Meesa Madhavan

{{short description|2002 Malayalam movie, directed by Lal Jose}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox film | name = Meesha Madhavan | image = Meesha Madhavan.jpg | alt = | caption = Official poster | director = [[Lal Jose]] | producer = [[Maha Subair]] Sudhish | writer = [[Ranjan Pramod]] | narrator = [[Ranjith (director)|Ranjith]] | starring = [[Dileep]] [[Indrajith Sukumaran]] [[Kavya Madhavan]] [[Jagathy Sreekumar]] | music = [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]] | cinematography = [[S. Kumar (cinematographer)|S. Kumar]] | editing = [[Ranjan Abraham]] | studio = Moviekshetra | distributor = [[Kalasangham Films]] Kas Varnachithra | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2002|7|4}} | runtime = 160 minutes | country = India | language = Malayalam | budget = {{INR|1.45 crore}}<ref>{{cite news|author=Sreedhar Pillai|title=Magic on the wane|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/08/23/stories/2002082300170100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030129184241/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/08/23/stories/2002082300170100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 January 2003|access-date=29 October 2016|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=23 August 2002}}</ref> | gross = {{INR|21 crores}} }} '''''Meesha Madhavan''''' ({{Literal translation|Moustache Madhavan}}) is a 2002 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[action comedy film]] directed by [[Lal Jose]] and written by [[Ranjan Pramod]]. The film stars [[Dileep (actor)|Dileep]] in the title role, while [[Indrajith Sukumaran]], [[Kavya Madhavan]], [[Jagathy Sreekumar]], [[Harisree Asokan]] and [[Cochin Haneefa]] play supporting roles. It was the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year. The success of the movie catapulted Dileep to superstardom in [[Malayalam cinema]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-25|title=Meesha Madhavan {{!}} ചേക്കിലെ മാധവന്റെയും പട്ടാളം പുരുഷുവിന്റെയും വീടുകൾ കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ടോ? വീഡിയോ ഇതാ|url=https://malayalam.news18.com/news/film/take-a-look-at-the-shooting-locations-in-meesha-madhavan-movie-mm-341013.html|access-date=2021-06-11|website=News18 Malayalam}}</ref> It was remade in Telugu as ''[[Dongodu]]'' (2003) starring [[Ravi Teja]], in [[Kannada]] as ''Hori'' (2011) starring Vinod Prabhakar and in Tamil as ''[[Kollaikaran]]'' (2012) starring [[Vidharth]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/8893/kannada/hori/3075/review.htm|title = Hori Review | Hori Kannada Movie Review by V.S. Rajapur}}</ref>

==Synopsis== The story revolves around Madhavan, a man who became a petty thief due to family debts and is well respected by the villagers. However, he lands in trouble after he gets falsely accused of stealing the idol of the village goddess. He escapes from the police custody and tries to find the real culprit.

==Plot==

The prologue shows a young Madhavan stealing from the home of Bhageerathan. While escaping, he is helped by an old thief, 'Mullani' Pappan, who learns the boy was stealing to pay a debt due the next day.

Set in the fictional village of Chekk, [[Palakkad]], the story introduces Madhavan, a local [[Robin Hood]] nicknamed "Meesa" Madhavan on [[Vishu]]. Madhavan and his friends, including one dressed as [[Lord Krishna]], ruin the [[Vishu|Vishu kani]] of his nemesis, the cutthroat [[loan shark]] Bhageerathan Pillai. Madhavan had turned to petty thieving after his father's death to support his family. His [[epithet]] "Meesa" Madhavan, reflects the belief that if he twirls his [[handlebar moustache]], a robbery will occur.

When a corrupt new [[Sub-Inspector]], Eapen Pappachi, arrives, Bhageerathan allies with him to publicly humiliate Madhavan. Eapen threatens to make Madhavan shave his moustache. To save his house from Bhageerathan's scheme, Madhavan plans to win over his daughter, Rukmini. After she insults him and challenges him to steal from her home, he accepts. Madhavan steals her golden [[Belly chain|waist Chain]], knowing she cannot report the theft without dishonoring herself.

A humiliated Rukmini teams up with her father and his dim witted adviser Thirivikraman to frame Madhavan for theft by burying banknotes in his yard. Police arrive during a marriage proposal for Madhavan’s sister and force him to dig, but they find only [[jackfruit]] seeds. Eapen arrests Madhavan and thrashes him at the station, but he is bailed out by Advocate Mukundan Unni. Madhavan confronts the trio for ruining his sister’s marriage, threatening Bhageerathan. Rukmini, realizing her mistake, begins to fall for him. Eapen, who pursues Rukmini, is later beaten up by Madhavan after showing up at her house drunk. Eapen then accuses Rukmini of having an affair with Madhavan, causing an enraged Bhageerathan to lock her in her room.

Bhageerathan’s advocate convinces him to seize Madhavan's property to force him to abandon Rukmini. Faced with losing his home and his sister’s wedding, Madhavan publicly declares his love for Rukmini. To help him, his sister’s fiancé gives Madhavan the money needed to settle his debt. Madhavan goes to the temple to thank the goddess, which is witnessed by an [[ambalavasi]] Warrier even though the [[Garbhagriha|sanctum]] is closed.

The next day, the temple idol is missing, and Madhavan is blamed. Eapen arrests Madhavan who is attacked by a mob but he escapes and meets Pappan, the only one who believes his innocence. While hiding, Madhavan discovers that Eapen is the real thief and has hidden the idol in a [[Dry well|deadwells]] in Pappan’s compound. Pappan and Madhavan plan to expose Eapen by forcing him to retrieve the idol in front of the villagers. After a duel and a brief capture, Madhavan is freed by Pappan. The mob, now led by the [[Head Constable]] Nambooriyachan, helps Madhavan overpower Eapen and his goons. Madhavan returns the idol, becomes a hero, and Bhageerathan accepts his relationship with Rukmini.

==Cast== *[[Dileep (actor)|Dileep]] as Poovathingal Madhavan Nair (Meesha Madhavan) **Arun Kumar as Young Madhavan *[[Indrajith Sukumaran]] as [[Sub-inspector|SI]] Eapen Pappachi, the main antagonist *[[Kavya Madhavan]] as Rukmini, Madhavan's childhood Friend and Love interest (Voice-over by [[Sreeja Ravi]]) **[[Sanusha]] as Young Rukmini *[[Jagathy Sreekumar]] as Krishnavilasom Bhageerathan Pillai, Rukmini's father *[[Harisree Ashokan]] as Sugunan, Madhavan's Friend and Handyman Working at Village Store *[[Cochin Haneefa]] as Thrivikraman, Bhageerathan Pillai's Adviser and Political Member at [[Thiruvananthapuram]] *[[Salim Kumar]] as Advocate Mukundan Unni, Madhavan's Friend and Advocate *[[Oduvil Unnikrishnan]] as [[Head Constable]] Achuthan Namboothiri, Prabha's Father, Madhavan's Father's Close Friend *[[Mala Aravindan]] as "Mullani" Pappan, Madhavan's Mentor *[[Jyothirmayi]] as Prabha, Achuthan's Daughter and Madhavan's Ex-Lover *[[Karthika Mathew]] as Malathi, Madhavan's Younger Sister *[[Sukumari]] as Madhavan's Mother *[[James (Malayalam actor)|James]] as Pattalam Purushu, Madhavan's Friend and Soldier *E. A. Rajendran as Poovathingal Vishwam, Madhavan's Elder Brother and Post Office Employee *[[Machan Varghese]] as Lineman Lonappan, Madhavan's Friend and KSEB Employee Worker *[[Manikandan Pattambi]] as Pushkaran, Madhavan's Friend *[[Guinness Pakru]] as Tea Boy *[[J. Pallassery]] as Poovathingal Gangadharan Nair, Madhavan's Father *Jayesh Pazhanimala as Madhavan's childhood friend *Kalabhavan Prajod as Prabha's Husband *[[Ambika Mohan]] as Santhamma, Bhageerathan Pillai's Wife and Rukmini's Mother and Madhavan's Supporter *[[Gayathri (Malayalam actress)|Gayathri]] as Sarasu, Purushu's wife and Bhageerathan Pillai's Lover *Meena Ganesh as Kalmayi Thatha, the village match-maker who brings proposal for Malathi *Yamuna as Sindhu, Vishwam's Wife and Madhavan's Sister-in-Law *[[Dinesh Prabhakar]] as Koya, Madhavan's Friend *Vijayan Peringode as Warrier, Temple Committee Member *Abraham Koshy as Eapen's henchman *[[Kozhikode Narayanan Nair]] as Mukundan Unni's Senior Advocate and Bhageerathan Pillai's Legal Aide *[[Alexander Prasanth]] as Background dancer in the track "Penne Penne" *[[Arun Cherukavil]] as Background dancer in the track "Penne Penne"

==Soundtrack== {{Infobox album | name = Meesha Madhavan | type = soundtrack | artist = [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]] | cover = | alt = | caption = Album cover for ''Meesha Madhavan'' | released = {{start date|df=yes|2002|06|6}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]] | length = | label = [[Satyam Audios]] | producer = [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]] | prev_title = [[Randam Bhavam]] | prev_year = 2001 | next_title = [[Pattalam (2003 film)|Pattalam]] | next_year = 2003 }} The music album of ''Meesa Madhavan'' happens to be one of the most popular works of [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]]. The lyrics were written by [[Gireesh Puthenchery]]. Originally, the song 'Elavathooru Kayalinde' was written by Arumugan [[Venkitangu]] as a folksong. A part of the song "Karimizhi Kuruviye" was reused by Vidyasagar himself in "Aasai Aasai Ippozhuthu" in ''[[Dhool]]'' and "Rafta Rafta" in ''[[Hulchul (2004 film)|Hulchal]]''.

{|class="wikitable" ! Track !! Song title !! Singers !! Raga(s) |- | 1 || "Ente Ellamellam" || [[K. J. Yesudas]], [[Sujatha Mohan]], [[Sreeja Ravi]](Dialogues) || Desh |- | 2 || "Karimizhi Kuruviye" || [[Sujatha Mohan]], V. Devanand || Kapi |- | 3 || "Penne Penne" || [[M. G. Sreekumar]], [[K. S. Chithra]], Kalyani Menon. || Valachi |- | 4 || "Chingamaasam" || [[Shankar Mahadevan]], [[Rimy Tomy]] || [[Shanmukhapriya]] |- | 5 || "Theme Music" || Instrumental || |- | 6 || "Elavathooru" || [[P. Madhuri]] || |- | 7 || "Pathiri Chuttu" || Machad Vasanthi || |- | 8 || "Ente Ellam" || [[K. J. Yesudas]] || |- | 9 || "Karimizhi Kuruviye" || [[Sujatha Mohan]] || Kapi |- | 10 || "Vaaleduthal" || [[Vidhu Prathap]], [[Anuradha Sriram]] || Kharaharapriya |- |}

== Reception == A critic from ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' wrote that "After ''[[Thenkasi Pattanam|Tenkashi Pattanam]]'', this is another comedy that actually tickles you into laughter. Portraying the travails of a thief, [[Dileep]] characteristically performs to perfection eclipsing even the versatile [[Jagathy Sreekumar|Jagadhi Sreekumar]]. [[Kavya Madhavan]] as Rukmani has pretty little to do. The storyline itself has nothing new to offer, but it is the treatment of situations that require credit".<ref>{{cite web |title=FILM REVIEWS: Meesha Madhavan (Malayalam)|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct13/filmr.asp |access-date=26 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021213013609/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/oct13/filmr.asp |archive-date=13 December 2002 |date=13 October 2002 |url-status=dead|work=[[Deccan Herald]]}}</ref>

== Box office == The film was commercial success at the box office<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/did-you-know/did-you-know-dileeps-real-name-is-gopalakrishnan/articleshow/78891376.cms|title=Did you know Dileep's real name is Gopalakrishnan?|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=27 October 2020}}</ref> and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of 2002, boosting Dileep to superstardom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kerala-actress-assault-dileep-s-vengeance-rise-to-power-in-film-industry/story-v6qknrIPui8gVxhkyGc0gL_amp.html|title=Kerala actress assault: Dileep's controversial rise to power in film industry|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|author=Naveen Nair|date=19 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sathyan-anthikad-and-lal-jose-winning-hearts-malayalam-family-audience-64648?amp|title=Sathyan Anthikad and Lal Jose: Winning the hearts of the Malayalam 'family' audience|work=[[The News Minute]]|date=4 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/mollywoods-most-famous-star-kids/photostory/63485567.cms|title=Mollywood's most famous star kids|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=27 March 2018}}</ref> It had completed 250 days in theatres.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/07/04/dileep-july-4-connection-fans-golden-day-of-dileep-on-twitter.html|title=Dileep and July 4 connection: Fans trend #GoldenDayOfDileep on Twitter|work=[[Malayala Manorama]]|date=4 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/lf/2002/10/25/stories/2002102501740200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221002142/http://www.thehindu.com/lf/2002/10/25/stories/2002102501740200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 December 2016|title='Meesa Madhavan'|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=25 October 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/lf/2003/02/15/stories/2003021502360200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221190650/http://www.thehindu.com/lf/2003/02/15/stories/2003021502360200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 December 2016|title=A filmi shot in the arm|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=15 February 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=13723260&cid=2406|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903214123/http://www.sify.com/movies/malayalam/interview.php?id=13723260&cid=2406|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 September 2017|title="I have more enemies than friends": Dileep|work=[[Sify]]|date=21 April 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.sify.com/movies/dileep-kavya-in-new-zealand-news-malayalam-kkfvvBiiibesi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318184636/http://m.sify.com/movies/dileep-kavya-in-new-zealand-news-malayalam-kkfvvBiiibesi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2018|title=Dileep-Kavya in New Zealand!|website=[[Sify]]|date=8 January 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.sify.com/news/malayalam-actor-dileep-not-paying-service-tax-news-national-nmvwEpajdgbsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319084515/http://m.sify.com/news/malayalam-actor-dileep-not-paying-service-tax-news-national-nmvwEpajdgbsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 March 2018|title=Malayalam actor Dileep not paying service tax|website=[[Sify]]|date=21 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.sify.com/movies/dileep-s-lucky-date-news-malayalam-kkfv31jfhjjsi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318184626/http://m.sify.com/movies/dileep-s-lucky-date-news-malayalam-kkfv31jfhjjsi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2018|title=Dileep's lucky date!|website=[[Sify]]|date=14 June 2006}}</ref>

==Accolades== ;[[Kerala Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-17 |title=Film Critics Awards Complete List From 1977 Till 2012 |url=https://www.keralafilmcritics.com/2020/10/film-critics-awards-complete-list-from.html |website=Kerala Film Critics Association}}</ref> * [[Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]] – [[Vidyasagar (composer)|Vidyasagar]] * Best Choreographer – Prasannan

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|0353725|Meesa Madhavan}}

[[Category:2002 Malayalam-language films]] [[Category:2002 romantic comedy films]] [[Category:Indian romantic comedy films]] [[Category:Indian action comedy films]] [[Category:2002 films]] [[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]] [[Category:Films shot in Palakkad]] [[Category:Films shot in Ottapalam]] [[Category:Films scored by Vidyasagar (composer)]] [[Category:Films directed by Lal Jose]] [[Category:Films distributed by Kalasangham Films]]