Ramji Rao Speaking is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-thriller film written and directed by the duo Siddique–Lal (in their directorial debut) and produced by Fazil, Swargachitra Appachan, and Ousepachan Vaalakuzhy. It stars Sai Kumar, Mukesh, Innocent, Vijayaraghavan, Devan, Rekha, with Sankaradi, Sukumari, Kunchan and Mamukkoya in other supporting roles. The film deals with social factors affecting Kerala including unemployment during the 1980s, and went on to achieve a cult classic status.[1][2][3]
| Ramji Rao Speaking | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Siddique–Lal |
| Written by | Siddique–Lal |
| Produced by | Fazil Ousepachan Vaalakuzhy Swargachitra Appachan |
| Starring | Sai Kumar Mukesh Innocent Vijayaraghavan Devan |
| Cinematography | Venu |
| Edited by | T. R. Shekar |
| Music by | S. Balakrishnan |
Production company | Adithya Films |
| Distributed by | Century |
Release date |
|
Running time | 150 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Ramji Rao Speaking marked the debut of director duo Siddique and Lal, actors Sai Kumar (first appearance in a notable role), Rekha, N. F. Varghese and Harishree Ashokan (both in minor roles), and music director S. Balakrishnan. Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995) and Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 (2014) are the sequels to the film.
The core plot of the movie was inspired by the 1971 American Broadcasting Company TV film See The Man Run directed by Corey Allen and written by Mann Rubin.[4] Fazil remade this film in Tamil as Arangetra Velai (1990), with Mamukkoya, Sukumari and Vijayaraghavan reprising their role and the character of Gopalakrishnan being replaced by a female. Priyadarshan remade the film in Hindi, titled Hera Pheri (2000). It was also remade in Telugu as Dhanalakshmi, I Love You (2002), in Odia as Wrong Number (2002), in Kannada as Trin Trin (2004), in Bengali as Hera Pheri (2016) and Punjabi as Gol Gappe (2023).
Plot
editThe story revolves around three unemployed people (the third is a middle aged unsuccessful theatre owner). The story opens with the arrival of Balakrishnan in Kochi to dispute the denial of his company job which he was supposed to receive several years ago. Several candidates overtook his chance and the last one was Rani who pretends to be an influential figure, the daughter of Shivashankaran Panicker. Rani threatens Balakrishnan to continue her work despite his efforts to overthrow her. The company manager knows about her family situation and helps her keep the job. Balakrishnan is determined to stay in the town until he succeeds in getting the job.
During his stay, Balakrishnan finds a temporary lodging in 'Urvasi Theatre', owned by Mannar Mathai, with another tenant Gopalakrishnan, both unemployed and with insignificant earnings. Mathai is constantly pestered by calls intended for Urumees Thampan, a rich businessman, and vice versa. Initially, Gopalakrishnan does not like the new tenant because of a misunderstanding made by Balakrishnan that Gopalakrishnan is a pickpocket at the market, in vain. Gopalakrishnan is tricky and cunning. He lies to his mother by telling her that he works in a large company based in Calcutta and that he is building a new house in Kochi. Balakrishnan discovers the truth and mistakes Gopalakrishnan as a fraud. Gopalakrishnan makes Balakrishnan sign white paper and betrays him by writing a no-objection letter to Rani, thus giving her the job. Gopalakrishnan brings Balakrishnan's friend Hamzukkoya who is desperately searching for him to the house. Hamzukkoya threatens to commit suicide if he does not repay the debt of Rs. 35,000 he took for his sister's wedding, which Hamzukkoya wants to use for his daughter's wedding as fast as possible. He demands the money from Rani, but what shocks Balakrishnan most was the realisation of Rani's family dire situation, having a blind son who needs a surgery worth rupees 50,000, which she had earlier demanded from Balakrishnan in return for the job. Balakrishnan gets drunk at night and reveals the fraud play Gopalakrishnan has done to his own mother, which Gopalakrishnan justifies as comforting his mother who has had health issues because Gopalakrishnan did not get a job months after passing out of college. The truth melts the hearts of both Balakrishnan and Mannar Mathai, they all become friends enjoy the night despite their unending problems.
Early in dawn, Balakrishnan wakes up to a ringing telephone. A gang leader named Ramji Rao has kidnapped Nisha Mol, Urumees's daughter and is asking for a ransom of Rs. 1 lakh. The three unemployed have no relation with Urumees; Ramji Rao had apparently dialled the wrong number. Panicking, the trio tries to find the number of Urumees from a phone directory, only to find out that the numbers of Urvasi Theaters and Urumees were mistakenly interchanged in the printed directory. Gopalakrishnan comes up with an idea and asks Balakrishnan to act as a dealer between Ramji Rao with Urumees, without letting them know about each other, and demand a ransom of four lakh to Urumees, instead of one lakh, get Nisha from Ramji Rao, and take the remaining three lakh for themselves. They narrowly escape Hamzukkoya who tries to assault Balakrishnan, who has not paid for the wedding. They find it difficult as the police suspect them and they find it hard to keep Urumees and Ramji Rao anonymous to each other. Finally, after a struggle, the trio rescues Nisha from the gang leader and hands her over to Urumees. Ramji Rao is arrested, and they confess the truth to him after a police encounter. Gopalakrishnan gives Hamzukkoya his money, but is arrested along with Balakrishnan and Mannar Mathai soon after he reaches home. Urumees forgives them and is thankful for returning his daughter, and offers them the three lakh rupees as a reward, telling them that they do not have to stay at the police station for more than an hour. The film ends with Nisha calling Urumees, mocking Ramji Rao.
Cast
edit- Sai Kumar as Balakrishnan[5]
- Mukesh as Gopalakrishnan[5]
- Innocent as Mannar Mathai[5]
- Vijayaraghavan as Ramji Rao[5]
- Devan as Urumees Thampan[5]
- Rekha as Rani[5]
- Sankaradi as Hindustan Chemicals Manager
- Mamukkoya as Hamzakkoya
- Sukumari as Saraswati
- Kunchan as Mathai
- Alleppey Ashraf as Chemmeen Varghese
- N. F. Varghese as a Hindustan Chemicals staff member
- Harisree Asokan as a Sandhyav
- Amritam Gopinath as Matron
- M. L. Augustine as office peon
- Anjana as Nisha, Urumees Thampan's daughter
- P. C. George as the circle inspector of police
- Shiyas Basheer as Unni, Rani's brother
Production
editThe movie is directed by Siddique–Lal duo, who were assistants of Fazil. The film is also produced by Fazil. Sai Kumar made his acting debut with this film.[6]
Soundtrack
editThe film's soundtrack contains 4 songs, all composed by S. Balakrishnan in his debut, with the lyrics by Bichu Thirumala. A. R. Rahman programmed the song "Kalikalam".[7]
| # | Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Avanavan Kurukkunna" | M. G. Sreekumar, C. O. Anto, Chorus |
| 2 | "Kalikkalam Ithu Kalikkalam" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
| 3 | "Kanneerkkaayaliletho" | M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chitra |
| 4 | "Oraayiram Kinaakkalal" | M. G. Sreekumar, Unni Menon, K. S. Chitra, C. O. Anto, Chorus |
Reception
editThe film became a commercial success.[8][9][10][11][12] In 1989, The Hindu wrote, "Siddique and Lal have to be complimented on their brilliant maiden venture, a rollicking comedy."[13] Kalakaumudi wrote: "Sai Kumar makes an impressive debut...However it is Innocent who is the showstealer."[14]
Remakes
edit| Year | Film | Language | Cast | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Arangetra Velai | Tamil | Prabhu, Revathi, V. K. Ramasamy | Fazil |
| 2000 | Hera Pheri | Hindi | Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, Paresh Rawal | Priyadarshan |
| 2002 | Dhanalakshmi, I Love You | Telugu | Allari Naresh, Aditya Om, Naresh | Shiva Nageswara Rao |
| 2002 | Wrong Number | Odia | Mihir Das, Sritam Das | Bobby Islam |
| 2004 | Trin Trin | Kannada | Dharma, Rakesh Krishna, Doddanna | Adithya Chikkanna |
| 2016 | Hera Pheri | Bengali | Rajatava Dutta, Vivek, Subhasish Mukherjee | Sujit Guha[15] |
| 2023 | Gol Gappe | Punjabi | Binnu Dhillon, Rajat Bedi, B. N. Sharma | Smeep Kang[16] |
Legacy
editMukesh's mother's warden's dialogue in the film "Kambilipothappu (woollen blankets)" became a catchphrase.[17]
References
edit- ^ ജ്യോതിഷ്, വി.ആര്. (21 October 2016). "ഫാസിൽ മനുഷ്യനെ പറ്റിക്കാൻ ഇറങ്ങിയിരിക്കുകയാണ്...റാംജിറാവുവിനൊപ്പം കഥകളും ഇറങ്ങി; സിദ്ദിഖ്–ലാൽ". Vanitha. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- ^ Vijay George (7 November 2013). "Three of a kind". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ George, Vijay (29 July 2015). "Malayalam films remade in Hindi". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Priyardarshan on 20 years of 'Hera Pheri': Humour can never die". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Rajan, Silpa (1 October 2021). "#FilmyFriday: 'Ramji Rao Speaking'- Turn off the device you are currently using and tune into this classic!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "Second innings". The Hindu. 18 August 2006. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ Pradeep, K. (18 June 2015). "Recalling a musical legacy". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- ^ "Malayalam films remade in Hindi". The Times of India. 29 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ "Popular Mollywood comedian Indrans gets to play villain in movie". The Indian Express. 6 November 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
- ^ Vijay George (2 January 2009). "Return to Harihar Nagar". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009.
- ^ "Meleparambil Aanveedu Mannar Mathai Speaking sequels". The Times of India. 13 September 2011. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ "Coronavirus outbreak: 'Tsunami' team calls off shoot". The Times of India. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "50th day". Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ Kalakaumudi (1989) "സായ് കുമാർ ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്തു" Archived 14 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Hera Pheri Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos | eTimes". The Times of India.
- ^ Golgappe Movie Is Not A Remake of Hera Pheri (in Punjabi). Punjabi Teshan. 15 February 2023. Event occurs at 7:43. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Praveen, S. r. (25 March 2013). "Malayalam online in wonderful calligraphy". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022.
