Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980)

Manjil Virinja Pookkal (Malayalam: മഞ്ഞില്‍ വിരിഞ്ഞ പൂക്കള്‍, English: Flowers That Bloomed in the Mist) is a 1980 Malayalam romantic thriller produced by Navodaya Appachan and directed by Fazil, starring Shankar, Poornima Jayaram, and Mohanlal in the main roles. This film was one of the biggest hits of the year and was a major landmark in the career of director Fazil. The songs were composed by Jerry Amaldev.

Manjil Virinja Pookkal was Mohanlal's first release. His first film Thiranottam was never released in theaters. The film was shot mainly from Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. The first dialogue of Mohanlal, which begins as "I am Narendran" was shot from the Astoria Hotel, near Kodaikanal busstand.

11 years later, the Hollywood thriller Sleeping with the Enemy (1991) had the same storyline as Manjil Virinja Pookkal. Sleeping with the Enemy was later remade into Hindi four times as Yaraana (1995), Daraar (1996), Agni Sakshi (1996), Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe (2002); into Tamil as Aval Varuvala (1998); into Telugu as Pelli (film); into Kannada as Maduve and into a Pakistani movie Khilona.

Synopsis

The story is about Prem Kishan (Shankar) coming to the hills of Kodaikkanal on work, meeting and falling in love with Prabha (Poornima Jayaram) whom he knows little about. Later he realises that she is married when her husband, Narendran (Mohanlal) comes into the picture. Mohanlal plays the antagonist in this film, one of the many negative characters he has played in his career. The film ends on a sad note, with Prem Kishan committing suicide after killing Narendran, saddened by the loss of Prabha, who was killed by Narendran.

Actors