{{More citations needed|date=March 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox film | name = Moonnam Mura | image = Moonnam Mura.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | writer = [[S. N. Swamy]] | screenplay = | director = [[K. Madhu]] | producer = G. P. Vijayakumar | starring = [[Mohanlal]]<br />[[Suresh Gopi]]<br />[[Lalu Alex]]<br />[[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]]<br />[[Babu Antony]] | music = [[Shyam (composer)|Shyam]] (Score) | cinematography = [[Vipindas]] | editing = [[V. P. Krishnan]] | studio = Vandana | distributor = Seven Arts Release | released = {{Film date|df=y|1988|11|9}} | runtime = | country = India | language = Malayalam | budget = | gross = }} '''''Moonnam Mura''''' ({{Translation|[[Third degree (interrogation)|The Third Degree]]}}) is a 1988 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[action thriller film]] directed by [[K. Madhu]] and written by [[S. N. Swamy]]. It stars [[Mohanlal]], [[Suresh Gopi]] and [[Lalu Alex]]. The plot deals with a terrorist group led by Charles kidnapping a group of political individuals who were vacationing, and the followed up rescue operation of the police led by Ali Imran.
The film was released on November 9th, [[Diwali]] day and was one of the highest-grossing films of 1988, and had a record opening day collection. It also did good business in the neighboring states [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]], running for over 150 and 100 days respectively. ''Moonnam Mura'' was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Magadu]]'' (1990), starring [[Rajasekhar (actor)|Rajasekhar]].
== Plot == {{more plot|date=July 2020}} A group of high-ranking political officials are on a trip when their bus is hijacked by a group of terrorists headed by Charles. They demand the release of their old colleagues languishing in prison in exchange for safe release of the politicians. [[Deputy inspector general of police|DIG]] Menon is handling the negotiations. Soon things start getting out of control and couple of hostages are killed.
That's when Menon decides to enlist the help of Ali Imran in rescuing the hostages. Ali is an ex cop who quit the police force out of disgust due to the unfair treatment meted out to him while he was in the force. This decision is met with some opposition from the Chief of police and his son in law as their politics and attitude prompted Ali to leave the force.
Though unwilling at first, Ali is persuaded by Menon and decides to go ahead with the rescue mission. After careful surveillance Ali along with a couple of his friends is able to sneak into the palace where the hostages are bundled up and manages to rescue them and finish off Charles in the end.
==Cast== *[[Mohanlal]] as [[Circle Inspector|CI]] Ali Imran *[[Suresh Gopi]] as Vaishakhan *[[Lalu Alex]] as Charles *[[Mukesh (actor)|Mukesh]] as Vinod *[[Sukumaran]] as [[Deputy inspector general of police|DIG]] Menon [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] *[[Revathi]] as Mini Johnson *[[Murali (Malayalam actor)|Murali]] as Jayan *[[Janardhanan (actor)|Janardhanan]] as [[Inspector-general of police|IG]] Mathews [[Indian Police Service|IPS]] *[[Sreenath]] as [[Deputy superintendent of police|DYSP]] Raju, Mathews's son-in-law *[[Prathapachandran]] as Central Minister Bharathan Menon *[[Vijayaraghavan (actor)|Vijayaraghavan]] as Karunan *[[Babu Antony]] as Antony *[[Ponnambalam (actor)|Ponnambalam]] as Peter, a [[Kalaripayattu]] master and Ali Imran's friend *[[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]] as MP Kisan Jacob *[[C. I. Paul]] as Home Minister *[[Babu Namboothiri]] as Mohan, Ali Imran's friend *[[Paravoor Bharathan]] as Balakrishnan *[[Mala Aravindan]] as Bus Driver *[[Kollam Thulasi]] as Home Secretary *[[Jose (Malayalam actor)|Jose]] as Doctor *[[M. S. Thripunithura]] as Namboothiri *[[T. P. Madhavan]] as Panicker *[[Mohan Raj]] as Goonda *[[V. K. Sreeraman]] as Simon *[[Priya (actress)|Priya]] as Ali Imran's sister *[[Shyama (Malayalam actress)|Shyama]] as Bharathan Menon's daughter *[[Valsala Menon]] as Bharathan Menon's wife *[[Lalithasree]] as Panicker's wife *Suma Jayaram as Bharathan Menon's daughter *Praseetha Menon as Panicker's daughter *[[K. Madhu]] as Ship Roomboy (Cameo Appearance) *[[Mafia Sasi]] as Goonda *Dr. Jayan as Goonda
==Reception== ''Moonnam Mura'' was one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year. The film had a large pre-release hype, that resulted in a large crowd on the opening day. On the release day at Jose theatre, [[Thrissur]], 15 people were injured and one died due to mass rush for the film.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sreedhar Pillai|title=Mammootty and Mohan Lal emerge as unprecedented superstars of Malayalam films|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19881231-mammootty-and-mohan-lal-emerge-as-unprecedented-superstars-of-malayalam-films-798061-1988-12-30|access-date=2 January 2016|work=[[India Today]]|date=31 December 1988}}</ref>
==Remakes==
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Language ! Cast ! Director |- | 1989 | ''[[Magadu]]'' |[[Telugu language|Telugu]] |[[Rajasekhar (actor)|Rajasekhar]], [[Lizy (actress)|Lizy]], [[Thyagarajan]], [[Murali Mohan]] |[[K. Madhu]] |}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{S. N. Swamy}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|0292123}}
[[Category:1988 films]] [[Category:1988 Malayalam-language films]] [[Category:Indian action thriller films]] [[Category:Films about terrorism in India]] [[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Kerala Police]] [[Category:Films shot in Kochi]] [[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]] [[Category:Films directed by K. Madhu]] [[Category:Films scored by Shyam (composer)]]