Onnaman

Cast: Mohanlal, Ramya Krishnan, Biju Menon, Kavya Madhavan
Language: Malayalam
Banner: G.K Films International
Director: Thampi Kannamthanam
Producer: Govindan Kutty
Camera: Salu George
Story: Thampi Kannamthanam
Screenplay: Thampi Kannamthanam
Dialogue: Thampi Kannamthanam
Lyrics: Kaithapram
Music: S.P Venkitesh
Distribution: Shogun Release
Year: 2002

After Mohanlal's action-thriller Ravanaprabhu became a big hit, there was greater anticipation building up for his next venture Onnaman. The entire Malayalam film industry had pinned their hopes on this Thampy Kannamthanam-directed Mohanlal-starrer.?

But now that the film has been released, it looks like this much-hyped movie will crush all hopes and expectations. Though initial response at the box office has been very good, the crowds at the theatre seem to be dwindling slowly and the prospects of the film being a very big success seem very dim. Incidentally, Mohanlal's role in Company has been appreciated everywhere - except Kerala. Looks like they want a hit for their superstar only in their own language it seems.

The film is a typical formula one with a lot of action, songs, sentiments and larger than life Mohanlal. In the film, Mohanlal plays a don who helps the meek and the downtrodden but takes on the rich and powerful. This larger-than-life role is a tailor made for Mohan Lal. Director Kannathanam has included a judicious mix of action and sentiments.

Ravishankar (Mohanlal) is an underworld don who controls the activities at the Kochi port. He is a man with a heart of gold and is a sort of Robinhood for the local slum people. He grew up in the slums (Mohanlal's son Pranav plays the childhood days of Ravishankar) and has a loving mother Parvathy (Jayabharathy), a neighbour Salim Bhai, his daughter Suhara (Kavya Madhavan), a Gujarathi neighbour Kamala and her family.?

Ravishankar is forced to become an underworld don by the machinations of the local politicians who are hand in glove with the bad elements. Kamala (Ramya Krishnan) falls in love with Ravishankar and soon she gets IAS and is posted where her lover operates. She is shocked to find her lover as a mafia leader, but soon realizes that his intentions were good and he has a heart of gold. Sensing that Kavya is Ravishankar's weakness, the villains catch hold of her and later in a bloody climax he saves her but ends up killing the leader. But the people come to his rescue and they prevent the police from arresting him.

The other casts include Biju Menon, Jagadhish, Lalu Alex, Jagathy, and Aswathy. S P Venkatesh tunes lyrics of Gireesh Puthanchery. Salu George is the cameraman and Sreekar Prasad is the editor. Story, screenplay and direction are by Thampy Kannamthanam. Govindankutty produces the film.

Mohanlal is stale as Ravishankar, as he has done similar characters, even in his last film Praja. He looks absolutely disinterested especially in the song 'n' dance scenes. This great actor needs to re-invent himself. Even his most ardent fans are likely to feel let down by this snooze-inducing film. Ramya Krishnan, Kavya Madhavan and the rest of the cast are nor worth mentioning at all. Pranav who enacted Mohanlal's childhood, has done his role very well and the full credit goes to Kannamthanam. Even though he had only a couple of scenes, the role given to him was done with utmost perfection

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