Ustaad (1999 film)
Ustaad (transl. Master) is a 1999 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Ranjith. The film was produced by Ranjith and Shaji Kailas. The plot follows Parameshwaran (Mohanlal), a soft-spoken businessman who leads a double life as an underworld don named Ustaad, he takes care of his younger sister Padmaja (Divyaa Unni), his only family. The film also features Indraja, Narendra Prasad, N. F. Varghese, Rajeev, and Vineeth.
Ustaad | |
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Poster | |
Directed by | Sibi Malayil |
Produced by | Shaji Kailas Ranjith |
Written by | Ranjith |
Starring | Mohanlal Divyaa Unni Vineeth Saikumar |
Music by | Vidyasagar Thej Mervin C. Rajamani (score) |
Cinematography | Anandakuttan |
Edited by | L. Bhoominathan |
Production company | Country Talkies |
Distributed by | Swargachitra |
Release date |
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Running time | 165 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Malayalam |
The songs were composed by Vidyasagar and Thej Mervin, while C. Rajamani provided the background score. Ustaad was released on 5 May 1999. The film was a commercial success at the box office and ran over 100 days in theatres, becoming one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year.[1]
Plot
Ustaad was a powerful underworld don in Mumbai. He decides to stop everything and settle down in his home town with his sister Padmaja. Before he goes back, he sends his people Sami and Sethu to Yousuf Shah Associates to withdraw his share. Yousuf Shah, however, is not ready to give him a single penny. When Sulaiman, Yousuf's manager, creates a problem, Ustaad uses it to take his share of the money by force.
Back in Kozhikode, his hometown, Ustaad is merely Parameshwaran, an adorable brother and guardian to his younger sister Padmaja. He maintains a low profile as a businessman who has ventured into real estate.
Padmaja has fallen in love with her friend and dance teacher Nandan, who is the son of Koliyodan Shekharan, a businessman who has not been doing so well, mainly because of the extravagant lifestyle of his older son Koliyodan Giri. Mohan Thampy, Shekharan's son-in-law, is a business tycoon and a politician as well. Thampy originally was helped financially by Shekharan, but over time, he got more involved with the underworld, and due to that they have a strained relationship.
Varsha, a newly appointed police commissioner, does not like Parameshwaran. Meanwhile, Padmaja wants to marry Nandan, to which Parameshwaran gives his approval. The night before the wedding, Parameshwaran is arrested by Varsha for gold smuggling. He learns that his arrest was set up by Yousuf Shah and Thampy. Varsha later realizes her mistake, and vows to support Parameshwaran.
Thampy then devises a plan to vanquish Ustaad. He force Padmaja to vow her properties to help her father-in-law who has a large debt to Thampy. As a mediator, Thampy gives some money to Giri and advise him to keep it on Nandan's office room and will inform the police and make Nandan and Padmaja arrest for money laundering. This enrages Ustaad. He finds Thampy who is in the protection of a minister. He makes him speak all the truth in front of Varsha.
Later Yousuf threatens Ustaad by telling him that he will kill his sister by bomb and breaks his right hand. Ustaad hunts down Yousuf Shah, who flees to Dubai, and finally defeats him in the desert. He flies back to join his sister and family.
Cast
- Mohanlal as Ustaad / Parameshwaran
- Divya Unni as Padmaja / Pappa
- Rajeev as Yousuf Shah
- Vineeth as Nandan
- Saikumar as Koliyodan Giri
- Indraja as Kshama
- Janardhanan as Swamy
- Innocent as Kunji Palu
- N. F. Varghese as Mohan Thampy
- Vani Viswanath as Varsha Varma
- Narendra Prasad as Koliyodan Shekharan
- K. B. Ganesh Kumar as Sethu
- Maniyanpilla Raju as Adv.Abraham
- Siddique as Irani
- Augustine as Ali Abu
- Cochin Hanifa as Shivaji Rao/Kuttikrishnan
- Chithra as Ambika, Mohan Thampy's Wife
- Kunchan as Appootty
- Jomol as Sister of Yousaf Shah (Cameo Appearance)
- Sudheesh as Husband of Yousaf Shah's Sister (Cameo Appearance)
- Srividya as Dr.Malathi Menon, Kshama's Mother
- Sadiq as Police Superintendent
- Sindhu as Raji, Giri's Wife
- Santhakumari as Devakiyamma
- Thambi Kannanthanam as Yousaf Shah's Partner
- Manka Mahesh as Varsha's Mother
- Sajitha Betti as Kshama's Friend
- Mafia Sasi as Sulaiman, Yousaf Shah's Henchman
- Abu Salim as Yousaf Shah's Henchman
- Prasanna Master as dancer(cameo appearance)
Production
The song "Theerchayilla Janam" was filmed at the AVM Studio in Chennai, for which a set was constructed resembling a bar. It was choreographed by Kala. The song was sung by Mohanlal and featured himself along with dancers, club members, and the villains.[2]
Soundtrack
The songs soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar and Thej Mervin ("Thirchayilla"). The lyrics were by Gireesh Puthenchery and Kannan Pareekutty ("Theerchayilla").
Track | Song | Singer(s) | Notes |
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1 | Vennila Kombile | K. J. Yesudas | |
2 | Chil Chil Chil Chilamboli | M. G. Sreekumar, Chorus | |
3 | Theerchayilla | Mohanlal | Lyrics: Kannan Pareekutty Music: Thej Mervin |
4 | Chandramukhi | M. G. Sreekumar, Srinivas, Sujatha Mohan, Radhika Thilak | |
5 | Vennila Kombile | Srinivas | |
6 | Naadodi Poonthinkal | M. G. Sreekumar, Sujatha Mohan | Raga: Naatta |
7 | Chandramukhi | Instrumental |
Reception
Ustaad was released on 5 May 1999. The film was a commercial success at the box office and ran over 100 days in theatres, becoming one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year.[1] The movie was speculated to be an inspiration for the 2015 Tamil movie Vedalam.[3]
References
- ശങ്കർ, അനൂപ് (4 January 2018). "തിളക്കം മങ്ങാതെ ഉസ്താദ്..! : Superhit Movies". Deepika (in Malayalam). Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- Sebastian, Shevlin (26 September 2017). "The superstar who takes risks". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- https://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/news/2015/is-thala-ajith-s-vedalam-inspired-from-mohanlal-s-malayalam-film-ustaad-203774.html