Devaasuram

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title: "Devaasuram" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1993-films", "1990s-malayalam-language-films", "films-scored-by-m.-g.-radhakrishnan", "indian-action-drama-films", "malayalam-films-in-series", "films-shot-in-ottapalam", "films-shot-at-varikkasseri-mana", "films-shot-in-thrissur", "films-directed-by-i.-v.-sasi", "films-with-screenplays-by-ranjith", "fiction-about-rivalry", "films-about-feuds", "malayalam-films-remade-in-other-languages"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devaasuram" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]

FieldValue
nameDevasuram
imageDevasuram poster.jpg
captionPoster published on newspaper
directorI. V. Sasi
producerV. B. K. Menon
writerRanjith
starringMohanlal
Revathi
Napoleon
Innocent
musicSongs:
M. G. Radhakrishnan
Score:
S. P. Venkatesh
cinematographyV. Jayaram
editingK. Narayanan
studioAnugraha Cine Arts
distributorAnugraha Release
released
runtime160 minutes
countryIndia
languageMalayalam
budget
gross
::

| name = Devasuram | image = Devasuram poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Poster published on newspaper | director = I. V. Sasi | producer = V. B. K. Menon | writer = Ranjith | starring = Mohanlal Revathi Napoleon Innocent | music = Songs: M. G. Radhakrishnan Score: S. P. Venkatesh | cinematography = V. Jayaram | editing = K. Narayanan | studio = Anugraha Cine Arts | distributor = Anugraha Release | released = | runtime = 160 minutes | country = India | language = Malayalam | budget = | gross =

Devaasuram () is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language action drama film directed by I. V. Sasi and written by Ranjith. It stars Mohanlal, Revathi, and Napoleon, with Innocent, V. K. Sreeraman, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Augustine in supporting roles. The songs featured in the film were composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, while S. P. Venkatesh composed the background score. It was Mohanlal's 200th film.

The film depicts the rivalry between two spoiled heirs of two feudal families—Mangalassery Neelakandan (Mohanlal) and Mundakkal Shekaran (Napoleon). The character Neelakandan was created by Ranjith based on a real-life person named Mullasserry Rajagopal (died 2002). The film was shot at Varikkasseri Mana in Ottappalam.

Devaasuram was a critically and commercially successful movie. It is considered to be a classic and the character of Mangalassery Neelakandan is considered one of the best roles of Mohanlal. It was followed by a sequel, Ravanaprabhu (2001), which was writer Ranjith's directorial debut. The film was remade in Telugu the same year as Kunti Putrudu.

Plot

The story is set in the backdrop of Ezhilakkara village. Neelakandan, a feudal landlord, is the spoiled heir to the wealthy and well-known Mangalassery family. He squanders away his father's largess, wealth and good name who served as a judicial officer and is loved by the people who know him well, mainly Warrier, his elderly right-hand man. He has been the arch-rival of Shekaran Nambiar of the Mundakkal family since childhood. During a minor ruckus, one of Neelakandan's aides accidentally kills Shekaran's maternal uncle. This incites Shekaran to plan to avenge the death of his uncle. Having lost all the financial backups, Neelakandan agreed to sell his land for the construction of a Dance Centre near the village Temple. When a Gulf-returned son of an erstwhile landless Mappila farmer -who worked under the Mangalassery family- approached him for buying land, Neelakandan ridiculed him. However, later on, Neelakandan had to sell the land to the farmer's son at a low price. Meanwhile, Neelakandan offends Bhanumathi, a talented and educated Bharatanatyam dance graduate, by forcing her to dance in front of him in his house. In retaliation, Bhanumathi quits dancing and curses Neelakandan for desecrating the art so dear to her.

Later, Neelakandan feels regretful and helps her family in many ways and tries to persuade Bhanumathi to take up dancing again, but she doesn't budge. Meanwhile, Neelakandan visits his widowed mother intending to bring her back home, but she passes away after revealing a terrible secret; that he was born of another man, out of wedlock, without revealing the name of his biological father. This fact crushes him, and only Bhanumathi finds out this secret when he drunkenly curses (at the car of his deceased "father") that the ancestral heritage which he is proud of, is actually not his. She is surprised by the vulnerable side of Neelakandan. He visits Bhanumathi at her home to persuade her to take up dancing again, only to be refused like before, telling him that she will resume dancing only after his death. That night while returning home, Shekaran and his aides ambush (by hitting him with a car from behind) and injure him seriously after inflicting several wounds with swords, knives, iron rods, and wooden sticks. Neelakandan survives the attack, but his left hand and right leg are badly injured and he undergoes Ayurvedic treatment to rejuvenate his legs.

It is during this time that Bhanumathi falls in love with him (she is also regretful for having cursed him, feeling a guilty that the attack was somehow related to her curse). Neelakandan convinces Bhanumathi to dance and he arranges for a classical dance event for her in Delhi. He too loves her ardently, but he refuses to marry Bhanumathi considering her future, but in the end, Warrier persuades him to do so. Neelakandan tries to forget all the past events and his rivalry with Shekaran, but the latter is not satisfied. He wants to defeat Neelakandan in front of the whole village. For this, he kidnaps Bhanumathi and forces Neelakandan to take blows in front of the public during the annual village temple festival organized by the Mundakkal family. Meanwhile, Neelakandan's friends rescue Bhanumathi and after this, he maims Shekaran by cutting off Shekaran's right hand, claiming "Shekaran, I want to live peacefully..." so that he will not come for revenge later. However, while severing Shekharan's hand, Neelakandan uses the backside of the sword, which shows the agony and power he had.

Cast

Production

The protagonist Mangalaserry Neelakandan (Mohanlal) is a real-life character sketch of Mullasserry Rajagopal (died 2002). Supposedly, some notable scenes in Devaasuram are real-life incidents. Varikassery Mana near Ottappalam was selected to portray the ancient Mangalaserry house. "It was only after Devaasuram became a hit that producers and directors began to queue up for this location. Until then only one film was shot here," says Murali, one of the managers of the mana. The climax scene of the movie was shot entirely in Pariyanampatta Bhagavathi Temple.

Mullasserry Rajagopal is known as an ardent music lover. "Music was the sole passion in his life. He was a good friend of mine, but we never discussed literature; we talked mainly about music and films," said renowned author M. T. Vasudevan Nair. M. T. was impressed by the way Rajagopal reacted to the setbacks in his life. "I was even more impressed by the way how his wife, Lakshmi, devoted her life to him; he would not have survived but for her." Oduvil's character was based on a real life Sopanam artist from Malabar, Njeralath Rama Pothuval. He was a vagabond sort of and was instrumental in bringing the art outside temple courtyards.

"There were [also] powerful business interests at work when I wrote my hits such as Devaasuram, Narasimham, Ravanaprabhu and so on...", said writer Ranjith.

Soundtrack

| name = Devaasuram | type = Soundtrack | artist = M. G. Radhakrishnan | cover = | alt = | released = 14 April 1993 | recorded = 1993 | venue = | studio = Prasad Studios Recording Theatre | genre = Feature film soundtrack | length = | language = Malayalam | label = Magnasound Sony Music India | producer = M. G. Radhakrishnan | prev_title = Adhwaytham | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = Ammayane Sathyam | next_year = 1993

The film includes songs composed by M. G. Radhakrishnan, with lyrics by Gireesh Puthenchery. The background score was composed by S. P. Venkatesh.

The song "Vande Mukundahare" is picturised on Oduvil Unnikrishnan, in one of the most dramatic scenes in the film. Unnikrishnan plays the role of a wandering Edakka musician who frequently visits Neelakandan. The Edakka featured in the background of the song is played by Tripunithura Krishnadas.

::data[format=table] | Track || Title | Singer(s) | Notes | |---|---|---| | 1 | "Sree Paadam" | M. G. Sreekumar | | 2 | "Ganga Tharanga" (Bit) | M. G. Sreekumar | | 3 | "Angopangam" | K. S. Chithra | | 4 | "Maappu Nalku" | M. G. Sreekumar | | 5 | "Kizhakkannam" | M. G. Radhakrishnan | | 6 | "Sooryakireedam" | M. G. Sreekumar | | 7 | "Vande Mukundahare" | M. G. Radhakrishnan | | 8 | "Sree Paadam" | K. S. Chithra | | 9 | "Medaponnaniyum" | M. G. Sreekumar, B. Arundhathi | | 10 | "Maarimazhakal" | M. G. Sreekumar, Jaya | | 11 | "Namasthesthu" (Bit) | B. Arundhathi | | 12 | "Sarasijanaabha" | K. Omanakutty | | 13 | "Yamuna Kinaare" (Bit) | M. G. Sreekumar | ::

Release

Box office

Devaasuram, released on 14 April 1993 during the season of Vishu. The film clashed with Mammootty's Vatsalyam, which released a few days before, and Kamal Hassan's Kalaignan, which was released on the same day. Despite stiff competition, the film fared better than its competitors and ended up becoming the 2nd biggest hit of the year completing 200 days of theatrical run. The movie made on a budget of 95 lakhs had earned the producer a profit of 35 lakhs, while the satellite right was sold for 6 lakhs.

Accolades

Sequel

Main article: Ravanaprabhu

Devaasuram was followed by a sequel, Ravanaprabhu, in 2001, written and directed by Ranjith in his directorial debut. Because of the success of the film, a number of films falling under the same genre with a feudal backdrop was produced in Malayalam cinema.

Legacy

Devasuram is considered to be one of I. V. Sasi's best works. The film over the years has attained cult status. The characters played by Mohanlal (Mangalassery Neelakandan) and Napoleon (Mundakkal Shekaran) remain as two of the most iconic characters in Malayalam cinema with the character of Mangalassery Neelakandan celebrated as one of the finest anti-heroes. The success of the film led to many films being made based on feudal lords and ancestorial homes. The film made Varikassery Mana a popular tourist destination.

References

References

  1. (8 September 2007). "An award in the name of a music lover". [[The Hindu]].
  2. "10 Mohanlal films to watch before you die".
  3. Indulge. (24 October 2017). "Remembering a legend: Five iconic IV Sasi movies that shaped Mollywood". [[Indulge Express]].
  4. (2007-09-08). "An award in the name of a music lover". [[The Hindu]].
  5. (29 May 2012). "Theyre shooting like hell at Varikkassery Mana".
  6. Daily, Keralakaumudi. "'He was initially afraid to kick Mohanlal', Renjith opens up about this particular scene in Devasuram".
  7. Nagarajan, Saraswathy. (2011-10-07). "When money talks". The Hindu.
  8. [https://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2020/04/14/devasuram-mohanlal-mangalassery-neelakandan-malayalam-movie.html Onmanorama. Latest News Updates. Politics. Lifestyle. Entertainment. Sports. English Manorama]
  9. "Songs, Download songs by . Raaga.com Malayalam Songs – Raaga.com – A World Of Music".
  10. K. Pradeep. (2011-04-01). "Edakka Notes". [[The Hindu]].
  11. Nimisha. "മമ്മൂട്ടിയും മോഹന്‍ലാലും വാത്സല്യവും ദേവാസുരവുമായി ബോക്സോഫീസില്‍ ഏറ്റുമുട്ടിയപ്പോള്‍ സംഭവിച്ചത്???".
  12. Nair, Sree Prasad. (2017-04-17). "As Devasuram clocks 24 years".
  13. C. V., Aravind. (2017-10-28). "IV Sasi: Remembering the director".
  14. Kumar, Akshay. (25 January 2023). "Times When Mohanlal And Mammootty Movies Released During The Same Time".
  15. G., Jyothilal. (2018-07-11). "V. B. K. Menon producer interview".
  16. P. K., Ajith Kumar. (2017-10-24). "I.V. Sasi reigned at the box office, and made classics too". [[The Hindu]].
  17. "41st annual filmfare kannada best music film Malayalam best actor actress".
  18. (13 March 1994). "''Kizhakku Cheemayile'' adjudged best film". [[The Indian Express]].
  19. {{usurped. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080224164037/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/18/stories/0418211o.htm "Painting a portrait of love – Section: The Shooting of Ravana Prabhu"]. ''[[The Hindu]]''. 2001-07-18. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
  20. (2008-07-19). "Journey of music". [[The Hindu]].
  21. "Remembering IV Sasi: A look at his 5 best films".
  22. (14 April 2020). "Mohanlal's Devasuram Completes 27 Years: 27 Fascinating Trivia Shared by Lalettan Fans on Twitter as They Trend #27YearsOfDevasuram".
  23. (21 May 2018). "10 Mohanlal films to watch before you die".
  24. "Varikkasseri Mana – The location superstar of Malayalam cinema".

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1993-films1990s-malayalam-language-filmsfilms-scored-by-m.-g.-radhakrishnanindian-action-drama-filmsmalayalam-films-in-seriesfilms-shot-in-ottapalamfilms-shot-at-varikkasseri-manafilms-shot-in-thrissurfilms-directed-by-i.-v.-sasifilms-with-screenplays-by-ranjithfiction-about-rivalryfilms-about-feudsmalayalam-films-remade-in-other-languages