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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Mahathma
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| director = [[Shaji Kailas]]
| producer = Vandothra International
| writer = [[T. Damodaran]]
| narrator =
| starring = [[Suresh Gopi]] [[Biju Menon]] [[Ramya Krishnan]] [[Rajan P. Dev]] [[Devan (actor)|Devan]] [[K. B. Ganesh Kumar|Ganesh Kumar]]
| music = [[Vidyasagar (music director)|Vidyasagar]] (songs) Rajamani (background score)
| cinematography = [[Dinesh Baboo]] Tony
| editing = L. Bhoominathan
| studio =
| distributor = Vandothra Release
| released = {{Film date|1996|2|25|df=y}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget = 
| gross = 
}}

'''''Mahathma''''' is a 1996 Malayalam [[crime film|crime-drama]], directed by [[Shaji Kailas]], with [[Suresh Gopi]] in the lead role. [[K. B. Ganesh Kumar|Ganesh Kumar]], [[Devan (actor)|Devan]], [[Rajan P. Dev]], [[Biju Menon]] and [[Ramya Krishnan]] appear in supporting roles; this film revolved the growth of an underworld don. The story is unfolded in flashback, travelling through the memories of Devadevan, the protagonist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0355724/|title=Mahatma|publisher=|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

The movie has been criticised for its dialogues promoting the caste divide in India, as well as insinuating that the lower castes has been tormenting members of the upper castes.

==Plot==
Devadevan ([[Suresh Gopi]]), an underworld don decides to appear in front of Justice Varma Commission, who is holding a probe into the serial blasts that claimed hundreds of innocent lives. Devadevan's claim of divulging solid evidence of the hands of several top politicians and underworld in the blasts and communal riots that followed made many of his rivals sleepless. Just on reaching the court premise, he is shot point-blank.

Severely wounded, Devan is admitted in ICU, from where his memories travel to his early days in crime. Devadevan, a suspect under trial along with Mustafa ([[Biju Menon]]), his trusted right arm is bailed out by Khan Sahib ([[Rajan P. Dev]]), a smuggler on behalf of David Abraham (Kitty), a Dubai-based underworld don. Upon release, both Devan and Mustafa are provided safe accommodation at Khan's house, where he meets up with Nancy ([[Ramya Krishnan]]), the daughter of Khan's second wife in her first marriage. An upcoming movie star, Nancy falls in love with Devan within a short time.

Devan and Mustafa commit several smuggling operations for Khan and slowly rise up in career. Upon realizing that Khan is double-crossing him, David Abraham kills him and appoints Devadevan as his representative in India. Devan and Mustafa emerge as undisputed dons in the country. During that time, on a visit to [[Kerala]], Devan meets up with Harikrishnan ([[K. B. Ganesh Kumar|Ganesh Kumar]]), his childhood buddy undergoing a fast to protest against the appointment of Scheduled Caste persons as Shanti (priests) in temples as per the reservation policy of the government. Devan pledges to support Harikrishnan, a youth from erstwhile Namboothiri [[Brahmin]] feudal family, who is in deep financial crisis. Hari is appointed as the second in command of Devan, who upon Devan's advice gives up his yajnopaveetham.

James Kutty ([[Devan (actor)|Devan]]), a narcotic drug smuggler along with Reddiar (Sahadevan) tries all ways to finish up the empire of Devan, but all in vain. In retaliation, Hari kills the son of Reddiar. Baba Rahim ([[N. F. Varghese]]), central home minister, Reddiar and James forms a league to finish off Devan. David Abraham, who was now losing turf to Devan too joins them and provides explosives and ammunition required to create a severe blast along with a communal riot that could deviate public attention from the series of corruption allegations against his men in power, including Baba Rahim.

Mustafa, in the meantime, falls in love with Saraswati ([[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]]), the younger sister of Hari, who objects to her sister's love towards a Muslim. Hari is shocked to find that Mustafa is supported by Devan and splits ways with him. Hari is allured by James and is used effectively to transport explosives into the city. The serial blasts breaks down Devan, who is shocked to find that his name is dragged into it effectively by David Abraham and gang. Mustafa is killed by James. Devan finishes off David Abraham and James.

He travels to appear in front of Justice Varma Commission, and was shot point-blank by Harikrishnan. At hospital, upon discharge from ICU, Devan is transferred to a ward where Justice Varma meets him. But Varma plays a double game, whereby he successfully removes the bullets from Devan's pistol. Just minutes after the exit of Varma, Hari enters his ward and tries to shoot him up. But Devan successfully escapes. While following Devan, Hari gets into a car, but the cabbie was Koshy ([[Maniyan Pillai Raju]]), the attorney of Devan, who locks the car from outside, in which a bomb was planted. Devan, using his remote control blows up the car killing Hari.

==Cast==
*[[Suresh Gopi]] - Devadevan
*[[Biju Menon]] - Mustafa
*[[Ramya Krishnan]] - Nancy
*[[K. B. Ganesh Kumar|Ganesh Kumar]] - Harikrishnan
*[[Devayani (actress)|Devayani]] - Saraswathi
*[[Kitty (actor)|Kitty]] - David Abraham
*[[Rajan P. Dev]] - Khan Sahib
*[[Maniyan Pillai Raju]] - Attorney
*[[Devan (actor)|Devan]] - James Kutty
*[[N. F. Varghese]] - Baba Rahim
*[[Major Sundarrajan]] - Justice Varma
*[[Sadiq]] - Sukumaran
*[[Karamana Janardanan Nair]] - Ramakrishna Kurup
*Sahadevan - Reddiar
*Appahaja - Reporter
*[[C. I. Paul]] - Dy.SP Madhavan Nair
*[[Kollam Thulasi]] - Minister
* [[Kozhikode Narayanan Nair]]
*[[Krishnakumar]] - Rajeev
*[[Mahesh (actor)|Mahesh]] - Venu
*[[Jose Pellissery]] - Chief Minister
*[[Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair]] - Valiya Thirumeni
*Vimal Raj - Satish Shetty
*[[Azeez (actor)|Azeez]] - Jailor
*[[Usharani]] - Nancy's Mother
*[[Renuka (Tamil actor)|Renuka]] - Ramakrishna Kurup's Daughter

== Songs ==
* "Brahma" - [[Swarnalatha]]
* "Dhyaaye Nithyam" - Satheesh Babu
* "Pullorkudavum" - [[M. G. Sreekumar]]
* "Raavirulum" - [[K. J. Yesudas]]
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.malayalammovies.org/movie/mahatma |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-11-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827094848/http://www.malayalammovies.org/movie/mahatma |archivedate=27 August 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Box Office==
Movie was average hit compared to past blockbuster hits of Suresh Gopi-Shaji Kailas.

==Trivia==
*The film uses [[ABBA]]'s "[[Money, Money, Money]]" as the background song to mark Devadevan's transformation as the mafia king.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0355724|Mahatma}}

{{Shaji Kailas}}

[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by T. Damodaran]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vidyasagar]]
[[Category:Films directed by Shaji Kailas]]
[[Category:1990s Malayalam-language films]]

Mahathma - Revision history

imported>JDTheKing at 16:54, 5 July 2021