{{short description|1988 film by Venu Nagavally}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox film | image = Ayitham poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Venu Nagavally]] | producer = [[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]]<br>[[Radha (actress)|Radha]] | writer = Venu Nagavally | starring = [[Mohanlal]]<br>[[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]]<br>[[Radha (actress)|Radha]]<br>[[Sukumari]] | music = [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]] | cinematography = [[Vipin Mohan]] | editing = [[K. P. Hariharaputhran]] | studio = ARS Productions | distributor = Seven Arts Release | released = {{Film date|1988|04|07|df=y}} | country = India | language = Malayalam }}
'''''Ayitham''''' ({{Translation|[[Excommunication]] / [[Untouchability]]}}) is a 1988 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] written and directed by [[Venu Nagavally]] and produced by [[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]] and [[Radha (actress)|Radha]] sisters. The film stars [[Mohanlal]], [[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]], [[Radha (actress)|Radha]] and [[Sukumari]] in lead roles. The film features music composed by [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]]. The plot is set in an [[Agraharam]].<ref>{{cite web |title=അയിത്തം (1988) |url=http://malayalasangeetham.info/m.php?1815 |accessdate=2014-10-07 |website=malayalasangeetham.info |publisher= |language=Ml |archive-date=11 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011154510/http://malayalasangeetham.info/m.php?1815 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Plot== Vasudevan is a renowned singer of a village. Once his small village was known in his name. However, with fame came comfort; comfort to pursue his innate wild nature. This led to destruction of his life and his family. His son, Shankaran is unemployed and Bhama, daughter of the village's landlord is in love with him. Though he doesn't reciprocate as she would love to. The villagers are poor but they try to live as decently as possible with available resources. However, it becomes impossible for everyone to handle the poverty and low quality of life. This leads them to alternative choices that are not that decent, and those some conform to it to just survive. Bhama is married off to Mani Iyer, another reputable singer but her marriage is not a happy one. Because Mani Iyer is also not a stranger to the wilder comforts that fame provides. The questions of will Shankaran be able to find a job that can uplift his family, and will Bhama find happiness again in her life, form the climax of the story. The film is a diorama of life in poverty and people trying to live through it with values and fellowship.
==Cast== {{colbegin}} *[[Mohanlal]] as Shankaran *[[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]] as Bhama *[[Radha (actress)|Radha]] as Chinna *[[Nedumudi Venu]] as Rangan *[[Priya (actress)|Priya]] as Kasthoori *[[Sukumari]] *[[Jagathy Sreekumar]] as N. S. Thovala *[[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]] as Joseph *[[L. P. R. Varma]] as Vasudhevan Bhagavathar *[[Murali (Malayalam actor)|Murali]] as Kachery Mani Iyyer *[[Santhosh (actor)|Santhosh]] as Govindhankutty *[[Maniyanpilla Raju]] as Thankamai *[[Sukumaran]] as Abu *[[Seema (actress)|Seema]] as Paapamma *[[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] as Periyaswamy *[[Sankaradi]] as Vikraman *Louba Schild as Louba *[[Nandu_(Malayalam_actor)|Nandu]] {{colend}}
==Production== ''Ayitham'' was produced by actresses and sisters [[Ambika (actress)|Ambika]] and [[Radha (actress)|Radha]] through their production house ARS Productions, they also appeared in the principal roles alongside [[Mohanlal]]. The film was written by [[Venu Nagavally]] and was also his third directorial. The film was launched on 6 December 1987 at AVM Studios with actor-politician [[M. G. Ramachandran]] being a guest in the [[Puja (Hinduism)|pooja]] function of the film.<ref name="IEM">{{cite news |date=26 May 2020 |title=സൂപ്പർ സ്റ്റാർ ചിത്രത്തിനു തുടക്കം കുറിക്കാൻ മക്കൾ തിലകം എത്തിയപ്പോൾ |url=https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/entertainment/mohanlal-mgr-venu-nagavally-ambika-rare-photo-377982/ |accessdate=21 June 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |language=ml |archive-date=21 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621092348/https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/entertainment/mohanlal-mgr-venu-nagavally-ambika-rare-photo-377982/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 December 1987 |title=முதல்வர் புரட்சித்தலைவர் துவக்கிய திரைப்படம் |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_12_48/3.jp2/full/1000,1409/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501124744/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_6_23_12_48/3.jp2/full/1000,1409/0/default.jpg |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |newspaper=Anna |pages=3 |language=Tamil |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}</ref>
==Soundtrack== The film features original songs composed by [[M. G. Radhakrishnan]] and lyrics by [[O. N. V. Kurup]]. The song "Oruvakkil Oru Nokkil" was based on the [[Jog (raga)|jog]] raga.<ref>{{cite news|last=പ്രവീണ്കുമാര്|first=എ. ആര്.|title=മലയാളത്തിലെ ജോഗ് വസന്തം|url=https://www.janmabhumi.in/read/indian-classical-vocal-hindustani-music87161/|accessdate=21 June 2020|work=[[Janmabhumi]]|date=21 July 2019|language=ml|archive-date=21 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621093547/https://www.janmabhumi.in/read/indian-classical-vocal-hindustani-music87161/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length |- | Aliveni || [[K. S. Chithra]], [[K Omanakkutty]] || || |- | Ga Ma Ga Ri Ga Pa [Ezhu Suswarangalaay] || [[K. J. Yesudas]], [[B. A. Chidambaranath]] || [[ONV Kurup]] || |- | Ilamarimaan Nayane || [[K. S. Chithra]] || || |- | Jagadodhaarana || [[KS Chithra]] || || |- | Maaye || [[KS Chithra]], [[K Omanakkutty]] || || |- | Nalinamizhi [Bit] || [[KS Chithra]], [[K Omanakkutty]] || || |- | Oruvakkil Oru Nokkil || [[K. J. Yesudas]] || [[ONV Kurup]] || |- | Parama Purusha || [[KS Chithra]], [[K Omanakkutty]] || || |- | Thankamani Anna || [[KS Chithra]], [[MG Sreekumar]] || [[ONV Kurup]] || |- | Uyyaala Loogavaiya [M] || [[K. J. Yesudas]] || || |- | Uyyala loogavaiya [F] || [[KS Chithra]] || || |- | Vaaneedevi || [[KS Chithra]], [[K Omanakkutty]] || || |}
==Release== ''Ayitham'' was released in theatres on 7 April 1988.<ref name=IEM/>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}}
[[Category:1988 Indian films]] [[Category:1988 Malayalam-language films]] [[Category:1988 drama films]] [[Category:1988 films]] [[Category:Films directed by Venu Nagavally]] [[Category:Films shot in Palakkad]] [[Category:Indian drama films]]