Director: Vimal Kumar, P.R.S. Pillai; Writer: T.N. Gopinathan Nair; Producer: P.R.S. Pillai; Cinematographer: V. Ramamurthy; Editor: K.D. George; Cast: Kumari Thangam, Miss Chandni, Kumari Kalyani, M.L. Rajam, P.D. Janaki, Kumari Prabha, T.N. Gopinathan Nair, P. Bhaskaran, Baby Vatsala, Sathyan, Thomas Birly, T.S. Muthaiah, Sasikumar, Govinda Pillai, Adoor Bhasi
Summary: The film was based on a short story Choondakaran, written by T. N. Gopinathan Nair, who also wrote the script and also acted in a major role in the film. Lakshmi (Kumari Thankam), daughter of the village landlord Kurup (T. N. Gopinathan Nair) and Venu (Thomas Berleigh), son of the ferryman Panikkar (P. Bhaskaran) are childhood sweethearts. Their love blooms much against the wishes of father Kurup. Kurup was successful in getting Lakshmi to marry Vijayan (Sathyan). Venu leaves his village and finds a waiter’s job in a city hotel. Vijayan leads an immoral life making Lakshmi’s life hell. Vijayan and Lakshmi come to stay in the same hotel where Venu works. Venu had to remain a silent witness to the breakup of the marriage of Vijyan and Lakshmi. Vijayan falls into the charm of a hotel dancer Swapna Latha. He eventually loses all his wealth. A repentant Vijayan leaves the city in search of Lakshmi. Venu, who had also returned to the village, meets Lakshmi in a trying circumstance. Waiting to be taken across the swollen river during a raging storm, Lakshmi is helped by Venu. Just when he sees Lakshmi safely to the other shore, Venu is thrown into the river and is drowned. The film was screened in various territories of the Kerala state with a different climax, a highly unique way in those days. In the Malabar region, the film had a happy ending with Lakshmi saved from the storm by Venu, who entrusts her to Vijayan. In the Southern region of the state, the film ends with a frame showing the dead body of Venu, which is washed ashore.
‘Thiramala’ was screened in various territories of the state with a different climax. In the Malabar region, the film had a happy ending with Lakshmi saved from the storm by Venu, who entrusts her to Vijayan. In the Southern region, the film ends with Venu’s death.
The film had 13 songs, most of which were imitations of popular Hindi tunes. Bhaskaran Master’s lyrics blended well with the tunes. The film is considered by musicologists as the first musical hit in Malayalam. The song ‘Hey kaliyodame poyalum nee sakhi...’ (Abdul Khader-Shantha P.Nair), a direct imitation of the immortal Hindi song ‘Kyon unhen dil diya...’ composed by Naushad for the film ‘Anokhi Ada’ (1948) is popular even today. The dance number sung by Lakshmi Shanker, ‘Vanamulla maala vaadi...’ and the pathos song ‘Tharakam irulil marayukayo...’ sung by Abdul Khader were also very popular.
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