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{{short description|1988 Malayalam film by Priyadarshan}}
{{about|the [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam film]]|the 2000 [[Telugu film]]|Chitram}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Chithram
| image = Chithram poster.jpg
| caption =
| alt =
| director = [[Priyadarshan]]
| producer = [[P. K. R. Pillai]]
| writer = Priyadarshan
| screenplay =
| starring = {{plainlist|
* [[Mohanlal]]
* [[Ranjini (actress)|Ranjini]]
* [[Lissy (actress)|Lissy]]
* [[Nedumudi Venu]]
* [[Poornam Viswanathan]]
* [[Sreenivasan]]
}}
| music = '''Songs''': [[Kannur Rajan]] '''Background Score''': [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]]
| cinematography = [[S. Kumar (cinematographer)|S. Kumar]]
| editing = N. Gopalakrishnan
| studio = Shirdi Sai Creations
| distributor = Shirdi Sai Release
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1988|12|23|[[Kerala]]}}
| runtime = 160 minutes
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget = {{INR}}44 Lakhs<ref name="film"/>
| gross = {{INR|3.5{{ndash}}4 crore}}{{efn|''Chithram''{{'s}} reported grosses vary between ₹3.5 crore (''[[Mangalam Publications|Mangalam]]''<ref name="film"/>) – ₹4 crore (''[[Malayala Manorama]]''<ref name="mm">{{Cite web |last=Sreedhar |first=Sajil |date=2025-04-11 |title=Mohanlal: The star who blends acting brilliance with box office might |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/11/malayalam-cinema-box-office-hits-mohanlal-films.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=[[Malayala Manorama|OnManorama]]}}</ref>)}}
}}

'''''Chithram''''' ({{Translation|Picture}}) is a 1988 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[screwball comedy]] film written and directed by [[Priyadarshan]]. The film was produced by [[P. K. R. Pillai]] under his production house Shirdi Sai Creations, and stars [[Mohanlal]], [[Ranjini (actress)|Ranjini]], [[Nedumudi Venu]], [[Lizy (actress)|Lizy]], [[Poornam Viswanathan]], [[Sreenivasan]], [[M. G. Soman]], [[Sukumari]], [[Maniyanpilla Raju]], and [[Shanavas]], while [[Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair]] makes a cameo appearance. The songs were composed by [[Kannur Rajan]] and [[film score]] by [[Johnson (composer)|Johnson]]. [[Mohanlal]] won the [[Kerala State Film Award - Special Jury Award]] for his performance in this film as ''Vishnu''.

''Chithram'' was released during the [[Christmas]] weekend on 23 December 1988. Made on a budget of {{INR}}4.4 million, the film grossed around {{INR}}40 million at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time.<ref name="film"/><ref name="mm" />

==Plot==
Kalyani is the daughter of a wealthy [[Non-resident Indian|NRI]] Ramachandran Menon who resides in the [[United States]]. Kalyani, brought up in [[Madras]] by her father's friend Purushothaman Kaimal, falls in love with another man and decides to marry against the wishes of her father. When her boyfriend finds out that she will be disinherited, he ditches her at the altar. Then her father writes a letter that he decides to approve her husband and wants to spend a fortnight's vacation with his daughter and son-in-law in his estate near a tribal community where Menon is the chief. As her father is already ill and because this may be his last vacation, Kalyani and Kaimal want to make it as happy for him as possible. They decide to hide the fact that her boyfriend dumped her.

Kaimal then sees Vishnu who played a trick on a foreigner by telling a lie to him that his brother cannot swim. When the foreigner jumps into the river, Vishnu runs off with his clothes. The foreigner questions and asks Kaimal about his clothes, and Kaimal gets slapped. Kaimal then goes to Vishnu and confronts him for stealing the clothes. Vishnu states his urgent need for money and Kaimal hires Vishnu to play the part of the husband for 14 days. Meanwhile, Kalyani's cousin Bhaskaran Nambiar who is the caretaker of the estate was expected to inherit Menon's estate and property when Kalyani was disinherited, is determined not to let go without a fight. He knows that Vishnu is not Kalyani's husband and makes various botched attempts to prove this.

Initially, Vishnu and Kalyani do not get along and keep bickering. But as time passes, Kalyani sees Vishnu's heart as he tied the mangalasutra around her neck, just in time before her father came (Bhaskaran informed him that she didn't have the mangalasutra around her neck). Kalyani eventually develops an affection towards Vishnu and hopes to marry him for real. A couple of days later, they have a mysterious visitor who claims to be a relative of Vishnu.

Finally, it is revealed that Vishnu is actually an escaped convict from jail who is sentenced to death and the visitor turns out to be the [[Corrections officer|prison warden]]. Vishnu's past is shown in flashback and he was a freelance photographer who was married to a woman named Revathy, a mute dancer. They also had a child. Vishnu discovers that a man was visiting his wife when he was not around and begins to suspect her. Coming home one day he finds the man there and tries to attack him. Revathy dies in the scuffle, and Vishnu discovers that the man is actually her brother who is a [[naxalite]]. He tells Kalyani that he escaped prison to make money for the surgery of his child.

On the last night of Vishnu's stay at the house, he asks Jail Warden, is it possible for him to live, as he started to like life again. The warden does not reply to this question, as he is helpless regarding this. After a happy fortnight, Kalyani's father returns to the US. The final scene shows the warden taking Vishnu to jail, where his execution awaits him, with Kalyani watching him leave. This film ends with Vishnu and Kalyani waving goodbye.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Mohanlal]] as Vishnu<ref name="toi">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/filmyfriday-chithram-vishnus-golden-rule-to-life-is-living-in-the-moment/articleshow/87794044.cms|title=#FilmyFriday: Chithram: Vishnu's golden rule to life is 'living in the moment'|first=Silpa|last=Rajan|date=12 November 2021|website=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=6 April 2022}}</ref>
* [[Ranjini (actress)|Ranjini]] as Kalyani, Vishnu's Love Interest <ref name="toi"/>
* [[Nedumudi Venu]] as Adv. Purushothama Kaimal, Kalyani's Uncle <ref name="toi"/>
* [[Poornam Viswanathan]] as Ramachandra Menon, Kalyani's Father (voice by [[Narendra Prasad]])<ref name="toi"/>
* [[Sreenivasan]] as Bhaskaran Nambiar, Kalyani's Cousin <ref name="toi"/>
* [[M. G. Soman]] as Jail Superintendent <ref name="toi"/>
* [[Lizzy (actress)|Lissy]] as Revathy, Vishnu's Deceased Wife
* [[Jagadish]] as Vishnu's Friend
* [[Maniyanpilla Raju]] as Murugan, Nambiar's Helper<ref name="toi"/>
* [[Sukumari]] as Subhadra, Ramachandra Menon's Sister and Bhaskaran Nambiar's Mother
* [[Unni Mary]] as Bhaskaran Nambiar's Sister
* [[Shanavas (actor)|Shanavas]] as Raveendran (Ravi), Kalyani's Ex-Lover
* Chandraji as Kattumooppan
* [[Soorya (actress)|Soorya]] as Mooppan's Daughter
* [[Bobby Kottarakkara]] as Krishnankutty Nair, Marriage Broker
* [[Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair]] as Varma, Revathy's Father (Cameo)
* [[K. B. Ganesh Kumar]] as Revathy's Brother (Cameo)
* [[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]] as Money Lender (Cameo)
}}

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Chithram
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Kannur Rajan]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1987
| recorded = 1987
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label = Ranjini Cassettes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chithram Malayalam Film Audio Cassette |url=https://mossymart.com/product/chithram-malayalam-film-audio-cassette/ |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Mossymart}}</ref>

 [[Satyam Audios]]
| producer = [[P. K. R. Pillai]]
| prev_title = [[Onninu Purake Mattonnu]]
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Aayiram Chirakulla Moham
| next_year = 1989
}}
The film's songs were composed by [[Kannur Rajan]] and lyrics penned by [[Shibu Chakravarthy]]. [[M. G. Sreekumar]] sang most of the songs in the film. [[Carnatic music]] singer [[Neyyattinkara Vasudevan]] was a guest singer. The classical Krithis like "Nagumomu" and "Swaminatha" featured in the film gained a mass popularity. Playback singer [[Sujatha Mohan]] also sang in the film, marking her return after years of sabbatical. [[Mohanlal]] sang two songs "Kaadumi Naadumellam" and "Aey Monnu". The songs were released by the label Ranjini Cassettes. Chithram was the last Malayalam film to release the song tracks in [[LP Record]] until 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=K. |first=Krishnachand |date=2023-01-18 |title=After ‘Chitram’, vinyl records to make a comeback in Mollywood through ‘Marakkar’ |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/Jan/18/after-chitram-vinyl-records-to-make-a-comeback-in-mollywood-through-marakkar-2538772.html |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Title !! Singer(s) !! Notes
|-
| 1 || "Eeran Megham" || [[M. G. Sreekumar]] || [[Raga]]: [[Madhyamavati]]
|-
| 2 || "Paadam Pootha Kaalam" || M. G. Sreekumar ||
|-
| 3 || "Nagumomu" || [[Neyyattinkara Vasudevan]], M. G. Sreekumar || Traditional [[Kirtan|keerthanam]] by [[Tyagaraja]] Raga: [[Abheri]]
|-
| 4 || "Doore Kizhakkudhikkin" || M. G. Sreekumar, [[Sujatha Mohan|Sujatha]] ||
|-
| 5 || "Aey Moonnu" || [[Mohanlal]] || Traditional [[folk music]]
|-
| 6 || "Paadam Koyyum Munpe" || Sujatha ||
|-
| 7 || "Paadam Pootha Kaalam ([[Pathos]])" || M. G. Sreekumar ||
|-
| 8 || "Swaminatha" || M. G. Sreekumar || Traditional Keerthanam by [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]] Raga: Nattai
|-
| 9 || "Kaadumi Naadumellam" || Mohanlal, Sujatha, [[Choir|Chorus]] ||
|}

==Reception==
''Chithram'' was released during a [[Christmas]] weekend on 23 December 1988. Upon release, it broke all existing records in [[Malayalam cinema]] until then.<ref>{{cite web|title=Malayalam-DVD-Chithram-Mohanlal|url=https://www.amazon.in/CHITHRAM/dp/B07NQ5J9WK}}</ref> Released in 21 A class theatres, ''Chithram'' ran for 50 days in 16 release theatres, 100 days in 6 theatres, 150 days in 5 theatres, 200 days in 4 theatres, 225 days in 3 theatres and 300 days in 2 theatres.<ref>{{Cite web |title='ചിത്രം' എന്ന ബോക്സ്ഓഫിസ് വിസ്മയത്തിന് 31 വയസ്സ് |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/features/2019/12/23/chitram-movie-31-years-special-story.html |access-date=2022-07-31 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> It had a theatrical run of more than 400 days in Little Shenoys (Ernakulam).<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2005 |title=Milestones in Mohanlal's career |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/milestones-in-mohanlal-s-career-news-malayalam-kkfv4xbabjgsi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719113015/https://www.sify.com/movies/milestones-in-mohanlal-s-career-news-malayalam-kkfv4xbabjgsi.html |archive-date=19 July 2019 |url-status=dead |website=[[Sify]]}}</ref> It completed 366 days run with regular shows in two theatres—Little Shenoys (Ernakulam) and Ajanta ([[Trivandrum]]),<ref>{{Cite document |title=Chithram 366 days report |publisher=[[Vellinakshatram (magazine)|Vellinakshatram]] |language=ml}}</ref> and 200 days in four theatres—Little Shenoys (Ernakulam), Ajantha (Trivandrum), Asha ([[Kottayam]]), and Priya ([[Palakkad]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chithram 200 days report |url=https://i.postimg.cc/gcDF3y5x/Chithram-200-days-report.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719113011/https://i.postimg.cc/gcDF3y5x/Chithram-200-days-report.jpg |archive-date=19 July 2019 |publisher=[[Vellinakshatram (magazine)|Vellinakshatram]] |language=ml}}</ref> Made on a budget of {{INR}}0.44 [[crore]], the film grossed around {{INR}}4 crore at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film of its time.<ref name="film">{{cite news|title='Chitram' still a mystery for Mani Ratnam|url=http://www.mangalam.com/en-news/detail/61305-entertainment-chitram-still-a-mystery-for-mani-ratnam.html|access-date=17 November 2018|work=[[Mangalam Publications]]|date=16 December 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117121620/http://www.mangalam.com/en-news/detail/61305-entertainment-chitram-still-a-mystery-for-mani-ratnam.html|archivedate=17 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="mm" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/10-mollywood-films-that-ran-for-the-longest-time/photostory/52523553.cms|title=10 Mollywood films that ran for the longest time|website=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref> The film was a success in [[Tamil Nadu]] also.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thamizh Talkies: Union of stars |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2019/sep/23/thamizh-talkies-union-of-stars-2037598.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=The New Indian Express|date=23 September 2019 }}</ref>

==Accolades==
;[[Kerala Film Critics Association Awards]]<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 Actor|Best Actor]] – [[Mohanlal]]
* [[Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Female Playback Singer|Best Female Playback Singer]] – [[Sujatha Mohan]]

==Remakes==
The film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Alludugaru]]'' (1990), in Hindi as ''[[Pyar Hua Chori Chori]]'' (1991), in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege]]'' (1993), and in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''[[Engirundho Vandhan]]'' (1995).

==Notes==

{{notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0214585}}

{{Priyadarshan}}

[[Category:1988 films]]
[[Category:1988 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:1980s romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1980s musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1980s screwball comedy films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Kannur Rajan]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ooty]]
[[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films directed by Priyadarshan]]
[[Category:Indian romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Indian screwball comedy films]]
[[Category:1988 comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:1988 musical films]]

Chithram - Revision history

Musicalkd at 15:50, 26 March 2026