell him that his illicit son born out of a low caste woman Malu (Jayabharathi) will become his disciple and practice these dark arts. Thevalli gets concerned, during the Upanayanam of his actual son, he sees his illicit son also, Thevalli decides to teach both of them the 3 Vedas to he tries to develop both the sons to be illustrious on the advice of his mentor Thirumeni (Jose Prakash). Anantha padmanabhan (Mammootty) who is the illicit son of Thevalli becomes a master of vedas and Tantric painting, he loves the daughter of Putthedan Namboodiri (Jagannatha Varma) who is an aristocratic bramhin and loathes Anantha Padmanabha. While Vishnu the second son studies in the city where he loves a girl Usha(Parvathy). One day while a Thevalli is doing a prashanam (astrological prediction) asks Ananthan for an opinion in front of all the assembled nambodiris, Puthedan insults Ananthan based on his birth, Anathan leaves abruptly, he is followed by Mekkadan who sympathises with him and welcomes him to study atharvaveda. Later when Anathan and his lover are caught by the Putheddan, who drags his daughter away and beats up Ananthan and burns his house, anathan's old mother is not able to escape and dies in the fire. This prompts Ananthan to seek vengeance and wreak havoc in his village, he seeks out Mekkadan, and offers to become his disciple, they move on to a remote location and practice Dark Magic. Later on Mekkadan dies, but Anathan continues this leads to severe calamities and deaths in his village. Anathan uses his power and magic to keep the tribals around his house happy and sevre him. The daughter of the tribal chief Ponni (Silk Smitha) offers herself to Anathan who maintains his celibacy and uses Ponni for advanced Abhichara Karma. To put a stop to all this Thevalli asks his younger son to meet his elder brother and dissuade him from destroying the village. Vishnu along with his friends travel to the forests where the house of Ananthan is located, the tribals refuse to help them. Anathan himself comes and warns Vishnu not to interfere. Friends of Anathan hurt the village chief badly to make sure Anathamn leaves his house to treat the chief. While Anathan is away from his home Vishnu and his friends enter the house and revoke a counter tantric measures, in spite of Vishnu's warning when his friend removes the magical protection which saves the house from the destructive powers of nature, he is killed by an entity. As a result, a storm wreaks havoc in the entire area. Vishnu places Ushan inside a magical circle for her protection, Usha awakens the destructive powers of nature when she places a circle inside a Tantric kalam. This releases all the entities who were enslaved by Ananthan seeking revenge. While returning Ananthan understands that someone has entered his mansion, while crossing the river with ponni the boat overturns and she dies. Another friend of Vishnu is killed by Tribals, Anathan who reaches the mansion find the all the entities enslaved by him are trying to get their revenge, after instructing Vishnu to seek blessing of the Devi Idol in the basement of his house. Ananthan leads away all the powers to a remote place, understanding his mistake of using the power of nature to destroy he offers himself as to the Goddess, lightning strikes and burns him alive. The entities destroy the whole mansion of Ananthan. Vishnu and Usha who seek refuge at the feet of the Goddess are saved.
Cast
- Mammootty as Anantha Padmanabhan
- Charuhasan as Thevalli
- Ganesh Kumar as Vishnu
- Silk Smitha as Ponni
- Parvathy as Usha
- Jayabharathi as Malu
- Thilakan as Mekkadan
- Jagannatha Varma as Putthedan
- Jose Prakash as Thirumeni
- Sukumari as Thevalli's wife
- Kiran Vergis as young Anantha Padmanabhan
- Kunchan as Subramani
- Trichur Elsi
- Baby Abhijit Venu as Mythreyan
Crew
- Direction: Dennis Joseph
- Screenplay: Shibu Chakravarthy
- Story: Shibu Chakravarthy
- Producer: Eerally Balan
- Music: Ilaiyaraaja
- Editing: K. Shankunny
- Cinematography: Anandakuttan, A. Vincent, Ajayan Vincent
- Art Direction: Rajeev Anchal
- Makeup: M. O. Devassiya
- Stunts: A. R. Basha
Soundtrack
The songs were composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics were written by O. N. V. Kurup.
- "Puzhayorathil" - K. S. Chithra
- "Ambilikkalayum Neerum" - K. S. Chithra
- "Om Midhye" - P. Jayachandran, Ilaiyaraaja
- "Poovayi Virinju" - M. G. Sreekumar, Ilaiyaraaja