WilfredBirmingha at 09:44, 28 April 2026

2026-04-28T09:44:29Z

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{{short description|2001 film directed by Thaha}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Ee Parakkum Thalika
| image = Ee Parakkum Thalika.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Thaha]]
| producer = M. M. Hamsa
| screenplay = [[V. R. Gopalakrishnan|VR Gopalakrishnan]]<ref name="VR">{{cite news|url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/20020301/rmala2.html|title=VR Gopalakrishnan's film|year=2001|newspaper=[[Indian Express|Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd.]]|access-date=2009-07-09}}{{dead link|date=November 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| story = Govind Padman Mahesh Mithra
| starring = [[Dileep (actor)|Dileep]] [[Harisree Ashokan]] [[Nithya Das]] [[Cochin Haneefa]] [[Salim Kumar]]
| music = [[Ouseppachan]]
| cinematography = [[Saloo George]]
| editing = [[Ranjan Abraham]]
| studio = [[Kalasangham Films]]
| released = {{Film date|2001|07|04|df=y}}
| runtime = 142 minutes
| country = India
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Ee Parakkum Thalika''''' ({{translation|This Flying Saucer}}) is a 2001 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[Slapstick film|slapstick]] [[comedy drama]] film directed by [[Thaha]] and starring [[Dileep (actor)|Dileep]],<ref name="superstar">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/07/15/stories/2005071502590100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105025222/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/07/15/stories/2005071502590100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|title=Rise of a superstar |date=15 July 2005|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2009-07-09}}</ref> [[Harisree Ashokan]], [[Nithya Das]], and [[Cochin Haneefa]]. It was written by [[V. R. Gopalakrishnan]].<ref>{{cite web|date=27 August 2001|title=Thaha to direct Suresh Gopi|url=http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/32367/Thaha-direct-Suresh-Gopi.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609202105/http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/32367/Thaha-direct-Suresh-Gopi.html|archive-date=9 June 2010|access-date=2009-07-09|publisher=[[Yahoo!]] Movies India|df=dmy}}</ref> The film also marked the debut of Nithya Das.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.my-kerala.com/n/a/arc4-2002.shtml |title=Nitya Das |date=7 May 2002 |publisher=my-kerala.com |access-date=2009-07-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050830085534/http://www.my-kerala.com/n/a/arc4-2002.shtml |archive-date=30 August 2005 |df=dmy }}</ref> The story follows bus owner Unnikrishnan and his assistant, Sundareshan, who live and sleep in their bus. It is considered one of the best slapstick comedy movies in [[Malayalam cinema]] and was one of the highest-grossing Malayalam movie of the year 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|last=മേനോൻ|first=ശ്രീലക്ഷ്മി|title=ജൂലെെ നാല്: മെഗാ ഹിറ്റായ നാല് ചിത്രങ്ങളും കൂട്ടുകെട്ടും, ഹരിശ്രീ അശോകൻ പറയുന്നു|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/interview/harisree-ashokan-about-meesamadhavan-parakkum-thalika-cid-moosa-pandippada-and-dileep-1.4880574|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Mathrubhumi|date=4 July 2020 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705033453/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/interview/harisree-ashokan-about-meesamadhavan-parakkum-thalika-cid-moosa-pandippada-and-dileep-1.4880574 |archive-date=5 July 2020 }}</ref> The bus known as ''Thamarakshan Pilla,'' which is a central figure in the movie, eventually developed into a [[cult]] figure in [[Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parakkum Thalika was a hit; But Thamarakshan Pillai is now a pain|url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/style/columns/tuesday-movie/2018/12/11/Tamarakshan-pilla-bus-in-movie-e-parakkum-thalika.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-12|website=ManoramaOnline|language=ml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211075337/https://www.manoramaonline.com/style/columns/tuesday-movie/2018/12/11/Tamarakshan-pilla-bus-in-movie-e-parakkum-thalika.html |archive-date=11 December 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=താമരാക്ഷന് പിള്ള ബസ്റന്റയെ വില എത്രയാണെന്ന് അറിയാമോ? വെളിപ്പെടുത്തി ക്യാമറമാന് സാലു ജോര്‍ജ്{{!}}ee parakum thalika{{!}}Saloo George{{!}}thamarakshan pillai bus|url=https://www.eastcoastdaily.com/movie/2019/10/26/cameraman-talks-about-thamarakshan-pillai-bus-from-ee-parakum-thalika/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=East Coast Movies & Entertainments News|date=26 October 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/filmyfriday-ee-parakkum-thalika-fasten-your-seatbelts-and-get-ready-for-the-crazy-ride/articleshow/90434017.cms | title=#FilmyFriday! Ee Parakkum Thalika: Fasten your seatbelts, and get ready for the crazy ride |first1=Silpa |last1=Rajan |date=Mar 25, 2022 | website=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref>

==Plot==
Unnikrishnan (Dileep) owns and drives an old bus,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seventymm.com/Movie/Ee_Parakkum_Thalika/17036/Profile |title=Ee Parakkum Thalika — Movie Profile |publisher=seventymm.com |access-date=2009-07-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716043601/http://www.seventymm.com/Movie/Ee_Parakkum_Thalika/17036/Profile |archive-date=16 July 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> received as compensation for his father Thamarakshan Pillai's road accident, which killed Pillai, who was a [[chenda]] master. Unni faces consequences due to the pathetic condition of the bus, named after his father. He sells several valuable things to maintain the bus. His friend and distant relative, Sundareshan (Harishree Ashokan), is his only companion and the bus's cleaner. A mouse has eaten Sundareshan's passport and spoiled his chances of going abroad causing him further distress. Some part of the film's comedy involves Sundareshan running behind the mouse for revenge. A live TV show in which Unni badmouths [[Inspector|Circle Inspector]] Veerappan Kurup (Cochin Haneefa) lands him in more trouble when the former commands Unni to leave the city with the bus. Sreedhara Kaimal (Oduvil Unnikrishnan), a banker and well-wisher, tries to help Unni with a bank loan to run a mobile kitchen (''Thattukada'') from his bus.

The plot takes a turn when a girl named Basanthi (Nithya Das) enters the bus as a [[nomad]]. She is actually Gayathri, the daughter of an influential and politically powerful minister R. K. Santhanam in Puducherry. Santhanam forces Gayathri to join politics, which made her leave home. Initially, Gayathri refuses to leave the bus, despite Unni's and Sundareshan's constant efforts. The police trace her and take her back to Santhanam's custody. Santhanam is making arrangements for her marriage to someone else. Meanwhile, Unni realizes that he cannot live without Gayathri. He and Sundareshan secretly enter her house. When Unni and his friends plan to take Gayathri, Santhanam finds them inside the [[almirah]]. Santhanam's men start beating up Unni despite Gayathri's pleas to stop. A terribly wounded Unni fights back and refuses to let go of Gayathri and Santhanam realises their true love, letting his daughter go with Unni on his bus.

==Cast==
{{cast listing|
* [[Dileep (actor)|Dileep]] as Unnikrishnan T, and [[Irinjalakuda]] Thamarakshan Pillai, Unni's deceased father (photo)
* [[Harisree Ashokan]] as Sundareshan M. K. (Sundaran)
* [[Nithya Das]] as Gayathri Devi / Basanthi
** [[Sanusha]] as young Gayathri
* [[Cochin Haneefa]] as [[Circle Inspector|CI]] Veerappan Kurup, and Father of [[Circle Inspector|CI]] Veerappan Kurup (photo)
* [[Salim Kumar]] as Koshi
* [[Oduvil Unnikrishnan]] as Sreedhara Kaimal, Bank manager
* [[Babu Namboothiri]] as Krishna Pillai
* [[Machan Varghese]] as Moosa
* [[P. Vasu]] as Minister R. K. Santhanam
* [[Sabitha Anand]] as Lakshmi
* [[Bala Singh]] as Minister Muthuraman
* [[Kunchan (actor)|Kunchan]] as Avaran Aryakal
* [[Johny Antony]] as Kabuliwalla at police station
* [[Kalabhavan Haneef]] as wedding groom
* [[Geetha Salam]] as the wedding groom's father
* [[Narayanankutty]] as Police officer
* [[Kalabhavan Shajon]] as Traffic police officer
* [[Praseetha Menon]] as TV reporter
* [[Anwar Rasheed]] as Man drinking at Santhanam's house (cameo appearance)
}}

==Reception==
''Ee Parakkum Thalika'' was a major commercial success.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/07/04/dileep-july-4-connection-fans-golden-day-of-dileep-on-twitter.html|title=Dileep and July 4 connection: Fans trend #GoldenDayOfDileep on Twitter|work=[[Malayala Manorama]]|date=4 July 2020}}</ref> The film was one of the few films of the year that could retrieve its cost of investment and make a profit.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.sify.com/movies/kerala-house-udan-vilpanakku-review-malayalam-pclv0fcifafgh.html|title=Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku|website=[[Sify]]|date=12 February 2004}}</ref> It is considered one of Dileep's first solo hits.<ref name="superstar" /> The success of the film further enhanced Dileep's stardom and established him as a [[bankable star]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=R. Nair |first=Unni |date=2002-01-04 |title=Let down |url=http://www.screenindia.com/20020104/rmala.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229023821/http://www.screenindia.com/20020104/rmala.html |archive-date=2007-12-29 |magazine=[[Screen India]]}}</ref> In a year-end trade analysis by ''[[Deepika (newspaper)|Rashtra Deepika]],'' they called ''Ee Parakkum Thalika'' the biggest financial success of the year and termed it a "surprise hit"<ref name=":1">{{Citation |title=പറക്കും തളികയും ഷക്കീല തരംഗവും -Malayalam Cinema 2001 - Year End Magazine Report | date=22 April 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPFgBGJSwps&t=1027s |access-date=2023-04-20 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="webindia123">{{cite web|title=Dileep (Dileep Gopalakrishnan)|url=http://www.webindia123.com/movie/profiles/south/dileep.htm|access-date=2009-07-09|publisher=webindia123. com|archive-date=2 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202063522/http://webindia123.com/movie/profiles/south/dileep.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was the second-longest running Malayalam film of 2001, after the Mohanlal starrer ''[[Ravanaprabhu]]''.<ref name=":1" />

== Soundtrack ==

{{ Track listing

| extra_column = Artist(s)

| all_lyrics = [[Gireesh Puthenchery]]
| all_music = [[Ouseppachan]]<ref name="superstar" />

| title1 = Arumayaam Sandhyayodu
| extra1 = [[M. G. Sreekumar]]

| title2 = Ka Kaattile
| extra2 = [[K. J. Yesudas]], [[K. S. Chithra]]

| title3 = Kudamulla Kammalaninjal
| extra3 = K. J. Yesudas

| title4 = Kudamulla
| note4 = Violin Solo
| extra4 = [[Ouseppachan]]

| title5 = Kuppivala Kaikalum
| extra5 = K. S. Chithra

| title6 = Kuppivala Kaikalum
| extra6 = M. G. Sreekumar

| title7 = Parakkum Thalika
| extra7 = M. G. Sreekumar

| title8 = Pathu Pavanil
| extra8 = M. G. Sreekumar

}}

==Remakes==

The film was remade as ''[[Aaduthu Paaduthu]]'' in Telugu,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/aaduthu-paaduthu-review-telugu-pcluqvijdcdgd.html|title=Aaduthu Paaduthu|website=Sify|access-date=5 May 2022|archive-date=27 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127034221/https://www.sify.com/movies/aaduthu-paaduthu-review-telugu-pcluqvijdcdgd.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> as ''[[Dakota Express]]'' in Kannada and as ''[[Sundara Travels]]'' in Tamil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov208.asp|title=Sundhara Travels|website=Chennai Online|access-date=31 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040214155123/http://www.chennaionline.com/Moviereviews/tammov208.asp|archive-date=14 February 2004|first=Malini|last=Mannath}}</ref> Many scenes from the movie inspired parts of the Hindi movie ''[[Chal Chala Chal]]''.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0319337|Ee Parakkum Thalika}}

[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:2001 romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2001 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kochi]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ernakulam]]
[[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ouseppachan]]
[[Category:Indian romantic comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films distributed by Kalasangham Films]]

Ee Parakkum Thalika - Revision history

WilfredBirmingha at 09:44, 28 April 2026