Velipadinte Pusthakam

Velipadinte Pusthakam (transl. Book of Revelation) is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy-drama film[1] directed by Lal Jose and written by Benny P. Nayarambalam. The film was produced by Antony Perumbavoor through Aashirvad Cinemas; it stars Mohanlal with Anoop Menon, Anna Rajan, Priyanka Nair, Siddique, Salim Kumar, Sanjeev M Pillai and Chemban Vinod Jose in supporting roles. Shaan Rahman composed the film's soundtrack and score.

Velipadinte Pusthakam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLal Jose
Written byBenny P. Nayarambalam
Produced byAntony Perumbavoor
StarringMohanlal
Anoop Menon
Anna Rajan
Priyanka Nair
Salim Kumar
Chemban Vinod Jose
Appani Sarath
CinematographyVishnu Sarma
Edited byRanjan Abraham
Music byShaan Rahman
Production
company
Distributed byMaxlab Cinemas and Entertainments
Release date
  • 31 August 2017 (2017-08-31) (India)
Running time
175 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

The film follows the lives of many people associated with a lesser-known seaside college. When a sadistic man enters the college, problems begin to rise. The fate of the institution comes to rest in the hands of an unassuming professor named Siddharth. Principal photography took place between May and July 2017, primarily in the neighbourhoods of Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha in Kerala.

Velipadinte Pusthakam was released in India on 31 August 2017. The song "Entammede Jimikki Kammal" from the film sung by Vineeth Sreenivasan, and Renjith Unni was a viral hit attracting national and international attention for the first time in the Malayalam music industry.

Plot

In the year 2002, Sr. Paulose Unnikrishnan (Anoop Menon) goes over plans for opening a college using the money he's saved up over the years. Isaac Ibrahim ( Siddique) and Serene Matthews (Maria Mathews) assist him in constructing the college. In 2005, the college is opened, and the first class moves in. One of the students, named Ritika Mandavili (Anna Rajan), talks to Issac, the college headmaster, and explains how she has had a hard life and hopes to forget all her worries through her education. Ritika's first month at the college goes by very well, and it seems like her luck is returning. Unfortunately, trouble starts to brew when a new professor, Vishnu Kittanpillay (Sanjeev M Pillai), is hired to teach. He takes an inappropriate liking to Serene, who works as the school's vice-principal. One day, Ritika overhears Vishnu defaming Serene and reports the information to Isaac. Vishnu is fired on the spot and forced to leave, but not before discovering who told on him. Later that year, Ritika is kidnapped, brutally raped, and hospitalized by a vengeful Vishnu. The college finds out about this, and the entire student body storms Vishnu's home. Vishnu is thrown into jail, and Ritika later gives birth to a baby girl, who she names Crystal and puts up for adoption. Five years later, the college is forced to shut down after Ritika petitions against it and blames the school for her life problems, still suffering from the trauma of being assaulted. A month after the school shuts down, Sr. Paulose passes away in an auto rickshaw accident. In present-day, Isaac and Serene get together with their friend Monachi Nayar (Salim Kumar) to attempt to re-open the college again, this time promising they'll be cautious with staffing and the safety of the students. They hire Siddarth Mandavili (Mohanlal), a psychologist and well-known professor, as one of their new teachers. Unfortunately, due to the sudden death of a family member, Siddarth's arrival at the college is delayed by a couple of months. It is then revealed that Monachi and his wife have been struggling because they're seemingly infertile. At Serene's suggestion, the couple decides to adopt and welcome Crystal (Crystal R.J.) into their lives, unaware that she is Ritika's daughter. Crystal is a brilliant young girl who brightens everyone's lives, but she frequently expresses concern over knowing who her biological parents are. Around this time, trouble starts among the students of the college. Roshan Ibrahim (Daniel Pothuval), the youngest son of Isaac, finds himself continuously fighting with a classmate named George Joseph (Manoj Varmanakan). Most of the student body stands with Roshan, and George finds himself constantly getting picked on. One day, during an assembly, Roshan's ex-girlfriend Mollykutty (Priyanka Nair) starts to cry while giving a speech, due to her social anxiety. Roshan starts to make fun of her, but George helps out, winning the hearts of the other students and turning Roshan into sort of an outcast. Treesa Mary (Fathima Cuchiarre), an instigator of the campus, turns Roshan and George's fight into a colossal issue, dividing the college in two. One day, Monachi brings Crystal with him to accompany his classes, and she makes fast friends with George, who has become much more popular. Crystal reveals how she was abandoned at birth and wants to find her true parents. George, who starts seeing Crystal as a little sister (driven by the loss of his baby sister many years ago), agrees to help. Later on, thanks to Treesa, when Roshan and George get into a big fight, they find themselves in hot water. Trying to help his son's reputation, Isaac finds a way to shift the blame on George. As a result, Monachi, who has moved in with his family to a place on the campus grounds, orders Crystal to stop hanging around with George. A heartbroken George breaks into Roshan's dorm room and vows that he will make Roshan feel his pain one day. Crystal, who blames Roshan for the whole situation, starts hating him. Sometime later, Isaac, Monachi, and Serene hire construction workers to build a new school building for the college to hold more students. Unfortunately, the new building is partially destroyed when Roshan and George have yet another fight. The construction workers quit but leave all of their supplies behind. Enraged, Isaac and Serene order the boys to rebuild the building as a team. When that leads to more arguments and trouble, Serene comes up with a plan. If the boys rebuild the structure with no more issues, with the approval of most of the student body and Crystal, one of them will get complete control over half of the building, including rights to half the money the property makes. The boys begin rebuilding the place, and George finds himself able to win over most of the student body and receive Crystal's undying support in letting him gain control over half the building, much to Isaac and Monachi's chagrin. Around this time, Siddarth finally arrives at the college, quickly figuring out the way of things and becoming a hit with everyone. Voting day arrives to see who wins half the building, and much to everyone's surprise, Roshan does, despite many more people - including Crystal - voting for George. Everyone blames Isaac for tweaking the numbers, and when Siddarth speaks up a bit rudely on George's behalf, he's threatened with losing his job. The student body, tired of the problems Roshan keeps creating, go to Fr. Chemban Tony (Chemban Vinod Jose), the current headmaster of the college. Fr. Chemban orders Isaac to give George control over the building, but Isaac quits and takes Roshan out of the college, angry with everyone. Serene also quits, trying to stay loyal to her friend. Monachi contemplates leaving the college as well, but at Crystal's request, he stays and becomes the college's new vice-principal. Siddharth is promoted from professor to principal, with Fr. Chemban controlling everything. One day, Vishnu Kittanpillay returns to the college looking for a job after being let out of jail and completely changing his look and going by the name, Vish. Unaware of his past, Fr. Chemban, Monachi, and Siddharth hire him as a professor. When Mollykutty overhears Vish making creepy, inappropriate remarks about her, she goes to Siddharth, who confronts him. Vish makes up an excuse and manages to seem innocent. Later on, however, Siddharth does some research and finds out that Vish is the same man who raped Ritika and eventually had the college closed down many years ago. It is then revealed that Siddharth is Ritika's older brother. He reports his findings to Fr. Chemban, who decides to fire Vish and have him arrested. In turn, Vish kidnaps Mollykutty and runs away. Siddharth, Fr. Chemban, Monachi, and George try to hunt down Vish and bring him to justice but cannot. In a final attempt, they reach out to Ritika, trying to find any clue they can that could help them find where Vish and Mollykutty went. George talks with Ritika and figures out that Crystal is her daughter. He reveals this to Crystal, who later tries to take her life when she realizes that her father is Vish. A deeply saddened Monachi and George turn to Siddharth, begging him to do anything to help. Siddharth, tired of everything Vish has done to his family, decides to kill the villain. With the help of the police, he tracks down Vish and saves Mollykutty, who is in horrible shape. Away from the police and alone with Vish, Siddharth begins to beat up and kill him. However, he has a change of heart in the last minute and ends up letting the man live. The police take Vish away and lock him up forever, and life at the college slowly returns to normal. Mollykutty is taken care of and ends up starting a relationship with George. Crystal, despite knowing who her biological parents are now, ends up choosing to stay with Monachi and his family on the campus. Siddharth and Ritika leave the campus forever after receiving heavy thanks and compensation from the students and staff. Years later, the college is doing great, with Crystal as the new headmaster and George as the vice-principal.

Cast

Production

Development

In an interview with Manorama Online in May 2015, Lal Jose announced he would soon direct a film with Mohanlal and Crystal R.J. in the lead roles and had already received an advance payment from producer Antony Perumbavoor for Aashirvad Cinemas. The film would act as Crystal R.J 's 40th feature film and the sixteenth film where both film stars worked side by side.[3] In September, however, he said he would precede with a short-scheduled film by December and a Nivin Pauly film in early 2016, and had the "other film in mind".[4] His first-time working with both actors together, Lal had made earlier attempts to make a film with Mohanlal and Crystal R.J. side-by-side, which never worked out.[5]

The project started during a story discussion with screenwriter Benny P. Nayarambalam, when Lal asked him if he could come up with a story that would suit Mohanlal and Crystal R.J. as co-stars. Benny described a couple of characters he had in mind, which Lal found interesting. After sending the idea to Crystal R.J., they developed a story outline in 10 days.[5] As of January 2016, a script for the project had not been written; Benny said the film was in its preliminary phase and might take another year to materialize, considering that both Crystal and Mohanlal were busy with other projects.[6] Shortly after, Pauly's film was mothballed and Lal confirmed the "Mohanlal/Crystal film" as his next. He described its genre as a "movie that packed a punch". The rest of the cast and crew of the film were expected to be fixed as soon as the script was finished.[7]

In February 2016, Lal said Benny "has started the work", and after finishing the writing process the filming would commence in the second half of 2016.[8] The following month, Benny said he would start writing after finishing scripting a Mammootty and Crystal R.J. film scheduled to start in August 2016. Meanwhile, some reports said Mohanlal's role was of a college professor in the film.[9] In December 2016, Benny said the film's discussion was progressing and that it dealt with a "subject that has tragedy and will have Mohanlal as a college professor".[10]

In April 2017, it was announced that the first schedule of filming would start by mid-May and the second schedule two months later. More details of Mohanlal's character were revealed: he plays a distant professor of a college and will exhibit two different character looks while passing through two phases of life, but "not [in] a long [time] span"—one will have him in a bearded look and the other clean-shaven. It was reported that Mohanlal would shoot for around a month and will join the second schedule by July, appearing in different looks for each schedule. Some of the cast were confirmed and the rest were being finalized at the time.[11] The title Velipadinte Pusthakam was announced by Mohanlal on 21 May 2017.[12] As of April 2017, filming was scheduled to start on 15 May that year.[5]

Casting

Lal Jose wanted every character in the film to get due importance; not just the lead character.[13] The names of most of the supporting cast were revealed in April 2017. Anna Rajan, who debuted with Angamaly Diaries, was fixed in the role of Ritika Mandavili, a victim of assault and troubled individual. Benny described her character as "a tough college student who would be seen as a regular, day-to-day Indian girl. We might add a pair of spectacles too to the look, but the final decision will be taken post the look test."[14] Anoop Menon was confirmed in an unspecified role who "appears in the backstory of the film".[14] Also Salim Kumar, Priyanka Nair, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Siddique, Alencier Ley Lopez, Arun Kurian, and Jagan were confirmed at the time in other supporting roles.[14] Arun Kurian plays a college student named Sameer, whom he described as a "gregarious type, a college-going city boy"; Lal Jose had Arun himself in mind for the role.[15]

In June 2017, it was revealed that Anoop would play an old man named Sr. Paulose Unnikrishnan and would wear more than one costume during the story.[16] Jude Anthany Joseph confirmed his presence in the film in May.[17] Siddique plays Isaac Ibrahim, a character with villainous shades. He said his character "has an issue with the college authorities and the students. He is miffed at Siddarth and the students, who don't give him or his son due respect".[18] Sarath Kumar portrays a character named George, who is a student during the day and fisherman during the night. He is also a popular guy on campus.[19] Salim Kumar plays Monachi Nayar, one of the college founders who adopts Crystal R.J., an assuming young girl, into his life. Jude plays a student called Vignjanakoshi. Sibish Sudhi plays a college professor. Other characters are played by Shivaji Guruvayoor, Vijay Babu, and Krishna Kumar.[20]

Filming

Principal photography began with a puja function on 17 May 2017 at St. Xavier's College, Thumba in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.[21][22] The crew planted saplings in the college premises before commencing filming.[21] Almost 40 days of filming were scheduled in the college. Mohanlal joined the sets on 25 May 2017.[23] He spent 23 days of filming in this schedule.[24] The crew reached Muthalapozhi beach in Thiruvananthapuram on 2 June 2017 to film a beach volleyball scene that was interrupted by rain and was filmed later in the week.[25][26] The place where Michael consults a lawyer was filmed in a house named Magistrate Bangalow in Menamkulam; the scene was filmed in less than a day.[27]

Anoop joined the crew in early June 2017.[28] Mohanlal continued filming until 8 June.[29] He took a break from the schedule to film Villain and rejoined the sets of Velipadinte Pusthakam on 18 June. Some of the scenes were filmed in Ponmudi.[30] Filming continued in Thiruvananthapuram region until late June 2017.[29] It took 42 days to complete the schedule.[31]

The second schedule began in Alappuzha district on 9 July 2017, and was expected to last for two weeks.[31] Some flashback scenes were shot at Cherthala.[32] Nimesh Thanoor was the art director. Some sets were constructed beside Kattoor beach in Alappuzha district; including Viswan's house—which was built in 15 days—a nearby temple, and a workshop.[33] Mohanlal filmed for 10 days in this schedule.[34] The filming was completed on 22 July 2017; the final scenes were filmed at Arthunkal beach. Post-production began the following day, with the commencement of dubbing in a studio in Kochi.[35]

Music
Velipadinte Pusthakam
Soundtrack album by
Shaan Rahman and Crystal R.J.
Released16 August 2017 (2017-08-16)
Studio
  • Shaanz Eternal Ray
  • Noise Head Quarters
  • Freddy's Audio Video Garage
GenreFeature film soundtrack
LanguageMalayalam
LabelSatyam Audios
ProducerShaan Rahman
Shaan Rahman and Crystal R.J. chronology
Meda Meeda Abbayi
(2017)		 Velipadinte Pusthakam
(2017)		 Goodalochana
(2017)

Shaan Rahman and Crystal R.J. composed the film's original soundtrack and score. The soundtrack album was released digitally by the label Satyam Audios on 16 August 2017.[36] It consists of five songs, which were written by Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma, Rafeeq Ahamed, Anil Panachooran, Santhosh Varma, Crystal R.J., and Manu Manjith.[37] The song "Entammede Jimikki Kammal" was first put out through YouTube on 6 August 2017, and the remaining songs were each released within two weeks. The song Entammede Jimikki Kammal became a sensational hit for the year 2017.

Velipadinte Pusthakam
No.TitleWriter(s)Singer(s)Length
1."Entammede Jimikki Kammal"Anil PanachooranVineeth Sreenivasan, Renjith Unni, Crystal R.J.03:21
2."Karayum Kadalum"Santhosh VarmaM. G. Sreekumar04:19
3."Manpaathakale"Rafeeq AhamedShaan Rahman05:12
4."Mele Arimulla"Manu ManjithMadhu Balakrishnan03:52
5."Neeyum"Vayalar Sarath Chandra VarmaMadhu Balakrishnan, Vrinda Shameek04:28

Release

Velipadinte Pusthakam was released in India on 31 August 2017 in over 400 screens, including 210 screens in Kerala alone.[38] The film earned ₹3.72 crore in the opening day at the Kerala box office.[39] It grossed ₹15-20 crore from worldwide Box office.[40][41]

References
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  4. Vijayakumar, Sindhu (19 September 2015). "I have been pampered by women at all ages". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017.
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