SanglapGeographer at 21:26, 3 March 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Chenkol
| image = Chenkol.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Sibi Malayil]]
| writer = [[A. K. Lohithadas]]
| starring = [[Mohanlal]] [[Thilakan]] [[Surbhi Javeri Vyas]] [[Mohan Raj]] [[Kaviyoor Ponnamma]]
| producer = N. Krishnakumar
| music = [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]]
| cinematography = [[Venu (cinematographer)|Venu]]
| studio = Kripa Films
| distributor = Kripa V.A.P.
| editing = L. Bhoominathan
| released = {{Film date|1993|12|10|df=y}}
| runtime = 163 minutes
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget =
| gross =
}}

'''''Chenkol''''' ({{Translation|[[Sceptre]]}}) is a 1993 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[action drama film]] directed by [[Sibi Malayil]] and written by [[A. K. Lohithadas]]. A sequel to the 1989 film ''[[Kireedam (1989 film)|Kireedam]]'', the story continues Sethumadhavan's ([[Mohanlal]]) story after his prison term and his life back into society.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/malayalam-films-which-led-to-sequels/photostory/52309945.cms | title=Malayalam films which led to sequels | website=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref> The movie was produced by Krishnakumar. It also features [[Thilakan]], [[Surbhi Javeri Vyas]], [[Mohan Raj]], and [[Kaviyoor Ponnamma]]. The film's music was composed by [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/1241/malayalam/chenkol/index.htm|title=Chenkol (1993) | Chenkol Malayalam Movie | Movie Reviews, Showtimes|access-date=18 October 2010|archive-date=8 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008180924/http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/1241/malayalam/chenkol/index.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2016/malayalam-films-that-would-leave-you-teary-eyed-228196.html | title=7 Malayalam Films That Would Definitely Leave You Teary-Eyed! | date=30 May 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/420608/birth-tragic-hero.html | title=Birth of a tragic hero | date=19 July 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/malayalam-actors-young-generation-are-ease-shanthi-krishna-tnm-67628 | title=Malayalam actors of the young generation are at ease: Shanthi Krishna to TNM | date=30 August 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/marathi/actor-nilesh-sable-mourns-the-sad-demise-of-veteran-actor-ramesh-deo-says-met-him-recently-his-desire-to-work-as-an-artist-till-the-end-was-inspiring/articleshow/89305981.cms | title=Actor Nilesh Sable mourns the sad demise of veteran actor Ramesh Deo, says 'Met him recently, his desire to work as an artist till the end was inspiring' - Times of India | website=[[The Times of India]] | date=2 February 2022 }}</ref>

==Plot==
Sethumadhavan is released after serving imprisonment of seven years in central jail [[Kireedam (1989 film)|for murdering Keerikadan Jose]], a hardcore criminal. Though it was by accident, which he did to save his life, society is not ready to accept it. For them, he is now a hardcore criminal who had killed someone who ruled the streets for long years. Upon release, Sethu visits the medical college to meet his younger brother, Rameshan, who is doing a course in medicine. However, Rameshan responds coldly and indirectly asks Sethu not to make any further visits as it may hurt his reputation.

Sethu realizes that the world around him has undergone a severe change. At home though, his mother, Ammu, is elated to see him, but his father, Achuthan Nair, is not too keen on having him at home. Achuthan Nair, who always wanted Sethu to be a police inspector, broke down completely after Sethu's conviction and turned into an alcoholic. Remorseful, Sethu looks forward to building up a life outside the jail but fails to find employment due to the tag of an "ex-convict" labeled on him.

Sethu tries to catch up with his old friend, Najeeb, who tells him about the present physical condition of Parameshwaran, whom Sethu had severely assaulted in a bid to save his own life. Fully paralysed, Parameshwaran now runs a cycle repair shop with the help of his wife and daughter. Sethu meets Parameshawaran, now a completely changed man. With his help, Sethu begins selling fish for a living. Keerikadan Jose had an affair with another woman named Madhavi Varma and had two children, Indu and her brother. The illegitimate wife and children of Keerikadan Jose suffer constant threats from his family after his death. The siblings of Jose, who were looking for a chance to unleash vengeance upon Sethu, attack him violently. He is saved by Indu, who happens to be the illegitimate daughter of Keerikadan Jose. She expresses sympathy for him and encourages him to live a new life. Once, in a bid to escape from the Keerikadan brothers, Sethu beats them up. Achuthan Nair blames Sethu and asks him to stay away from their house, which he agrees to. However, Sethu gradually realizes that for others, he is still a criminal.

The local police officer warns Sethu for no reason and humiliates him, which creates deep mental anguish in him. He undergoes deep psychological torture, which slowly transforms him into another person. To counter the attacks from Keerikadan's family, Sethu becomes a thug of a local businessman. He slowly becomes a hardcore criminal and has several criminal cases pending at the police station. However, he overcomes them and withdraws the cases with the help of local politicians. With time, his relationship with Indu grows, and he asks her mother for her hand in marriage, which she refuses, flatly citing that he is a criminal whose life has no guarantee. This incident strikes him deeply, and he decides to change. In the meantime, Sethu shockingly finds out that his sister, under the veil of drama acting, is into prostitution, that too with their father acting as the pimp. This is a severe mental blow to Sethu, and he reacts violently to his father. Achuthan Nair, unable to face his son, commits suicide by hanging himself on the ceiling fan of a hotel where the business takes place. Sethu now shifts back to his old village with the rest of his family and starts farming.

Slowly, Madhavi agrees to get Indu married to Sethu, but their teenage son maintains a bitter hatred towards Sethu. Karadi Antony, a dangerous criminal and the younger brother of Keerikadan is now released from jail and is back to avenge his brother's death. He hunts down Sethu and Indu's family but is killed by Sethu. However, he is shocked when the illegitimate son of Keerikadan (brother of Indu), at this crucial moment, fatally stabs Sethu. Sethu advises him to run away from the spot to save himself, otherwise, he will end up as another criminal of circumstances. Watching him run away, Sethu closes his eyes. At the time of his death, the tagline shows the following; "''The story of a prince who lost his crown and sceptre ends here''".

==Cast==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Mohanlal]] as Sethumadhavan, now an ex-convict and troubled man
* [[Thilakan]] as Retd. Police Head Constable Achuthan Nair, Sethu's father
* [[Surbhi Javeri Vyas]] as Indu
* Jojan Kanjany as Keerikadan Antony (Karadi), the main villain who is Keerikadan Jose's brother.
* [[Usha (actress)|Usha]] as Latha, Sethu's younger sister
* [[Mohan Raj]] as Keerikkadan Jose, Indu's foster father and Sethu's deceased enemy.
* [[Kaviyoor Ponnamma]] as Ammu, Achuthan Nair's wife and Sethu's mother
* [[Sreenath]] as Keshu, Sethu's friend
* [[Sankaradi]] as Krishnan Nair, Sethu's maternal uncle and Devi's father
* [[Santhakumari (Malayalam actress)|Santhakumari]] as Bharathi, Krishnan Nair's wife, Devi's mother, and Sethu's aunt
* [[Cochin Haneefa]] as Haidrose
* [[Kundara Johny]] as Parameshwaran
* [[Spadikam George]] as Keerikkadan Thomas, Jose's elder brother
* [[Meghanathan]] as Keerikkadan Sunny, Jose's younger brother
* [[Mamukkoya]] as ASI Hameed
* [[Shammi Thilakan]] as SI John Mathew, the aggressive and cruel police officer who has a strong hatred against Sethu.
* [[Maniyanpilla Raju]] as Najeeb, a shopkeeper and Hameed's son, Sethu's friend.
* [[Shanthi Krishna]] as Madhavi Varma, Jose's second wife and Indu's mother
* Yadukrishnan as Rameshan, Sethu's youngest brother and a student of medicine
* [[Kanakalatha]] as Ambika, Sethu's divorced elder sister
* [[Nandu (Malayalam actor)|Nandu]] as Ratheesh, Prisoner
* [[Shivaji (Malayalam actor)|Shivaji]] as Diwakaran
* [[Kothuku Nanappan]]
{{colend}}

==Soundtrack==
The songs were composed by [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]] master and lyrics were penned by [[Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri|Kaithapram]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Track !! Song title !! Singer(s) !! [[Raga]]
|-
| 1 || ''Pathira Paalkadavil'' || K. J. Yesudas, [[Sujatha Mohan]] || [[Kalyani (raga)|Kalyani]]
|-
| 2 || ''Madhuram Jeevamrutha'' || [[K. J. Yesudas]] || [[Kapi (raga)|Kapi]]
|-
| 3 || ''Madhuram Jeevamrutha'' || [[K. S. Chithra]] || Kapi
|}

==Awards==
;[[Kerala State Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=State Film Awards (1991)|url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards3.htm|website=Prd.kerala.gov.in|publisher=[[Department of Information and Public Relations (Kerala)|Department of Information and Public Relations]]|access-date=5 November 2016|date=1991|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234157/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawards3.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer|Best Playback Singer (Male)]] – [[K. J. Yesudas]]

;[[Kerala Film Critics Association Awards|Kerala Film Critics Award]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-17 |title=Film Critics Awards Complete List From 1977 Till 2012 |url=https://www.keralafilmcritics.com/2020/10/film-critics-awards-complete-list-from.html |website=Kerala Film Critics Association}}</ref>
* [[Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress|Second Best Actress]] – [[Kaviyoor Ponnamma]]
* [[Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Male Playback Singer|Best Male Playback Singer]] – K. J. Yesudas
* [[Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]] – [[Sujatha Mohan]]

== Reception ==
The film was released on 10 December 1993. In an interview in August 1997, praising Mohanlal's performance, Lohithadas said, "I feel he performed the best in ''Chenkol''. Then comes ''Kireedom.'' And ''Bharatham'' comes only later. In ''Chenkol'' he surprised me with his expressions. There was an amazing quality in the way he walked, talked and even sat".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rediff On The Net, Movies: An interview with Lohitadas, director of the Malayalam film, Bhoothakkannadi |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/aug/11lo1.htm |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0237094}}
* [https://archive.today/20130217233317/http://popcorn.oneindia.in/title/6745/chenkol.html]

{{A. K. Lohithadas}}
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1993 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Indian sequel films]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Indian prison films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:Malayalam films in series|EKireedom2]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sibi Malayil]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by A. K. Lohithadas]]
[[Category:Films scored by Johnson]]

Chenkol - Revision history

SanglapGeographer at 21:26, 3 March 2026