Nandanam (film)

Nandanam is a 2002 Indian Malayalam-language romantic film written, co-produced, and directed by Ranjith, it stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kaviyoor Ponnamma,  Revathi,  Navya Nair,  Aravind Akash, Siddique, and  Sai Kumar in main  roles. K. J. Yesudas and Sudheesh makes a Cameo Appearance. The film won four Kerala State Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards South. The film also marks the debut of Prithiviraj Sukumaran.

Plot
Balamani is an orphan who works as a maid to Unniamma, the aging matriarch of the Ambalappattil family, and stays with her in the large mansion. She has a picture of Guruvayoorappan in her room, in front of which she lights a lamp every day and she talks to Lord Krishna as though talking to a friend. Though an ardent devotee of Lord Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna), Balamani never gets to go to the sacred temple even though the temple is very close to the house. Every time she plans to go, something goes wrong. It is said that no one can visit Guruvayur until Lord Krishna decides to let you. This leaves Balamani wondering if her God doesn't want her to go. She likes the company and the love of Unniamma who treats her like a granddaughter. She is also friendly with her neighbour a lady named Janaki. Janaki tells her that her son Unnikrishnan will return to the village. Balamani says that she will meet him but she soon forgets due to all the work she has.

One day, Unniamma's grandson Manu reaches Ambalappattil to spend time with his grandmother. Manu is raised by a single loving mother who lives in Bangalore. Bala recognizes him from a dream she had where she marries him in front of Guruvayur temple. He begins to have affection towards Bala which she reciprocates. But she tells him that people won't accept their match as he belongs to a highly regarded family and she is a servant. Soon, Manu's mother/Unniamma's daughter Thankam comes back from Bangalore. She plans on getting Manu married before he leaves for US. She already fixes his wedding with a girl. She takes an instant liking to Bala but doesn't know about Manu and Bala and Bala asks Manu to keep it that way as she doesn't have heart to sadden Unniamma and Thankam. During all of this, Bala meets a boy who introduces himself Unnikrishnan and she remembers that Janaki had told him that her son will soon return and a friendship forms between two of them, and she refers to him as Unniettan. Unni is very mesmerizing always, and He supports Bala. Soon, Manu's marriage date is fixed. Thankam learns about Manu and Balamani and asks her son why he didn't tell her earlier. He says that he didn't want to break her heart and that she always does the right thing for him. she tells him that the only thing that could break her heart is to see him sad. She apologises to Manu and Bala saying that it is too late to call off the wedding. Bala meets Unni and tells him that God is hurting her even though she always believed in Him, and doesn't expect anything. Unni replies with a smile that she shouldn't lose faith and that everything will work out well. All the relatives arrive at Ambalapattil the next day and the marriage preparations commence. But on the day of the marriage the bride elopes with her boyfriend. Chaos ensues. Thankam suggests that they get Manu and Bala married but the family and relatives oppose. Everyone forces Bala to leave. As she is leaving, Unniamma stops her, and tells all the relatives that they are both good children as they thought about the people they cared before making any decision in their own favour. She tells everyone that if Manu and Bala mutually like each other no one is allowed to stop them from uniting and if anyone stops they have to first face Ambalappatil Unniamma first. Balamani and Manu gets married, and they go to meet Unniettan, but is surprised when someone else turns up instead of the Unniettan Balamani knows. Realization hits her and she runs to the temple with Manu. But they can't enter Temple, as it is sealed because some VVIP is arriving. They manage to convince the police to let cross the first barricade. There she sees the Unniettan she knows near the main temple who smiles at her and disappears and she realizes that God had been with her all along in the form of a friend.

Cast

 * Prithviraj Sukumaran as Manu Nandakumar
 * Navya Nair as Balamani
 * Aravind Akash as Unnikrishnan (voiced by Sudheesh)
 * Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Ambalappattil Unniyamma, Manu's maternal grandmother
 * Revathi as Thankam Nandakumar, Unniyamma's daughter and Manu's mother (voiced by Bhagyalakshmi)
 * Siddique as Balachandran, Unniyamma's family friend
 * Innocent as Kesavan Nair
 * Jagathy Sreekumar as Kumbidi Swamy / Palarivattom Sasi
 * Kalaranjini as Janaki, Unnikrishnan's mother and Thankam's friend (voiced by Urvashi)
 * Sai Kumar as Ramadasan, Unniyamma's second son and Thankam's elder brother
 * Vijayakumari as Parukutty Amma
 * Subbalakshmi as Veshamani Ammal
 * Meena Ganesh as Karthyayani Amma
 * N. F. Varghese as Sreedharan, Unniyamma's nephew
 * Jagannatha Varma as Ambalappattil Madhava Menon, Unniyamma's relative
 * Kozhikode Narayanan Nair as Shankarammavan, Unniyamma's relative
 * Sadiq as Vijayan, Unniyamma's nephew
 * Mala Aravindan as Sankaran Mooshari
 * Kalabhavan Mani as Mahadevan, son of Sankaran Mooshari
 * Jagadeesh as Elder son of Sankaran Mooshari
 * Augustine as Kunjiraman, the cook
 * V. K. Sreeraman as Vishwanatha Menon, Unniymma's eldest son and Nandhini's father
 * Zeenath as Unniyamma's niece
 * Subair as Venu Menon
 * Jolly Easo as Sumam Venu, Thankam's friend
 * Jyothirmayi as daughter of Venu Menon and Manu's fiancée (cameo)
 * Bindu Ramakrishnan as Unniyamma's relative
 * Ambika Mohan as Unniyamma's relative
 * Nivia Rebin as Unniyamma's relative
 * Gayathri as Shakunthala, Janaki's maid
 * Sudheesh as the real Unnikrishnan (cameo)
 * K. J. Yesudas as himself (cameo)

Production
This movie was shot in Paliyam Kovilakam in Paravoor.

Music
The most critically acclaimed and popular songs of this film were written by Gireesh Puthenchery and composed by Raveendran. The songs were chart for weeks and the song "Karmukil Varnante" became highly popular and Girish Puthenchery and Raveendran won Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyricist and Best Music Director respectively and also K.S. Chithra won Kerala State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer of the year 2004. The song "Manassil Midhuna Mazha" along with its dance featuring Balamani (Navya) and Unnikrishnan (Aravind) was highly popular.

Box office
The film was a commercial success at the box office.

Indiainfo wrote, "Nandhanam by Ranjith could not gain commercial success but has high opinion on its artistic qualities. It has established Prithviraj in Malayalam cinema as an actor of wide range. The emotional content and its dramatic appeal have caught the attention of filmmakers."

Legacy
Aravind Akash reappeared in the 2024 Malayalam film Guruvayoor ambalanadayil in the role Unnikrishnan Which is did in the film.

Accolades

 * Filmfare Awards South
 * Filmfare Award for Best Film - Malayalam – Ranjith & Siddique
 * Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Malayalam – Navya Nair


 * Kerala State Film Awards
 * Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress – Navya Nair
 * Best Female Playback Singer – K.S.Chitra
 * Best Music Director – Raveendran
 * Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics – Gireesh Puthenchery


 * Asianet Film Awards
 * Asianet Award for Best Film – Ranjith
 * Asianet Award for Best Actress – Navya Nair

Remakes
Ranjith worked on a Tamil remake of the film which was shelved after some pre-production complications, and the movie was remade as Seedan by director Subramaniya Siva. It was also remade in Telugu as Maa Baapu Bommaki Pellanta by Raviraja Pinisetty.