YaniraRolando4 at 21:24, 3 March 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = In Harihar Nagar
| image = In Harihar Nagar.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Siddique-Lal]]
| producer = Khais-Kuriachan
| writer = Siddique-Lal
| narrator =
| starring = [[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]]
<br>[[Siddique (actor)|Siddique]]<br>[[Jagadish]]<br>[[Ashokan (actor)|Ashokan]]
| music = [[S. Balakrishnan (composer)|S. Balakrishnan]]
| cinematography = [[Venu (cinematographer)|Venu]]
| editing = Gaurishekar K. R.
| distributor = Swargachitra
| studio = Mohsin Priya Combines
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1990|11|8}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
}}

'''''In Harihar Nagar''''' is a 1990 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[comedy thriller]] film written and directed by [[Siddique-Lal]]. The story of the film, set in the fictional locality of Harihar Nagar, follows four unemployed bachelors and friends: Mahadevan, Govindan Kutty, Appukuttan and Thomas Kutty, who attempts to woo their new neighbour Maya, who is in town to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of her brother Sethumadhavan. It stars [[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]], [[Siddique (actor)|Siddique]], [[Jagadish]] and [[Ashokan (actor)|Ashokan]] in the lead roles, while [[Geetha Vijayan]], [[Rizabawa]], [[Kaviyoor Ponnamma]] and [[Rekha Harris|Rekha]], with [[Suresh Gopi]] and [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]] making cameo appearances. The music was composed by [[S. Balakrishnan (composer)|S. Balakrishnan]].

''In Harihar Nagar'' was released on 8 November 1990. The film was the [[List of Malayalam films of 1990|second highest grossing Malayalam film of the year]] and ran for more than 100 days in theatres.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/01/02/stories/2009010250630200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131103614/http://hindu.com/fr/2009/01/02/stories/2009010250630200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 January 2009|title=Return to Harihar Nagar |author=Vijay George|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyKdkEecB6Y |title=100 Days run Malayalam movies in 1990 I Boxoffice I Mammootty I Mohanlal I Suresh Gopi I Jayaram I |language=en |access-date=2024-04-21 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> The film is widely celebrated as one of the most popular Malayalam comedy films ever and has over the years gained a [[cult following]], spawning two sequels — 2009's ''[[2 Harihar Nagar]]'', and 2010's ''[[In Ghost House Inn]]'' — and remakes in Hindi (''[[Parda Hai Parda (film)|Parda Hai Parda]]'' and ''[[Dhol (film)|Dhol]]''), Kannada (''[[Nagaradalli Nayakaru]]''), Tamil (''[[MGR Nagaril]]''), and Telugu (''Madhura Nagarilo''). Its success also spawned a series of unrelated low budget comedy films featuring the principal cast, in the years that followed.<ref name="tnm">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/gandhinagar-2nd-street-nadodikkattu-malayalam-cinema-s-cult-comedy-classics-96499|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304220219/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/gandhinagar-2nd-street-nadodikkattu-malayalam-cinema-s-cult-comedy-classics-96499|archive-date=4 March 2021|title='Gandhinagar 2nd Street' to 'Nadodikkattu': Malayalam cinema's cult comedy classics|date=10 February 2019|author=Neelima Menon|publisher=[[The News Minute]]|access-date=2022-11-06}}</ref>

==Plot==
The movie begins in Mumbai. We see a man with a briefcase get into a van. He arrives at a hotel, where he exchanges briefcases with a second man in the lobby. The second man takes his new briefcase upstairs and delivers it to a third man in a hotel room. The third man then flees the hotel, escaping into a waiting car only moments before two men catch up to him. The car drives off but then stops. The driver shoots the third man in the head, takes the briefcase, and walks away.

The movie now moves to a year later, in Kerala.

Mahadevan, Govindan, Appukuttan and Thomas are four young men who live in a housing colony in [[Kochi]] named "Harihar Nagar". They are unemployed bachelors and their main focus in life is women.

Maya, a girl from [[Kannur]], and her grandparents relocate to Harihar Nagar, and happen to be Mahadevan's new neighbours. Upon discovering their beautiful new neighbor, the four men spy on her to attempt to learn more about her. That night, Mahadevan and Appukuttan try to watch her bathing, but her grandmother sees their shadows out of her window and screams, chasing them away. They attempt various other methods to impress her, but all their plans backfire.

One day, they bribe the postman to get hold of the letter she sent. They learn that Maya has come to Harihar Nagar to learn about the death of her brother, a boxer named Sethumadhavan "Sethu", which she thinks was a suicide.

Maya visits the mother of a friend of her brother's whose name is Andrews at his house. She asks Andrews' mother, to contact her if she gets any information about her brother. The four men approach Andrews' mother and pretend to be Sethu's friends. They manage to get Sethu's photograph by telling him they wanted it for the colony's sports club. Maya gets this information from Andrews' mother and meets the four friends. She believes them to be Sethu's friends after seeing his photo at their house. Thomas Kutty meets her at the boxing club, faking that he is a boxer after knocking down the other three men who now fear Maya's grandparents because they suspect them. Thomas Kutty almost tells her the truth about Mahadevan, Appukuttan and Govindan Kutty, and only did not name them (calling them pickpockets and snatchers). They get angry. The four fabricate a story about how Sethu had an affair with a girl, and make her believe it by saying that the bike owner's henchmen who assault them are those of the parents of the girl, who opposed to the affair. They fight back the henchmen after letting Thomas Kutty get beaten up for a while because of his betrayal of them, and Maya believes them because they fake tears and sadness.

Hearing that the four men are friends of Sethu, Honai kidnaps them to retrieve the briefcase on the pretext that he would let them leave in ten minutes. Maya, in search of her brother's former lover, learns of Annie Philip, a friend of her brother's whom he knew from the library. Annie is now a [[nun]] in a convent, and has adopted the name Sister Josephine. Annie reveals her history with Sethu. She tells her that Andrews' father was a businessman who was murdered by Honai's father and had built a business empire with the money stolen from Andrews' father. Andrews sought to cause trouble in the business to take revenge. Honai's father sold all of his assets and tried to run away with the money in the briefcase, but was murdered by Andrews on the way. Later, Andrews is found dead on a beach and Sethu leaves to Andrews' house, keeping Andrews' mother ignorant of his death. He gives Annie the briefcase. After returning to [[Bombay]], Sethu gives Honai a briefcase similar to the one given to Annie; when Honai opens it, he finds it is full of bricks. Furious, Honai kills Sethu. However, Annie is ignorant of the innocence of the four men and tells Maya that they are Honai's gangsters.

The four friends manage to escape, but are chased by him and his associates. Maya and her grandparents call the police because of the false information given by Annie about them. Maya and her grandparents are also kidnapped by Honai but the four friends rescue them. Andrews' mother finds out about Andrews' death from Annie, who gives her the briefcase. While Andrews' mother is cooking dinner, Honai comes to get the briefcase. Andrews' mother removes a fuse and the lights go out. After trying to find Andrews' mother, Honai unknowingly lights a [[lighter]] near the lit gas stove and burns to death.

In the end, Maya and her grandparents returns to [[Kannur]]. Maya gives the four friends the briefcase, which they open, finding it full of riches.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]] as Mahadevan
* [[Siddique (actor)|Siddique]] as Govindan Kutty
* [[Jagadish]] as Appukuttan
* [[Ashokan (actor)|Ashokan]] as Thomas Kutty
* [[Geetha Vijayan]] as Maya
* [[Rizabawa]] as John Honai
* [[Suresh Gopi]] as Sethumadhavan / Sethu, Maya's Brother (Extended Cameo)
* [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]] as Andrews, Sethu's Friend (Extended Cameo)
* [[Kaviyoor Ponnamma]] as Andrews's Mother
* [[Rekha (Tamil actress)|Rekha]] as Sister Josephine / Annie Philip
* [[Philomina]] as Sethumadhavan and Maya's Grandmother
* [[Paravoor Bharathan]] as Sethumadhavan and Maya's Grandfather
* [[Appa Haja]] as Cherian
* [[Thrissur Elsy]] as Mahadevan's Mother
* Dr. Jayan as Honai's Helper
}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
After directing the blockbuster ''[[Ramji Rao Speaking]]'' – which dealt with issues like unemployment and poverty, relevant social factors affecting Kerala of the 1980s, Siddique-Lal chose to set their second film, in a more laid back and fun environment. They decided to make a film that diverted from the usual commercial film that revolved around a hero and a heroine. The story was developed by Siddique and Lal from a thought which came to their minds, about a group of friends who gets mixed up in an issue due to the lies they make up, to woo a girl.<ref>{{Citation |title=Siddique 17 {{!}} Charithram Enniloode 2188 {{!}} Safari TV | date=24 August 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR-zToKHWoc |language=en |access-date=2022-11-01}}</ref>

[[Siddique (director)|Siddique]] and [[Lal (actor)|Lal]] had developed a story called ''Kallila Kolangal'' during their days in Mimics Parade. In the story, there was a character of a professional killer named Honai. The story was eventually developed by [[Sreenivasan]] into ''[[Nadodikkattu]]'' (1987). In the film, the name of the professional killer was changed to Pavanayi. Hence, the name of the antagonist in ''In Harihar Nagar'' was taken from the story they had developed.<ref name=":5">{{Citation |title=Siddique 18 {{!}} Charithram Enniloode 2189 {{!}} Safari TV | date=25 August 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9efNN8fjyQ |language=en |access-date=2023-01-17 |archive-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117203621/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9efNN8fjyQ |url-status=live}}</ref> The film was jointly produced by Fazil's brother Khais and Ouseppachan's brother Kuriachan.<ref name=":1" /> The film also marked the debut of [[Swargachitra Appachan]]'s Swargachitra Pictures, which distributed the film.<ref name=":2" />

=== Casting ===
Since Kuriachan and Khais were in [[Qatar]], they put [[Fazil (director)|Fazil]] in charge of casting. Initially, [[Siddique (director)|Siddique]] and [[Lal (actor)|Lal]] had decided on [[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]] as Mahadevan, [[Jagadish Kumar|Jagadeesh]] as Appu, Appa Haja as Thomas and [[Ashokan (actor)|Ashokan]] as Govindan. Since the directors didn't have phones at the time, they sent the executive producer to talk to the actors and book their dates. The executive producer came back and told [[Siddique–Lal|Siddique-Lal]] that everyone else except Jagadeesh was ready. The directors gave the role of Appu to [[Siddique (actor)|Siddique]], who was a mimicry artiste and had by then done minor roles in several films. A week before shooting began, Siddique-Lal went to [[Thiruvananthapuram]] for a discussion with [[Venu (cinematographer)|Venu]], who was the cinematographer. They chanced upon Jagadeesh at the railway station and asked him why he refused the role of Appukuttan. Jagadeesh however was surprised and told them that he wasn't even approached for the role. Jagadeesh told them that he and the executive producer weren't on good terms and used the opportunity to get back at him. The director duo then contacted Fazil and informed him of the situation. Fazil fired the executive producer on the spot. Then, Jagadeesh was given the role of Appukuttan and Siddique was given the role of Govindan. A new character, Cherian was developed for Appa Haji.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=Jagadeesh almost didn't play Appukuttan in In Harihar Nagar: Siddique |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/jagadeesh-almost-didnt-play-appukuttan-in-in-harihar-nagar-siddique/articleshow/77141796.cms |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=The Times of India |date=24 July 2020 |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007173225/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/jagadeesh-almost-didnt-play-appukuttan-in-in-harihar-nagar-siddique/articleshow/77141796.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

The role of John Honai was originally planned for [[Raghuvaran]], but since he had clashing dates it was eventually given to [[Kalabhavan]]'s [[Rizabawa]], who was a well-known theatre and mimicry artiste.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=രഘുവരൻ ചെയ്യാനിരുന്ന വേഷം, ഒടുവിൽ റിസയിൽ എത്തിയ കഥ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/features/remembering-risabava-john-honai-in-harihar-nagar-siddique-mukesh-ashokan-jagadeesh-1.6004273 |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Mathrubhumi |date=15 September 2021 |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007173225/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/features/remembering-risabava-john-honai-in-harihar-nagar-siddique-mukesh-ashokan-jagadeesh-1.6004273 |url-status=live }}</ref> He had earlier acted as the lead in [[Shaji Kailas]]' ''[[Dr. Pasupathy]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ഡോക്ടർ പശുപതി |url=https://m3db.com/film/dr-pasupathi-malayalam-movie |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=M3DB |language=en |archive-date=17 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117203628/https://m3db.com/film/dr-pasupathi-malayalam-movie |url-status=live }}</ref> Rizabawa was initially reluctant to do a negative role but was persuaded by his friends at Kalabhavan.<ref name=":5" /> They cast [[Geetha Vijayan]], a debutant and [[Revathi]]'s first cousin in the role of the heroine.<ref name=":5" /> [[Rekha Harris|Rekha]] had expressed her wish to act in a film directed by Fazil. She was called by Fazil to the sets of the film. However, on learning that the film was directed by Siddique-Lal she was disappointed. To satisfy Rekha's wish Fazil offered to shoot her scenes.<ref name=":5" />

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack features two songs composed by [[S. Balakrishnan (composer)|S. Balakrishnan]], with lyrics penned by [[Bichu Thirumala]]. The songs were remixed and used by [[Alex Paul]] for ''[[2 Harihar Nagar]]'', the first sequel of this film.

=== Track listing ===
# "Ekantha Chandrike" - [[M. G. Sreekumar]], [[Unni Menon]]
# "Unnam Marannu" - [[M. G. Sreekumar]], [[Choir|Chorus]]

==Reception==
''In Harihar Nagar'' was released on 8 November 1990, in 22 centers in [[Kerala]]. The film received critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/coronavirus-outbreak-tsunami-team-calls-off-shoot/articleshow/74667480.cms|title=Coronavirus outbreak: 'Tsunami' team calls off shoot|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=17 May 2020}}</ref> The film was a commercial success, running for 75-days in 7 centers, a 100-day theatrical run in 5 centers and completing a 150-day run in 2 theatres.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171109/e970804770d8a431c14d103f335e5435.jpg |title=75-day poster of ''In Harihar Nagar'' |access-date=1 November 2022 |archive-date=1 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101063227/https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171109/e970804770d8a431c14d103f335e5435.jpg |url-status=live }}</ref> In an episode in ''[[Charithram Enniloode]]'', Siddique had told that the film was very popular with college students and were instrumental in making the film a success.<ref name=":5" />

=== Critical response ===
Upon release, the film received positive responses from critics. [[Rizabawa]]'s charismatic portrayal of the antagonist, John Honai was praised.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-half-yearly-report-on-best-films-of-malayalam/20100622.htm|title=Half-yearly Malayalam BO: Pokkiri Raja rules|work=[[Rediff.com]]|location=India|date=22 June 2010|access-date=11 July 2021|archive-date=11 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711214520/https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-half-yearly-report-on-best-films-of-malayalam/20100622.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Alleppey Ashraf]], in an interview with [[Safari TV]] in 2018 revealed that Rizabawa's performance in the film caught the attention of other filmmakers and he was offered to reprise his role as John Honai in all the remakes of the film, which he turned down.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ലേഖകൻ |first=മാധ്യമം |date=2021-09-13 |title=റിസബാവയെ വഴിതെറ്റിച്ചതിനു പിന്നിൽ 'ഒരു മിമിക്രിക്കാരൻ' -അനുഭവം പങ്കുവെച്ച് ആലപ്പി അഷ്റഫ് |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/alleppey-ashraf-shares-his-experience-actor-rizbawa-847759 |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=www.madhyamam.com |language=ml}}</ref> In 2019, Neelima Menon of ''[[The News Minute]]'' wrote: "It's how Siddique and Lal sneak in comedy at the most improbable scenes that makes ''In Harihar Nagar'' such a riot. Plus the goofy characters – each with their own brand of silliness, played with aplomb by Mukesh, Jagadeesh, Asokan and Siddique. With a lot of help from the queen mother of comedy, Philomena".<ref name="tnm" /> In 2008, ''[[Oneindia|One India]]'' described the film as "among the most hilarious movies in Indian cinema".<ref name=":3" />

==Sequels==
{{main article|2 Harihar Nagar|In Ghost House Inn}}
Nineteen years after the release of the original, ''In Harihar Nagar'' had a sequel ''[[2 Harihar Nagar]]'' directed by Lal of the director-duo [[Siddique-Lal]]. It was released on 1 April 2009. After its success, its sequel, named ''[[In Ghost House Inn]]'', was released on 25 March 2010.

==Remakes==
The [[Negative and positive rights|world negative rights]] of the film belonged to [[Alleppey Ashraf]]. The [[Telugu language|Telugu]] remake rights of the film was acquired by [[Kodi Ramakrishna]] for a hitherto record price of ₹ 5 lakhs, while the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] remake rights of the film were acquired by [[R. B. Choudary]] for a sum of ₹ 2 Lakhs.<ref>{{Citation |title=ഇൻ ഹരിഹർ നഗറിലൂടെ ബോളിവുഡിലേക്ക് വരെ അവസരം ലഭിച്ച നടൻ {{!}}Alleppey Ashraf -11 | date=8 August 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxcebMBkOXw |language=en |access-date=2022-11-01 |archive-date=1 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101053644/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxcebMBkOXw |url-status=live }}</ref> Another Tamil version of the film, titled ''Idhu MGR Illam'', was under production, but it did not materialize and was cancelled.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=24 February 2006 |title=Raj Kiran's 'Idhu MGR Illam' |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/24022006-3.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060227005138/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/24022006-3.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 February 2006 |publisher=Cinesouth.com}}</ref>

The film was remade in Tamil as ''[[MGR Nagaril (1991 film)|MGR Nagaril]]'' (1991),<ref>{{cite book|last= National Film Development Corporation of India |title= Cinema in India: Volume 2 |year= 1991|location= India|isbn= 0-333-93410-5|page=85}}</ref> in Telugu as ''Madhura Nagarilo'' (1991), in Kannada as ''[[Nagaradalli Nayakaru]]'' (1992) and twice in Hindi as ''[[Parda Hai Parda (1992 film)|Parda Hai Parda]]'' (1992) and ''[[Dhol (2007 film)|Dhol]]'' (2007).<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/09/22/stories/2007092250530200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108160523/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/09/22/stories/2007092250530200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 November 2012|title=Fun and frolic |author=Sreedhar Pillai|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=22 September 2007}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
The film was a breakthrough in the careers of [[Siddique (actor)|Siddique]], [[Jagadish Kumar|Jagadeesh]] and [[Rizabawa]].<ref name=":4" /> [[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]]'s dialogue, "Thomassukutty vittodaa" has become a catchphrase.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=archive.ph |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2008/in-harihar-nagar-2-090908.html |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=archive.ph |archive-date=10 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710035420/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2008/in-harihar-nagar-2-090908.html |url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0278501}}

{{Siddique (director)}}
{{Lal Films}}

[[Category:1990 films]]
[[Category:1990 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy thriller films]]
[[Category:1990s comedy thriller films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kochi]]
[[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Malayalam films in series|In1]]
[[Category:1990 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Siddique–Lal]]
[[Category:Films scored by S. Balakrishnan (composer)]]

In Harihar Nagar - Revision history

YaniraRolando4 at 21:24, 3 March 2026