Runway (2004 film)

Runway is a 2004 Indian Malayalam-language gangster film directed by Joshiy and written by Udayakrishna and Siby K. Thomas. It stars Dileep, Indrajith Sukumaran, Murali, Harisree Ashokan, and Kavya Madhavan. The film revolves around Unni Damodhar (Dileep) who due to financial problems becomes the renowned spirit smuggler named, Valayar Paramasivam, in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border check-post of Walayar. He works for the mafia kingpin Bhai (Murali).

Runway was released on April 25, 2004.

Plot
The film begins when Gopika and her father move into a house where Bharathiyamma stays with her two children, Balu Damodar and Ambili. Bharathiyamma has one more elder son Unni Damodar who apparently works in Dubai. Unni tells his family that he is working in the Gulf but in reality is a gangster, Valayar Paramashivam who runs an illegal liquor mafia with Chandy “Bhai” along with Achayan and Achuvettan in Valayar.

He accepts a four-year imprisonment but actually the accused was Bhai. Unni, however confesses what he does, to Gopika whom his mother is insistent that he should marry her. After leaving the jail Paramasivam realizes that Bhai has fallen into a huge debt because of the cheating of Chinnadan Varkey and his sons. He then goes to Valayar and thus saves Bhai and his family from debt with his wicked mind and tricks. He again rules spirit deals in Valayar area pulling the Chinnadans into trouble. Things change when Balu becomes the new Sub-Inspector. He is posted in Valayar area, where Unni and Bhai rule.

In Valayar, Balu tries his level best to catch Valayar Paramasivam but does not know that it is none other than his brother; and fails in mind game played by Unni. This makes Bhai angry with Balu. But Paramasivam tells him to forgive Balu because he was his brother. In the meantime, Unni's family discovers that he himself is Paramasivam after Gopika's uncle Divakaran, a jail guard in the jail where he was imprisoned visits them and he is ousted from his family. Later, Chinnadan kills Bhai's only son Johnny and blames Balu as the real killer. This made Bhai very desperate and wants to kill Balu. Bhai kidnaps him. On knowing this, Paramasivam goes to save Balu and informs Bhai that the actual killer was SP by identifying the ring marks in Johnny's face.

Paramasivam then reminds Bhai that Bhai's Paramasivam will never tell lies to Bhai. After realizing the innocence of Balu, Bhai and Paramasivam plan to kill the Chinnadans by releasing gas and spirit into their house after locking all the doors and sending a toy plane which blasts when functioned switch is pressed. The film moves to the climax, where it is shown that Paramasivam gets acquitted from all their cases since Bhai has pleaded guilty to all the crimes. He wants Paramasivam to return as Unni to his family and lead a normal life with them.

Music
Runway consists of 6 songs, including one instrumental version, were composed by Suresh Peters and the Original background music is scored by S. P. Venkatesh. All the lyrics were penned by Gireesh Puthenchery.

Remake
The film was remade in Telugu as Nayakudu with Rajasekhar.

Sequel
In 2016, it was announced by Dileep that a sequel is in works, titled Valayar Paramasivam.

Box office
The film was blockbuster.