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{{short description|2014 film by Binu Sadanandan}}
{{About|the film|the Hindu texts|Itihasa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = ithihaaa
| image = Ithihasa-film-poster.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| alt = Ithihasa Theatrical Release Poster
| director = [[Binu Sadanandan]]
| producer = {{ubl|Rajesh Augustine}}
| writer = {{ubl|Aneesh Lee Ashok|Anil Narayanan<br>{{small|(Dialogue)}}}}
| starring = {{ubl|[[Anusree]]|[[Shine Tom Chacko]]|Swapna Menon|[[Balu Varghese]]|[[Divya Prabha]]|Arun Sol}}
| music = [[Deepak Dev]]
| cinematography = Sinoj P. Ayyappan
| editing = Jovin John
| distributor = ARK Release
| studio = ARK Media
| released = {{Release date|df=y|2014|10|10}} ([[India]])
| runtime = 150 minutes
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| budget = {{INRConvert|18|c}}<ref name=Express/>
| gross = {{INRConvert|65|c}}<ref>[http://www.cineshore.com/boxofficeupdates/ithihasa-52-days-collection/ "Ithihasa 7 days Collection"]</ref>
}}
'''''Ithihasa''''' is a [[List of Malayalam films of 2014|2014]] [[Cinema of India|Indian]] [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam-language]] [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[comedy film]] written by Aneesh Lee Ashok and directed by [[Binu Sadanandan]]. The film tells the story of [[body swap]]ping between a conservative young software professional Janaki ([[Anusree]]) and an easy going young petty thief, Alvy ([[Shine Tom Chacko]]). The music was composed by [[Deepak Dev]].

The film received positive reviews from critics.<ref name=Review/> It turned out to be a [[sleeper hit]] and was especially praised for the humour.<ref name=Interview/> It is inspired from the 2002 Hollywood film ''[[The Hot Chick]]''

==Plot==
The story, set in [[Cochin]] is about the [[body swap]]ping of a petty thief Alvy ([[Shine Tom Chacko]]) and a conservative software professional Janaki ([[Anusree]]). Alvy, a thief and his friend Vikki ([[Balu Varghese]]) come in possession of a pair of stolen magic rings. One of the rings is lost and makes its way to Janaki, who wins it in a game from a shopping centre. At night both try their respective rings. The next day they realize that they are in different bodies - Alvy wakes up in Janaki's body and vice versa. Janaki's friends try to find a cure for this but fails. Alvy and Vikki enjoy their days and Janaki and her friends enjoys their day when both of them comes face to face. The next day Janaki's mother & grandmother arrive at her home to see her & they bring Alvy to impersonate as Janaki. Gradually they fall in love with each other. One day they get a call saying that they can get help from a historian ([[Joy Mathew]]).

They reveal their situation and he asks them to think about anything that happened to them in last 15 days. They reveal that they got a ring as a gift. Janaki(in Alvy's body) shows a picture of the ring, and the historian reveals that the ring swaps the bodies of the wearers, and they have to change back within 15 days (today before the sunset being the last day) or they will be like this forever. Both of them find the rings, but before putting it on, Janaki (in Alvy's body) gets kidnapped by some men speaking Hindi. Alvy (in Janaki's body) comes to beat them up, but the bad guys overpower her. Vikki pickpockets the ring from the leader and gives it to the pair. They put on the rings and switch back their original bodies . Alvy fights the villains while Vikki calls the police, who arrive and arrest them. In the post credits scene, the 2 robbers who stole the rings from the museum steal them again, but this time they try them on and swap bodies with each other.

==Cast==
* [[Shine Tom Chacko]] as Alvy Benedict
* [[Anusree]] as Janaki
* [[Balu Varghese]] as Vikki
* Swapna Menon as Shreya
* [[Divya Prabha]] as Ann
* [[Sunil Sukhada]] as K. Sebastian
* [[Ambika Mohan]] as Sulochana
* [[Valsala Menon]] as Janaki's grandmother
* [[Joy Mathew]] as the Librarian
* [[Noby Marcose]] as Suresh
* [[RJ Mathukutty]] as Radio FM Anchor
*[[Pradeep Kottayam]] as Aaloor ettan
* [[Arunsol]] as vikki friend
* [[Manoj Varghese Parecattil]] as salesman

==Production==
The film marked the directorial debut of Binu S. Kalady, a wedding photographer who also has a couple of ad films to his credit.<ref name=Mythili/> Most of the crew members also did not have any experience in cinema. Binu says, "All we had was optimism. We were a bunch of photographers whose only association with cinema was as an audience. But, I had unbridled passion for movies and that’s how I decided to do a movie. I spent almost a year on another project, but couldn’t get a producer. Then my friends suggested I come up with a more cost-effective project so that we could pump in the money ourselves. That’s when I zeroed in on Ithihasa."<ref name=Express>{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/Making-Ithihasa/2014/11/06/article2510429.ece |title=Making 'Ithihasa' |work=The New Indian Express |first=Meera |last=Suresh |date=6 November 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>

The film centers on body swapping, a theme that has been explored earlier in many films. The director says: "This thread has been explored earlier in Hollywood, as in ''[[It’s a Boy Girl Thing]]''. Another film featuring a story on body swapping was ''[[Freaky Friday]]''. We used this thread to develop into a story suited for the Indian audience."<ref name=Mythili>{{cite news|url=http://www.gulfnews.com/entertainment/celebrity/ithihasa-a-malayalam-film-deals-with-body-swapping-1.1418119 |title='Ithihasa', a Malayalam film, deals with body swapping |work=[[Gulf News]] |first=Mythily |last=Ramachandran |date=27 November 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> According to some reviewers, the film is loosely based on the 2002 Hollywood film ''[[The Hot Chick]]''.

Binu said in an interview that actors and actresses whom he initially approached rejected the script saying the story was too unbelievable.<ref name=Interview/> Later he signed [[Shine Tom Chacko]] and Anusree as the lead pair. Binu had interacted with [[Shine Tom Chacko]] earlier and was confident he could do the lead character. But even the crew themselves were apprehensive about his choice of actress, Anusree.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/My-team-was-not-sure-whether-Anusree-will-act-well-as-a-boy-Binu-S/articleshow/45429005.cms |title=My team was not sure whether Anusree will act well as a boy: Binu S |work=The Times of India |first=Deepa |last=Soman |date=9 December 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> However, Binu was convinced "though she herself wasn't".<ref name=Interview/> For [[Shine Tom Chacko]], who has worked in 15 films, ''Ithihasa'' was the first in a lead role.<ref name=Mythili/> He says: "The director had approached me for a short film, but the project did not take off due to some reason. He had narrated the thread of Ithihasa then. There is a Hollywood film, The Hot Chick, with a similar storyline; Binu was confident about the subject and so I agreed to do it."<ref name=Shine>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Anusree-has-enacted-me-well-in-Ithihasa-Shine-Tom-Chacko/articleshow/44835403.cms |title=Anusree has enacted me well in Ithihasa: Shine Tom Chacko |work=The Times of India |first=Shruti |last=Karthikeyan |date=17 October 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> Recalling the efforts that went into be the character, Shine said in an interview that playing a woman was quite challenging but being a keen observer of women from childhood helped him to become the character effortlessly.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Playing-Janaki-was-a-challenge-Shine-Tom-Chacko/articleshow/44932636.cms |title=Playing Janaki was a challenge: Shine Tom Chacko |work=The Times of India |first=Deepa |last= Soman |date=24 October 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> The film was made with a minimal budget of {{INRConvert|18|c}}.<ref name=Express/>

==Music==

All lyrics written by B. K. Harinarayanan, all music composed by [[Deepak Dev]]. Music released on [[East Coast Vijayan|East Coast]]. The soundtrack received positive reviews. ''The Times of India'' wrote: "Blending melody and peppiness with smooth lyrics, composer Deepak Dev and lyricist Harinarayanan dish out a standard album and it makes for a pleasant listen. Itihasa has three songs, which are catchy and hummable."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/music/Ithihasa-music-review/articleshow/44924886.cms |title=Ithihasa music review |work=The Times of India |date=24 October 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Song !! Singer(s)
|-
| "Kannimalare Kanninazhake" || Najeem Arshad, Gayathri Suresh
|-
| "Ambada Njaane Chellada Mone" || Deepak Dev, Lonely Doggy, Sannidanandan
|-
| "Jeevitham Maayapambaram" || Ronny Philip, Lonely Doggy
|}

==Reception==

===Critical response===
The film received positive reviews from critics and audiences.<ref name=Review>{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/ithihasa-review-roundup-critics-audiences-give-thumbs-611065 |title='Ithihasa' Review Roundup: Critics and Audiences Give Thumbs Up |work=[[International Business Times]] |author=Nicy V. P. |date=10 October 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote: "this small film does entertain in parts and is a better watch than the ones coming branded as ‘comedy’."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/a-watchable-body-swap/article6493107.ece |title=A watchable body swap |work=The Hindu |first=S. R. |last=Praveen |date=12 October 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> ''[[The Times of India]]'' rated the film 3/5 and said, "the director has done a decent job and the film, with all its absurdity, makes for a cute, light-hearted entertainer."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/Ithihasa/movie-review/44791284.cms |title=Ithihasa |work=The Times of India |first=Asha |last=Prakash |date=12 October 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> [[Rediff.com]] gave 2.5/5 rating and said, "The storyline sounds simple and thin but the way it is presented makes Ithihasa worth watching."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-ithihasa-is-enjoyable-south/20141013.htm |title=Review: Ithihasa is enjoyable |work=Rediff.com |author=Paresh C Palicha |date=13 October 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> [[Sify.com]] gave the verdict as "watchable" and said, "Ithihasa is far from perfect but this one is a genuine attempt from a bunch of newcomers."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141013023044/http://www.sify.com/movies/ithihasa-review-malayalam-15058423.html sify.com]</ref> Nowrunning.com rated the film 2.5/5 and wrote: "'Ithihasa' may not surprise or leave you awestruck. It is a simple humorous tale with the infusion of a bit of fantasy."<ref>http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/14891/malayalam/ithihasa/4931/review/</ref>

===Box office===
''Ithihasa'' turned out to be a [[sleeper hit]], and was lauded as one of the best comedies in the recent times.<ref name=Interview>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/I-want-to-be-known-as-the-common-mans-director-says-Binu-S/articleshow/45204273.cms |title=I want to be known as the common man's director, says Binu S |work=The Times of India |first=Asha |last=Prakash |date=20 November 2014 |access-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> The DVD of the film was released on the first week of December. It collected {{INRConvert|4.35|c}} in 52 days of its release, turning out to be one of the highest-grossing film in Malayalam in 2014.

==See also==
* [[Body swap]]
* [[Body swap appearances in media]]
* [[Mind uploading in fiction]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|4235432|Ithihasa}}

[[Category:2014 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:2010s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2010s fantasy-comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy-comedy films]]
[[Category:Body swapping in films]]
[[Category:2014 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2014 comedy films]]

Ithihasa - Revision history

>Citation bot at 10:23, 12 May 2021