Naran () is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Joshiy and written by Ranjan Pramod. The film tells the story of Mullankolli Velayudhan (Mohanlal), an innocent homeless ruffian who exercise control over the Mullankolli village to maintain order with his code of conduct. Produced by Antony Perumbavoor through Aashirvad Cinemas, it also features Madhu, Siddique, Bhavana, Innocent, Jagathy Sreekumar, Devayani, Mamukoya, and Maniyanpilla Raju in supporting roles.
The film features original songs composed by Deepak Dev and background score by Ouseppachan. Naran was released in Kerala on 3 September 2005 prior to Onam. Upon release the film was a commercial success, becoming one of the top grossing films of the year.
Plot
Mullankolli is a rustic remote village in Wayanad district of northern Kerala. Velayudhan is an orphan whose pregnant mother had come floating during heavy floods years ago, and was brought up by a kind and a feudal landlord named Puthusseri Valiya Nambiar. Velayudhan grows up into a kind-hearted local goon who hates injustice and has set his own rules for the villagers who are scared of him including local moneylender and panchayat's member Kurup and Valiya Nambiar's son-in-law Gopinath Nambiar, who wants to rule over the village in his own way. When Velayudhan plants a stick or rod, which means that it has his stamp of authority. The only men whom he listens are Valiya Nambiar and Kelappan, who looked after him as a child.
The villagers including Kurup and Gopinathan regularly bring goons from outside the village to fight Velayudhan but to no avail. Velayudham meets three women in his life - a prostitute Kunnummel Shantha, his childhood crush Janaki and Kelappan's daughter Leela. Janaki's husband Krishnan, who runs a PDS store and is a heavy drinker, hates Velayudhan as he was Janaki's childhood crush. Gopinathan has his eyes over Janaki as well and Velayudhan despite knowing Gopi's true colors doesn't harm him solely due to his respect towards Gopi's wife Sunanda and Valiya Nambiar's daughter. During the annual temple festival in the village, Kurupp accepts donations from most of the villagers, where he hires goons from Mattanchery to fight Velayudhan.
Just before their fight, Gopi gives them extra payment to stab Velayudhan in the dark. However all their efforts are in vain and all of them are beaten up by Velayudhan shortly before Velayudhan gets arrested by the police for the same. Later the SI lets him free after learning of his innocence from an elderly constable. Soon, the monsoon season arrives and Velayudhan gets engaged in his routine adventure of getting hold of articles (including large tree trunks) which come flowing with the stream water as part of the floods. Assisted by Kelappan and boat man Ahmed, Velayudhan is trying to get hold of a fast-flowing tree log when Hamsa, a goon hired by Gopi, cuts off the hanging rope tied to a tree using which Velayudhan balances himself and also gets hold of objects.
However Velayudhan spots him shortly where he manages to get hold of his target log and ties it to an adjacent tree. Velayudhan thrashes Hamsa and breaks his teeth in front of Gopi and Kurup to issue them a warning. Velayudhan is planning to bring in a marriage proposal for Leela. Kelappan's wife Narayani who hated Velayudhan starts treating him well when she realises his love for the family. However, the proposal fails as Gopi's men spread rumour that Velayudhan has illicit relationships with Kelappan's daughters, a lie invented by Gopi via Kurup. Velayudhan is angered and beats up Gopi's men for creating troubles to Kelappan and his family. However, Kelappan asks Velayudhan to stop his act and even slaps him in public before asking him to get out of his house forever.
A heartbroken Velayudhan goes to Gopi's house and condemns his cowardly ways. Realising his innocence, Valiya Nambiar meets him and tells him to marry Leela as according to him that is the only way to save her name. Valiya Nambiar tells Kelappan about Velayudhan's innocence. However, Leela dislikes Velayudhan and decides to commit suicide to escape from the marriage. While attempting to jump off from a cliff, she is stopped by Velayudhan who assures that he isn't interested in marrying her. The next day, Valiya Nambiar makes Velayudhan to promise Leela and Kelappan that he will never drink or beat anyone again. That night, Velayudhan narrates about his embarrassing childhood and also his love for Janaki to Ahmed, who feels sorry for him and gives him shelter. However, the next morning Ahmed arrives to see Velayudhan beaten up badly in his sleep, by the village goons.