| File:Classmates (film).jpg
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| Directed by | Lal Jose |
|---|---|
| Written by | James Albert |
| Produced by | Prakash Damodaran P. K. Muralidharan |
| Starring | Template:Ubl |
| Cinematography | Rajeev Ravi |
| Edited by | Ranjan Abraham |
| Music by | Alex Paul
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| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Budget | Template:INR3.4 crore
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Classmates is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language coming-of-age romantic film directed by Lal Jose and written by James Albert. The film stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Narain, Jayasurya, Indrajith Sukumaran and Kavya Madhavan with Jagathy Sreekumar, Balachandra Menon and Radhika in supporting roles.[1] The music was composed by Alex Paul.[2] The cinematography was by Rajeev Ravi[3] and editing by Ranjan Abraham. Audiography was done by M. R. Rajakrishnan.
The story revolves around the college graduate class of 1991. In 2006, working in different corners of the world, the friends get together for a class reunion to revive the joy and laughter of their student days. On the night of the reunion, one of the classmates is almost murdered and goes into a coma.[4]
Upon release, the film became the highest-grossing Malayalam film, at that time. It is frequently referenced in Keralite popular culture.[5] The film went on to win the Kerala State Film Awards for Best Popular Film (Prakash Damodaran and P. K. Muralidharan) and Best Story (James Albert).[6] It was later remade into Tamil as Ninaithale Inikkum starring Prithviraj himself, and in Telugu and Marathi as Classmates (2007) and Classmates (2015), respectively.
Plot
The film centres on a group of classmates who attended the same Chemistry class in their final year of college. Among them, Murali (Narain) is a singer and P. Sukumaran (Prithviraj) is a firebrand leader of the left-winged students union. Sukumaran's rival, Satheesan (Jayasurya), leads the opposite faction of student politics and is aided by his sidekick, Valu Vasu (Vijeesh). Pius (Indrajith), a rich and spoiled brat of parents settled in the Gulf, is the campus Romeo and Sukumaran's best friend. Thara Kurup (Kavya Madhavan) is the daughter of the Member of the state Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Muvattupuzha; she is a dancer who regularly wins awards for the college with her performances.
It was Murali's dream to have a ten-year reunion, but he mysteriously dies before the reunion can be organised. His parents, Professor Iyer (Balachandra Menon) and Lakshmi Teacher ( Shobha Mohan), both teachers at the college, decide to fulfil their departed son's dream and bring his classmates together for a reunion. Sukumaran is now a diamond dealer based in Mumbai, a rich and successful businessman earning in crores and is a divorcee. Satheesan is now an MLA, following his dreams to become a minister , while Vasu continues to be his sidekick. Pius is now settled in the Middle East, while Thara, still unmarried, runs a dancing school.
The coming together of these classmates is the occasion for them to relive the past and to discover how Murali died. When all are together, Razia (Radhika) arrives. Sukumaran attempts suicide but it is later discovered that it was not a suicide attempt but a murder attempt. The suspense is revealed one by one. In the end, Sukumaran moves to Mumbai while all greet him while he feels Murali too greeting him.
Cast
- Prithviraj Sukumaran as Sukumaran Template:A.k.a Suku
- Narain as Murali
- Jayasurya as Satheeshan Kanjikuzhi
- Indrajith Sukumaran as Pius George Template:A.k.a PG
- Kavya Madhavan as Thara Kurup
- Vijeesh as Vasu Sadashivan/Vaalu Vasu
- Radhika as Raziya
- Balachandra Menon Professor Iyer (College Lecturer/Murali's father)
- Jagathy Sreekumar as Fr.Esthappaan (College Lecturer/Men's Hostel Warden)
- J Pallassery as Fr. Geevarghese, (College Principal)
- Shobha Mohan as Lakshmi (College Lecturer/Murali's Mother)
- Suraj Venjaramood as Ousepp (as Suraaj)
- V. K. Sreeraman as Raziya's father
- Sukumari as Sukumaran's mother
- Anoop Chandran as 'Pazhanthuni' Koshi
- Suja Menon as Bindu Balachandran
- Anil Murali as Police Inspector
- Renjusha Menon
- Shajahan Rdx
- Soorya J Menon
- Lekshmi Viswanath
Reception
The film was a box office success.[7] It broke many box office records and spawned a whole new genre of college-based films in the Malayalam film industry. The film completed 150 days run in Thiruvananthapuram and 100 days in Kottayam and Ernakulam as well. The film went on to gross Template:INR26 crores (US$ 3.06 million) and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year 2006.[8]
Remakes
Classmates has been remade in Tamil as Ninaithale Inikkum, with Prithviraj playing the lead again. Narain is replaced by Shakthi Vasu and Kavya is replaced by Priyamani.[9] A Telugu remake titled Classmates, with Sumanth and Sadha playing the lead roles, released in 2007. In 2015 It was remade in Marathi as Classmates.
Awards
- Radhika: Best Supporting Actress in Amrita Films Awards 2006
- James Albert: Best Scriptwriter in Asianet film awards
- James Albert: Kerala State Film Award for Best Story
- Kerala State Film Award for Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value.
- Vineeth Sreenivasan: Best Male Playback singer.
- Asianet Film Award for Best Film
Soundtrack
The songs were written by Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma and composed by Alex Paul.
| # | Song | Singer(s) | Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Kattadi Thanalum" | Vidhu Prathap, Reju Joseph, Ramesh Babu, Cicily | Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Indrajith, Narain, Kavya Madhavan, Radhika |
| 2 | "Kathirunna Pennalle" | Devanand, Jyotsna | Prithviraj, Kavya Madhavan |
| 3 | "Vote" | M. G. Sreekumar, Pradeep | Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Indrajith, Narain, Kavya Madhavan, Radhika |
| 4 | "Ente Khalbile" | Vineeth Sreenivasan | Narain, Radhika, Prithviraj, Jayasurya, Indrajith |
| 5 | "Ente Khalbile" | Sujatha | Narain, Radhika |
| 6 | "Chillu Jaalaka" | Manjari |
In popular culture
- An alcohol addicts association called Glassmates was initiated in many districts in Kerala, its name intending to be a pun on the name of the movie.
- The film spawned a whole new genre of college campus-based films, which have dominated box-office earnings in recent years. Examples include Puthiya Mukham, Chocolate etc. All of the films mentioned also star Prithviraj in the lead role.
References
- ↑ Archived copy. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
- ↑ Archived copy. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
- ↑ Yen for innovation(2 November 2007).
- ↑ Archived copy. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
- ↑ 'Classmates,' a trendsetter(29 September 2006).
- ↑ Archived copy. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ↑ Ajith strikes gold(3 November 2006).
- ↑ Breaking down the mollywood box office(6 April 2017).
- ↑ Shakthi and Prithviraj in Ninaithale Inikkum - Behindwoods.com K Balachander Rajinikanth Kamal Haasan Jayapradha Priya Mani pictures kollywood hot images tamil picture gallery images. www.behindwoods.com.