Maanthrikam

Maanthrikam is a 1995 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy film produced and directed by Thampi Kannanthanam and written by Babu Pallassery. It stars Mohanlal, Raghuvaran, Jagadish, Priya Raman, Hemanth Ravan and Rajan P. Dev. Filmed by Saloo George and edited by A. Sreekar Prasad; S. P. Venkatesh provided the music. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Raanuvamin Telugu as Army Commander. It marked the Malayalam debut of actress Vineetha.

Premise
A Senior Scientist of Missile Technology designs a state of the art missile "Samhaara"and he is abducted by a terrorist group with family. A military officer and his assistant are entrusted with the mission to rescue the scientist. They join a gypsy performing art group in disguise and reach a fictitious town and a girl get attracted to the officer. He get involved with the sister of the assistant of terrorist group leader to execute the mission. In a twist it is revealed that the main girl dancer of the gypsy group is an officer appointed by military chief to track officer, who is suspected of double crossing. Finally every thing get resolved and the scientist is rescued unhurt with safety of Samhaara know-how and the hero takes his lady love with him. Mohanlal simply excels as a comedian, lover, military man, magician and dancer with 3 heroines.

Cast

 * Mohanlal as Alby / Major Stephen Ronald, Military Intelligence
 * Raghuvaran as Dr. Abdul Rahiman, scientist
 * Jagadish as Jobi D'Costa / Subedar Teddy Lopez, Military Intelligence
 * Priya Raman as Betty Fernadez
 * Vineetha as Menaka/Lt. Diana, Military Intelligence
 * Vaishnavi as Shakeela Abdul Rahman
 * Hemanth Ravan as Gonsalves
 * Rajan P. Dev as Antonio
 * Madhupal as Willy
 * Krishnakumar as Douglas
 * Mitra Joshi as Catherine
 * Sreenath as Col. Raveendran
 * Ravi Menon as Father Thaliyath
 * Ajith Kollam as Freddy
 * Santhosh as Beeran
 * Vinayakan as Michael Jackson imitator, his movie debut
 * Maria gorettiz

Production
Lal Jose was the associate director of Thampi Kannanthanam in the film. Madras (now Chennai) was a filming location. Maanthrikam marked the film debut of Vinayakan, who appeared as a member of a gypsy dance group, he apparently imitates and wears the attire of Michael Jackson. For the role, Vinayakan was referred to Kannanthanam by Lal Jose, who spotted him during a dance performance in Kochi. Made on a budget of ₹3 crores, major locations of the movie were MGR Film City, Kishkinda Water Park, Chidambaram and Pichavaram. The magic sequences which Mohanlal performed was taught by magician R. K. Malayath.

Soundtrack
S. P. Venkatesh composed the music for the movie for which the lyrics were written by O. N. V. Kurup. The songs were distributed by Ankit Audios.

Reception
Mohanlal had expressed doubts about the film doing well at the box office due to the unworldly stunts performed in the film. However, Kannanthanam assured him that the film would be a hit. Maanthrikam was one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of that year.