Kilukkam () is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language comedy drama film directed by Priyadarshan and written by Venu Nagavalli. The story set in Ooty revolves around tourist guide Joji (Mohanlal) and photographer Nishchal (Jagathy Sreekumar). They happen to meet a lavish tourist Nandini (Revathi), whom they bet their fortunes on. It also stars Thilakan, Innocent, K. B. Ganesh Kumar, Sukumari, and Sharat Saxena, with Murali and Jagadish making cameo appearances. The music was composed by S. P. Venkatesh. Kilukkam was released on 15 August 1991. The film was the highest-grossing Malayalam film at that time and ran for more than 365-days at the theaters. Kilukkam won five Kerala State Film Awards, including Best Actor for Mohanlal, Second Best Actor for Jagathy Sreekumar, Best Editor for N. Gopalakrishnan, and Best Cinematographer for S. Kumar. The film is regarded as one of the best comedy films of Malayalam cinema. It was remade in Telugu as Allari Pilla and in Hindi as Muskurahat by Priyadarshan himself. Later, the film had a sequel Kilukkam Kilukilukkam (2006). The movie was reported to have been inspired by the 1953 American movie Roman Holiday.
Synopsis
Joji is a tourist guide in Ootacamund, down on his luck. Nandini, a tourist, who is mentally challenged, and a series of events make her presence intertwined with the lives of Joji and his friend Nischal. In the early part of the movie, hilarity ensues in their misguided attempts in getting rid of Nandini. However, they find out that she is an escaped mental patient who has a bounty on her safe return. When they find that the bounty has been increasing for a while, they decide to hide her for a while and claim the bounty when it gets big enough. They change her appearance by cutting her long tresses short. In time, they realize that things are not as they seem, and more complications are unraveled.
Cast
Mohanlal as Joji
Jagathy Sreekumar as Nischal, still Photographer
Revathi as Nandini
Thilakan as Justice Pillai
Innocent as Kittunni
Sharat Saxena as Samar Khan
Murali as Adv. Dasharathan, Nandini's Real Father and Pillai's Relative (his Mentor's son) (Cameo Appearance) Jagadish as Photographer (Cameo Appearance) Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair as Tea Vendor Ambotty K. B. Ganesh Kumar as Ravi, Pillai's Son Sukumari as Doctor Aunty Devan as Kannan, Pillai's Son In Law Zeenath as Thankam, School Teacher, Dasharathan's wife Shyama as Pillai's daughter and Rajendran's wife Santhosh as S.I. Bhairavan Ravi Menon as Santhosh, Pillai's nephew Poojappura Ravi as Lakshmanan, Lottery Seller Kollam Thulasi as 'Pichathi' Muthu Krishnankutty Nair as Aravindan, School Peon TP Madhavan as Mukundan, Pillai's P.A. Nimmi Paul as Justice Pillai's wife Nandhu as Haridas, Pillai's Relative Suvarna Mathew as Pillai's niece K. G. Devakiyamma as Aged Lady at Dhobi Ghat Ajayan Adoor as Hotel Manager Narayanankutty Antony Perumbavoor as Driver Antony
Production
Pre-production
The initial plan for the film was set when Priyadarshan met "Goodknight" Mohan in an airport. The story was developed by Priyadarshan from a thought which came to his mind, about a mentally-ill mischievous girl who is saved by a poor guy. Priyadarshan employed Venu Nagavally for screenwriting the film. The film's title was chosen as Kilukkam, since the character of Nandini is introduced in the film with the clink of her anglets when she jump off a train and she is all perky like a kilukkampetti (a toy box that makes clinking sound). The story of a girl who has to face some miseries in her lifeit was the idea Priyadarshan initially intended for the film. While working on the story he met director Fazil and discussed the idea. Fazil at the time was directing Ente Sooryaputhrikku (1991). He told Priyadarshan to "reverse think" the story of Ente Sooryaputhrikku, which was about a girl trying to find her mother. And in Kilukkam it became, a girl trying to find her father.