Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Janakan
View on Wikipedia
| Janakan | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | N. R. Sanjeev |
| Written by | S. N. Swami |
| Produced by | M. C. Arun Nair Sudeep Karakkat |
| Starring | Mohanlal Suresh Gopi |
| Cinematography | Sanjeev Shankar |
| Edited by | G. Murali Sangeeth Kollam |
| Music by | C. Rajamani |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Maxlaab Entertainments |
Release date |
|
Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Janakan (transl. Father) is a 2010 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film directed by N. R. Sanjeev and written by S. N. Swami, starring Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi.[1] The music was composed by M. Jayachandran.[2] It was released on 8 April 2010 in Kerala and was distributed by Maxlab Entertainments. Janakan is credited as the 200th film appearance of Suresh Gopi. The film won the Kerala state Film Award for Best playback singer - Female for Rajalakshmy for the song "Olichirunne".
Plot
[edit]This article's plot summary needs to be improved. (November 2019) |
Vishwanathan is a man who murdered three people who raped his only daughter Seetha alias Anu, a college-going girl. Anu is raped by her boyfriend Reji and his uncle's Kuttiyachan and ACP Vikraman after he cheats her and forces her to come to their house. She is raped for a few days and impregnated. She gets killed by Vikraman in the hospital, through carbon dioxide poisoning.
Suryanarayanan, is an advocate who comes to the Vishwam's rescue. Surya is one of the best lawyers in the country and is known to have a way with words. Suryanarayanan takes it upon himself to release Vishwam from the clutches of the judiciary, because he is convinced of the man's justice.
Monai and Pazhani are Vishwam's friends, who accompany him to visit Suryanarayanan. The rest of the story is how Suryanarayanan saves Viswam and his friends from punishment.
Cast
[edit]- Mohanlal as Adv. Suryanarayanan
- Suresh Gopi as Vishwanathan
- Biju Menon as Monayi
- Harisree Ashokan as Pazhani
- Priya Lal as Seetha Viswanathan (Anu)
- Jyothirmayi as Dr. Rani Mathew
- Kaveri as Nirmala Vishwanathan
- Rejith Menon as Ambarish Divakaran
- Vijayaraghavan as City Police Commissioner Lokanathan IPS
- K. B. Ganesh Kumar as ACP Rajeev Kumar IPS
- Vijayakumar as Assistant Commissioner Jayapalan IPS
- Shivaji Guruvayoor as Home Minister Divakaran
- Sampath Ram as ACP Vikraman IPS[3]
- Dinesh Panicker as Kuttiyachan
- Arun V. Narayan as Reji / Vijeesh
- Chali Pala as CI Haridas
- Krishna Nair as SI Shyama
- Krishna Praba as Raji
- Pratheesh Nandhan
- Kalesh Kallakoddu
Production
[edit]Director N. R. Sanjeev, also known as Saji Paravoor, had previously worked on movies like Mazha (2000), Makante Achan (2009), Sethurama Iyer CBI (2004), Mahasamudram, Nerariyan CBI (2005) and Yes Your Honour (2006), and had assisted several well-known directors. The script was written by S. N. Swami, known for his thriller screenplays. Sajeev Shanker was the cinematographer, and editing was done by B. Murali. The music was composed by music director M. Jayachandran and lyrics were by Gireesh Puthenchery. Mahadevan Thampi was the still photographer of this movie. Malayalam Serial actress Sree Kutty stated through her YouTube channel that she was actually called for the daughter role. Unfortunately, she rejected the role as she had already signed as a heroine for Tamil film.
Janakan was filmed in Thiruvananthapuram and surrounding areas in Kerala.
Soundtrack
[edit]Music for the film was composed by M. Jayachandran with lyrics by Gireesh Puthenchery. The film contains one song "Olichirunne" sung by Rajalakshmy. The soundtrack album was released by Satyam Audios.
- "Olichirunne", Rajalakshmy – 4:06
Release
[edit]The movie was released on 8 April 2010.
Reception
[edit]Sify.com gave a "watchable" verdict and said "There are no real experiments here, true, but the film has its moments and as they say, the heart at the right place. Though the film is just above two hours, it could have been more enjoyable, if it was shorter by some 20 minutes or so".[4] Indiaglitz.com stated it "above average" and added "With a relevant message and above average narratives, 'Janakan' may find needed audiences, to end up as a safer movie at the Box Office.".[5] Paresh C Palicha of Rediff.com rated 2.5 out of 5 and said "Janakan is promising. In short, this film heavily depends on the actors to pull it off after the initial excitement dies down. So, Mohanlal has to use his aura to the maximum which he does, making his fans happy. Suresh Gopi in the subdued rustic role wins hands down. Biju Menon and Harisree Asokan are mostly mute supporters. It is pleasantly surprising to see Harisree not in a separate comic track. Jyothirmayi, in the meaty role of Dr Rani Mathew, does well.".[6] Ibnlive.in.com rated 2.5 out of 5 and concluded "Director Sanjeev has tried to give a new angle to a story that's already been told several times, but he has failed to use class actors Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Biju Menon up to their potential. A watchable movie, if you don't expect much!".[7] Nowrunning.com gave an average rating of 2 out of 5 and said "Janakan tells a new age story that's already been told. There is no denying the societal renovation that it aims at, but perhaps it needed to reinvent its modes of delivery.".[8]
Box office
[edit]The film was a moderate success at the box office.[9][10]
Awards
[edit]- Kerala State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer - Rajalakshmy
- Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Popular Film[11]
References
[edit]- ^ George, Meghna (20 October 2009). "Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi in Janakan". Rediff.com.
- ^ "Malayalam filmmaker Saji Paravoor cremated". Deccan Chronicle. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
- ^ Sriram, Abhinaya (18 July 2020). "Actor Sampathram looks forward to his 200th film, after two decades in Kollywood". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Janakan". Sify. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Janakan Review". IndiaGlitz.com. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Janakan is promising". Rediff.com. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ P. V., Shyam (10 April 2010). "'Janakan' is old wine in new bottle". News18. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Janakan Review". nowrunning.com. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Kerala Box-Office- March 1 to April 13". Sify. 15 April 2010. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014.
- ^ "Janakan film director Saji Paravoor hospitalized". OnlookersMedia. 7 March 2016.
- ^ "Kerala Film Critics Awards announced". The Indian Express. 26 February 2011.
External links
[edit]Janakan
View on GrokipediaPlot
Synopsis
Janakan follows Vishwanathan, a devoted rural father and family man played by Suresh Gopi, whose world collapses following the brutal assault and murder of his college-going daughter Anu by a group of influential perpetrators.[4][5] Seeking accountability amid institutional failures, Vishwanathan turns to Surya Narayanan, a principled lawyer portrayed by Mohanlal, and rallies his close allies to challenge the powerful culprits responsible for the crime.[3][4] The story progresses chronologically from the 2010 inciting tragedy through tense legal proceedings and direct confrontations, underscoring the protagonist's relentless drive for justice against entrenched systemic barriers and corruption.[5][4]Cast
Principal cast
Suresh Gopi stars as Vishwanathan, the central figure embodying paternal vengeance in a narrative centered on personal retribution.[6] His performance deviates from the authoritative police characters he frequently portrayed in prior Malayalam films, instead depicting an everyday father overwhelmed by grief and resolve.[7] Mohanlal enacts Advocate Surya Narayanan, a morally grounded legal professional whose involvement underscores themes of justice and ethical dilemmas.[6] Known for versatile roles across Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal's casting in this supporting lead was announced alongside the project's development in early 2010.[8] Priya Lal portrays Seetha Viswanathan (also referred to as Anu), the daughter whose circumstances ignite the protagonist's actions, with her role featuring prominently in the film's opening sequences.[9] This appearance marked an early screen credit for Lal in Malayalam features.[10]Supporting cast
Biju Menon played Monayi, Vishwanathan's loyal friend who joins him in executing vigilante justice against the perpetrators of his daughter's assault and murder, aiding in plot progression through shared criminal acts and evasion tactics.[10] Harisree Ashokan portrayed Pazhani, the other steadfast companion offering practical support and injecting levity into high-stakes sequences involving cover-ups and confrontations.[6] Together, these characters facilitate Vishwanathan's descent into retribution while highlighting camaraderie amid crisis.[2] Vijayaraghavan depicted City Police Commissioner Lokanathan, a senior law enforcement official whose investigative pursuit heightens tension by challenging the protagonists' illicit operations and representing institutional opposition to extralegal vengeance.[6] His role advances the narrative by escalating conflicts between personal vendettas and official probes, culminating in procedural clashes.[11] Jyothirmayi appeared as Dr. Rani Mathew, a physician whose limited but pivotal involvement provides forensic or advisory elements that influence key decisions in the unfolding revenge scheme, underscoring medical and ethical dimensions without dominating screen time.[1]Production
Development
The screenplay for Janakan was penned by veteran Malayalam screenwriter S. N. Swamy, who crafted a narrative centered on a father's pursuit of vigilante justice after his daughter's rape and murder, incorporating legal intrigue and moral dilemmas.[1] Swamy's script drew inspiration from Western legal thrillers, notably John Grisham's A Time to Kill, adapting its core premise of personal retribution against systemic failures into a Malayalam context.[12] Debutant director N. R. Sanjeev collaborated with Swamy to emphasize a topical treatment of crime, aiming to transcend routine thrillers by highlighting contemporary societal issues in justice delivery.[7] Development commenced in 2009 under producer Arun's Line of Colours banner, with pre-production focusing on integrating thriller pacing with commentary on familial trauma and institutional shortcomings in handling sexual violence cases.[13] The project prioritized a grounded, evidence-based portrayal of criminal investigations and court processes, reflecting Swamy's established approach to scripts informed by real-world legal precedents rather than sensationalism.[7] Principal creative decisions, including the dual-lead structure opposing paternal vengeance against legal advocacy, were finalized to underscore causal tensions between individual action and state mechanisms.[12] By late 2009, the team had outlined a production timeline targeting a winter release, though delays pushed the premiere to April 2010, allowing refinements to the script's balance of suspense and ethical inquiry.[14]Casting
The casting of Janakan prominently featured the reunion of Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi as dual leads, marking a follow-up collaboration after their recent work in Pakal Nakshatrangal.[15] This pairing leveraged the actors' longstanding chemistry, evident from multiple prior joint appearances including Irupatham Noottandu, Manichithra Thazhu, and Twenty:20, to drive audience interest in 2010.[16] Their selection was announced in September 2009, with filming commencing in Thiruvananthapuram and Mohanlal joining the unit on September 10.[15] Supporting roles were filled by established performers such as Biju Menon, Harisree Ashokan, Jyothirmayi, and Kaveri, chosen to complement the central dynamic without overshadowing the leads.[16] For the sensitive portrayal involving the protagonists' family, newcomer Priya Lal was cast in a key role, emphasizing restraint in depiction amid the film's themes of trauma. No significant delays in casting were reported, with principal announcements aligning with pre-production timelines ahead of the 2010 release.[1]Filming
Principal photography for Janakan occurred primarily in Kerala, with shoots conducted at various locations in and around Thiruvananthapuram, including Neyyattinkara, to capture authentic regional settings reflective of the film's family-centric narrative.[16][17] These areas provided a mix of urban and semi-rural environments suitable for depicting the protagonist's personal and vigilante arcs without relying on studio sets.[16] Shooting commenced in the latter half of 2009 and wrapped up by October of that year, allowing time for post-production ahead of the film's theatrical release on April 8, 2010.[16][14] The production adhered to a straightforward timeline typical of Malayalam cinema at the time, focusing on practical location work to ground the thriller elements in everyday Kerala locales rather than stylized action sequences.[14]Soundtrack
Composition
The soundtrack's composition for Janakan (2010) was divided between M. Jayachandran, who handled the original song, and Rajamani, responsible for the background score.[18][19] This separation reflects common practices in Malayalam cinema for thrillers, where background music often prioritizes atmospheric tension over elaborate song sequences to maintain narrative momentum.[18] Jayachandran composed the sole song, "Olichirunne", with lyrics by Gireesh Puthenchery, performed by Rajalakshmi Abhiram; its melancholic melody, evoking lamentation through repetitive phrases suggesting prolonged weeping, aligns with the film's exploration of familial loss and ensuing resolve.[20][21] The track's integration occurs during pivotal emotional transitions, underscoring grief without disrupting the thriller's pacing, a technique Jayachandran frequently employs by blending Carnatic influences with subtle orchestration for restraint.[22] Rajamani's background score emphasizes rhythmic pulses and dissonant strings to heighten suspense in action sequences and vigilante confrontations, drawing from established Malayalam conventions of using percussion-heavy motifs to evoke urgency in crime dramas.[18][19] Recording details remain sparse, but the score's release coincided with the film's theatrical debut on April 8, 2010, prioritizing functional enhancement of plot-driven tension over standalone musicality.[23]Track listing
The soundtrack album for Janakan, released in 2010, consists of a single original song composed by M. Jayachandran.[24][19]| No. | Title | Singer | Lyricist | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Olichirunne" | Rajalakshmi Abhiram | Gireesh Puthenchery | 4:07[25][26][21] |
