Padamudra (film)

Padamudra is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by R. Sukumaran. It stars Mohanlal in the dual roles of Soap Kuttappan and Maathu Pandaaram, along with Seema and Nedumudi Venu. The film features original songs composed by Vidyadharan and a background score by Johnson. The film won Mohanlal the Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actor and Kerala State Film Award – Special Jury Award.

Plot
"Padamudra" unfolds the story of Kuttappan, a largely unemployed youth portrayed by Mohanlal. The narrative delves into the dramatic events in Kuttappan's life. He is the illegitimate son of the doorstep seller, Maathu Pandaaram. The striking resemblance to Pandaaram makes him the laughingstock of the village. Poverty is a prevalent theme in the village, and Kuttappan constantly becomes entangled in a web of historical perceptions of inappropriateness and the cruel whips of an illiterate and uncultured society.

As Kuttappan tries to navigate through life, the constant unveiling of openly known hidden truths about his origin disturbs his core. The film captures the protagonist's attempts to secure life, seize the required life course events within a society, and wrestle with a fate that has dealt him the wrong cards, making it unbearable for him to move forward or be in limbo. In the end, Kuttappan emerges as a victim of his circumstances, not as a resilient protagonist who, against all odds, would find a path to a more hopeful and authoring future showcasing the indomitable spirit of the human will to overcome adversity and shape one's destiny.

Cast

 * Mohanlal in a dual roles as:
 * Soap Kuttappan
 * Maathu Pandaaram
 * Seema
 * Nedumudi Venu
 * Sithara
 * Urvashi
 * Rohini as Aswothi
 * Shyama
 * Mala Aravindan
 * Jagadish
 * Adoor Bhavani
 * Kalasala Babu
 * Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair

Soundtrack
Noted singer Vidhu Prathap made his singing debut in this film. He sang the song Ambalamillathe Aaltharayil along with a choir when he was 9 years old.

Reception
Neelima Menon of The News Minute wrote, "The film oscillates between the past and the present, with Mohanlal catching the variations of the two character's with impeccable nuance, be it the anger, self-loathing and vulnerability simmering in the son or the lasciviousness and cockiness of the father."