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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Devaasuram
| image = Devasuram poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Poster published on newspaper
| director = [[I. V. Sasi]]
| producer = V. B. K. Menon
| writer = [[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]]
| starring = [[Mohanlal]] [[Revathi]] [[Napoleon (actor)|Napoleon]] [[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]]
| music = '''Songs:''' [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]] '''Score:''' [[S. P. Venkatesh]]
| cinematography = V. Jayaram
| editing = [[K. Narayanan]]
| studio = Anugraha Cine Arts
| distributor = Anugraha Release
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1993|4|14}}
| runtime = 160 minutes
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget = ₹ 95 lakh<ref name='vbk' />
| gross = 
}}

'''''Devaasuram''''' ({{Translation|Of Gods and Demons}}) is a 1993 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[action drama film]] directed by [[I. V. Sasi]] and written by [[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]]. It stars [[Mohanlal]], [[Revathi]], and [[Napoleon (actor)|Napoleon]], with [[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]], [[V. K. Sreeraman]], [[Maniyanpilla Raju]], and [[Augustine (actor)|Augustine]] in supporting roles. The songs featured in the film were composed by [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]], while [[S. P. Venkatesh]] composed the [[Film score|background score]].

The film depicts the rivalry between two spoiled heirs of two feudal families—Mangalassery Neelakandan ([[Mohanlal]]) and Mundakkal Shekaran ([[Napoleon]]). The character Neelakandan was created by Ranjith based on a real-life person named Mullasserry Rajagopal (died 2002).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/08/stories/2007090850960200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201103638/http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/08/stories/2007090850960200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 December 2007|location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=An award in the name of a music lover|date=8 September 2007}}</ref> The film was shot at [[Varikkasseri Mana]] in [[Ottappalam]].

''Devaasuram'' was a critical and commercially successful movie. It is considered to be a classic and the character of Mangalassery Neelakandan is considered as one of the best roles of [[Mohanlal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/10-mohanlal-films-to-watch-before-you-die/photostory/52433962.cms|title=10 Mohanlal films to watch before you die|website=The Times of India}}</ref> It was followed by a sequel, ''[[Ravanaprabhu]]'' (2001), which was writer Ranjith's directorial debut. The film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] the same year as ''Kunti Putrudu''.<ref name="indulge">{{cite web|author=Indulge|date=24 October 2017|title=Remembering a legend: Five iconic IV Sasi movies that shaped Mollywood|url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/cinema/2017/oct/24/remembering-a-legend-five-iconic-iv-sasi-movies-that-shaped-mollywood-4145.html|access-date=10 July 2020|work=[[Indulge Express]]}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Neelakandan is the spoiled heir to the rich and well-known Mangalassery family. He squanders away his father's largess, wealth and good name who served as a judicial officer but is loved by the people who know him well, mainly Warrier, his elderly right-hand man. He has been the arch-rival of Shekaran Nambiar of the Mundakkal family since childhood. During a minor ruckus, one of Neelakandan's aides accidentally kills Shekaran's maternal uncle. This incites Shekaran to plan to avenge the death of his uncle.

Having lost all the financial backups, Neelakandan agreed to sell his land for the construction of a Dance Centre near the village Temple. When a Gulf-returned son of an erstwhile landless [[Mappila]] farmer -who worked under the Mangalassery feudal family- approached him for buying land, Neelakandan ridiculed him. However, later on, Neelakandan had to sell the land to the farmer's son at a low price.

Meanwhile, Neelakandan offends Bhanumathi, a talented and educated [[Bharata Natyam]] dance graduate, by forcing her to dance in front of him in his house. In retaliation, Bhanumathi quits dancing and curses Neelakandan for desecrating the art so dear to her. Later, he feels regretful and helps her family in many ways and tries to persuade Bhanumathi to take up dancing again, but she doesn't budge.

Meanwhile, Neelakandan visits his widowed mother intending to bring her back home, but she passes away after revealing a terrible secret; that he was born of another man, out of wedlock, without revealing the name of his real father. This fact crushes him, and only Bhanumathi finds out this secret when he curses drunkenly (at the car of his deceased "father") that the ancestral heritage which he is proud of, is actually not his. She is surprised by the vulnerable side of Neelakandan.

He visits Bhanumathi at her home to persuade her to take up dancing again, only to be refused like before, telling him that she will resume dancing only after his death. That night while returning home from the visit, Shekaran and his aide's ambush (by hitting him with a car from behind) and injure him seriously after inflicting several wounds with swords, knives, iron rods, and wooden sticks.

Neelakandan survives the attack, but his left hand and right leg are badly injured and as a cure he undergoes [[Ayurvedic]] treatment to rejuvenate his legs. It is during this time that Bhanumathi falls in love with him (she is also regretful for having cursed him, feeling a bit guilty that the attack was somehow related to her curse). Neelakandan convinces Bhanumathi to dance and he arranges for a classical dance event for her at [[Delhi]]. He too loves her ardently, but he refuses to marry Bhanumathi considering her future, but in the end, she and Warrier persuade him to do so.

Neelakandan tries to forget all the past events and his rivalry with Shekaran, but the latter is not satisfied. He wants to defeat Neelakandan in front of the whole village. For this, he kidnaps Bhanumathi and forces Neelakandan to take blows in front of the public during the annual village temple festival organized by the Mundakkal family. Meanwhile, Neelakandan's friends rescue Bhanumathi and after this, he mauls Shekaran badly and cuts off Shekaran's right hand, claiming "Shekaran, I want to live peacefully..." so that he will not again come up with revenge later. However, while severing Shekharan's right hand, Neelakandan uses the backside of the sword, which shows the agony and power he had.

==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
*[[Mohanlal]] as Mangalassery Neelakandan (Neelan)
*[[Napoleon (actor)|Napoleon]] as Mundakkal Shekaran
*[[Revathi]] as Bhanumathi
*[[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]] as Warrier
*[[Nedumudi Venu]] as Appukutty Nair / Appu master, Bhanumathi's father
*[[Maniyanpilla Raju]] as Bharathan
*[[V. K. Sreeraman]] as Kuruppu
*[[Ramu (actor)|Ramu]] as Kunjananthan
*[[Augustine (actor)|Augustine]] as Hydrose
*[[Cochin Haneefa]] as Achuthan, Appu master's nephew
*[[Janardhanan (actor)|Janardhanan]] as Mundakkal Kunjikrishnan Nambiar, Shekharan's uncle (cameo)
*[[Chithra (actress)|Chithra]] as Subhadramma
*[[Seetha (Malayalam actress)|Seetha]] as Sharada, Bhanumathi's younger sister
*[[Bharathi Vishnuvardhan]] as Neelakandan's mother
*[[Delhi Ganesh]] as Panicker
*[[Sankaradi]] as Kuttikrishnan Nair ,
*[[Oduvil Unnikrishnan]] as Peringodu Sankara Marar
*[[Bheeman Raghu]] as 'Kallan' Chacko
*[[Sreenath]] as C. S., Neelan's Friend
*[[Jagannatha Varma]] as Adiyodi
*[[Jose Prakash]] as Ezhuthachan
*[[Kozhikode Narayanan Nair]] as Vaidyar
*[[Jagannathan (actor)|Jagannathan]] as Poduval
*[[Subair]] as S.I. Madhu
*[[Sathaar]] as Vasu
*[[Kundara Johny]] as Goonda
*[[Kollam Ajith]] as Goonda
* Vijayan Peringode as Neelan's uncle
* Pavitran as Veerankutty
* Nisha as Leela
}}

==Production==
The protagonist Mangalaserry Neelakandan ([[Mohanlal]]) is a real-life character sketch of Mullasserry Rajagopal (died 2002).<ref name = hi>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/08/stories/2007090850960200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201103638/http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/08/stories/2007090850960200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-12-01|title=An award in the name of a music lover|date=2007-09-08|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2011-04-08|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Supposedly, some notable scenes in ''Devaasuram'' are real-life incidents. Varikassery Mana near Ottappalam was selected to portray the ancient Mangalaserry house. "It was only after ''Devaasuram'' became a hit that producers and directors began to queue up for this location. Until then only one film was shot here," says Murali, one of the managers of the mana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/theyre-shooting-like-hell-at-varikkassery-mana/262437-60-116.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601001954/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/theyre-shooting-like-hell-at-varikkassery-mana/262437-60-116.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 June 2012|title=Theyre shooting like hell at Varikkassery Mana|date=29 May 2012}}</ref> The climax scene of the movie was shot entirely in [[Pariyanampatta Bhagavathi Temple]].

Mullasserry Rajagopal is known as an ardent music lover. "Music was the sole passion in his life. He was a good friend of mine, but we never discussed literature; we talked mainly about music and films," said renowned author [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]]. M. T. was impressed by the way Rajagopal reacted to the setbacks in his life. "I was even more impressed by the way how his wife, Lakshmi, devoted her life to him; he would not have survived but for her."<ref name = hi/> "I met him for the first time at [[K. J. Yesudas]]' bungalow in Chennai, way back in 1985," recalls playback singer [[G. Venugopal]]. "He was sitting on a wheelchair. I was told that his name was Raju. [[K. J. Yesudas]], his close friend had brought him to Chennai for brain surgery."<ref name = hi/> "I will never forget the evening director and script-writer [[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]] took me along to meet Raju," says director [[Jayaraj]]. "When I went there, a ghazal programme was going on; I could sense music everywhere in that house. I could also feel the extraordinary warmth of the man. I was surprised he could take life so lightly, despite being bed-ridden for about two decades. We became very good friends. Ranjith had told me that he was planning to make a film on Raju (''Devaasuram''). I believe that is the best work by Ranjith till date. Raju used to joke that [[Ranjith]] had not managed to show even half of what he did in his life."<ref name = hi/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=147257&u=he-was-initially-afraid-to-kick-mohanlal-renjith-opens-up-about-this-particular-scene-in-devasuram-147257|title='He was initially afraid to kick Mohanlal', Renjith opens up about this particular scene in Devasuram|first=Keralakaumudi|last=Daily|website=Keralakaumudi Daily}}</ref>

"There were [also] powerful business interests at work when I wrote my hits such as ''Devaasuram'', ''[[Narasimham (film)|Narasimham]]'', ''[[Ravanaprabhu]]'' and so on...", said writer [[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/when-money-talks/article2515888.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Saraswathy | last=Nagarajan | title=When money talks | date=2011-10-07}}</ref><ref>[https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/04/14/devasuram-mohanlal-mangalassery-neelakandan-malayalam-movie.html Onmanorama | Latest News Updates | Politics | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Sports | English Manorama]</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Devaasuram
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 14 April 1993
| recorded = 1993
| venue =
| studio = Prasad Studios Recording Theatre
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| label = [[Magnasound Records|Magnasound]] [[Sony Music India]]
| producer = [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]]

| prev_title = [[Adhwaytham]]
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = [[Ammayane Sathyam]]
| next_year = 1993
}}

The film includes songs composed by [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]], with lyrics by [[Gireesh Puthenchery]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/malayalam/album/M0000178.html|title=Songs, Download songs by . Raaga.com Malayalam Songs – Raaga.com – A World Of Music}}</ref> The [[background score]] was composed by [[S. P. Venkatesh]].

The song "Vande Mukundahare" is picturised on [[Oduvil Unnikrishnan]], in one of the most dramatic scenes in the film. Unnikrishnan plays the role of a wandering [[Edakka]] musician who frequently visits Neelakandan. The Edakka featured in the background of the song is played by [[Tripunithura Krishnadas]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article1591395.ece|title=Edakka Notes|author=K. Pradeep|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2011-04-01|access-date=4 April 2011|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Track || Title !! Singer(s) !! Notes
|-
| 1 || "Sree Paadam" || [[M. G. Sreekumar]] || [[Raga]]: [[Aarabhi]], [[Anandabhairavi]]
|-
| 2 || "Ganga Tharanga" (Bit) || M. G. Sreekumar || Raga:[[Bowli]]
|-
| 3 || "Angopangam" || [[K. S. Chithra]] || Raga: [[Lalit (raga)|Lalitha]]
|-
| 4 || "Maappu Nalku" || M. G. Sreekumar || Raga: [[Mukhari]]
|-
| 5 || "Kizhakkannam" || [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]] ||
|-
| 6 || "Sooryakireedam" || M. G. Sreekumar || Raga: Chenchurutti
|-
| 7 || "Vande Mukundahare" || M. G. Radhakrishnan || Raga: [[Anandabhairavi]]
|-
| 8 || "Sree Paadam" || K. S. Chithra || Raga: [[Aarabhi]], [[Anandabhairavi]]
|-
| 9 || "Medaponnaniyum" || M. G. Sreekumar, [[Minmini]] || Raga: Kadanakuthuhalam
|-
| 10 || "Maarimazhakal" || M. G. Sreekumar, Jaya ||
|-
| 11 || "Namasthesthu" (Bit) || B. Arundhathi || Raga: [[Anandabhairavi]] Traditional slokam by Sri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam
|-
| 12 || "Sarasijanaabha" || [[K. Omanakutty]] || Raga: Nagagandhari Traditional keerthanam by [[Muthuswami Dikshitar]]
|-
| 13 || "Yamuna Kinaare" (Bit) || M. G. Sreekumar ||
|}

==Release==

===Box office===
Devaasuram, released on 14 April 1993, becomes one of the biggest hits of the year completing 100 days of theatrical run.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nair |first=Sree Prasad |date=2017-04-17 |title=As Devasuram clocks 24 years |url=https://www.inuth.com/entertainment/malayalam-movies/as-devasuram-clocks-24-years-here-are-few-interesting-facts-about-mohanlals-blockbuster/ |access-date=2020-11-19 |website=InUth}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=C. V. |first=Aravind |date=2017-10-28 |title=IV Sasi: Remembering the director |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/iv-sasi-remembering-director-who-gave-us-superstars-mammootty-and-mohanlal-70700 |access-date=2020-11-19 |website=[[The News Minute]]}}</ref> The movie made on a budget of {{INR}}95 lakhs earn the producer a profit of {{INR}}35 lakhs. The satellite right was sold for {{INR}}6 lakhs.<ref name='vbk'>{{Cite web |last=G. |first=Jyothilal |date=2018-07-11 |title=V. B. K. Menon producer interview |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/interview/devasuram-thazhvaram-mohanlal-vbk-menon-producer-interview-1.2962529 |access-date=2020-11-19 |website=[[Mathrubhumi]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=P. K. |first=Ajith Kumar |date=2017-10-24 |title=I.V. Sasi reigned at the box office, and made classics too |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/he-reigned-at-box-office-but-made-classics-too/article19912969.ece |access-date=2020-11-19 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

===Accolades===

* [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Malayalam]] – Mohanlal<ref>{{Cite web |title=41st annual filmfare kannada best music film malayalam best actor actress |url=https://archive.org/download/41stAnnualFilmfareKannadaBestMusicFilmMalayalamBestActorActress/41st%20annual%20filmfare%20kannada%20best%20music%20film%20malayalam%20best%20actor%20actress.jpg |access-date=2020-11-19}}</ref>

==Sequel==
''Devaasuram'' was followed by a sequel, ''[[Ravanaprabhu]]'', in 2001.<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080224164037/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/18/stories/0418211o.htm "Painting a portrait of love – Section: The Shooting of Ravana Prabhu"]}}. ''[[The Hindu]]''. 2001-07-18. Retrieved 2011-02-03.</ref> Because of the success of the film, a number of films with the same genre and feudal backdrop was produced in Malayalam cinema.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2008/07/19/stories/2008071953340700.htm|title=Journey of music|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2008-07-19|access-date=2011-02-03|quote=Ravana Prabhu is one of the biggest hits of Malayalam cinema|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603080439/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2008/07/19/stories/2008071953340700.htm|archive-date=3 June 2009|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Devasuram is considered to be one of IV Sasi's best works. The film over the years has attained cult status. The characters played by Mohanlal (Mangalassery Neelakandan) and Napoleon (Mundakkal Shekaran) remains to be two of the most iconic characters in Malayalam cinema. The success of the film led to many films being made based on [[Feudalism|feudal lords]] and [[Tharavad|ancestorial homes]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0291855}}

{{I. V. Sasi}}
{{Ranjith}}

[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:1990s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by M. G. Radhakrishnan]]
[[Category:Malayalam films in series|!Managalassery1]]
[[Category:Films directed by I. V. Sasi]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Ranjith]]
[[Category:Fictional rivalries]]
[[Category:Films about feuds]]
[[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ottapalam]]
[[Category:Films shot at Varikkasseri Mana]]
[[Category:Films shot in Thrissur]]

Devaasuram - Revision history

UpdateBot at 08:19, 30 June 2022