| Varavelpu | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Sathyan Anthikad |
| Written by | Sreenivasan |
| Produced by | K. Rajagopal |
| Starring | Mohanlal Revathi Sreenivasan Murali Innocent Thilakan |
| Cinematography | Vipin Mohan |
| Edited by | K. Rajagopal |
| Music by | Johnson |
Production company | K. R. G. Movie International |
| Distributed by | K. R. G. Enterprises |
Release date |
|
Running time | 145 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Varavelpu (transl. Welcoming) is a 1989 IndianMalayalam-languageblack comedy film directed bySathyan Anthikad and written bySreenivasan, starringMohanlal,Revathi, Sreenivasan,Thilakan,Murali,Innocent, andJagadish. The film was produced by K. Rajagopal. It depicted trade union problems plaguingKerala and the issues created by union members and the dirty politics which is prevalent in present governance and is narrated in a satirical dark comedy[1][2]
The film was based on a real-life incident in Sreenivasan's father's life. The film was an average grosser at box office but later gained acult status and following.[3][4] The movie was remade inHindi asChal Chala Chal.
Murali returns to his hometown after spending 7 long years hard working in the gulf to settle down peacefully in his hometown. Much against the greedy wishes of his family members, he decides to buy a second-handbus that comes along with a route permit. This is when he faces a lot of hardships. Starting from an accident because of the inefficientdriver, a cheating conductor, to a cunning union leader, Murali's life is taken for a toss with ever-growing challenges one after the other.
He eventually gets an offer from a labour officer, which he turns down. He says that he has already lost this game, and he prefers to move for a better job. At last, it is shown that he leaves forBombay in order to go back to gulf.
The film was based on a real-life incident inSreenivasan's father's life.Sathyan Anthikkad got the story idea while listening to Sreenivasan when he recalled how his family ended in financial debt as hiscommunist father was labeled acapitalist after he bought a bus.[6]
| Varavelpu | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | April 1989 |
| Genre | Filmi,popular music |
| Label | Tharangini Records |
All lyrics are written byKaithapram Damodaran; all music is composed byJohnson
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Doore Doore Sagaram Thedi" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| 2. | "Vellara Poomala Mele" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| 3. | "Doore Doore Sagaram Thedi" | K. S. Chithra |
In 2003, the then IndianPrime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee mentioned the film and Mohanlal in his inaugural speech at the Global Investor Meet held inKerala. He said: "I am told that there is a Malayalam movie calledVaravelppu in which your famous actor Mohanlal acts as aGulf-returnedKeralite. He invests his savings in a small business venture with high hopes. But in the end, he is forced to close it down after going through many unpleasant experiences. Therefore, this conference should serve as an occasion for introspection".[7]