{ "id": "ep90qxbyxt", "slug": "jagratha", "title": "Jagratha (ജാഗ്രത)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries", "label": "Action, thriller, and crime series film entries", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "label": "Entries released in the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series", "label": "Franchise and series entries as standalone works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Jagratha (ജാഗ്രത), also CBI Diary Part II, is a 1989 Malayalam crime thriller, the second CBI-series film, directed by K. Madhu, written by S. N. Swamy, starring Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer investigating actress Ashwathy's death; a good film that underperformed at the box office.", "snippet": "Jagratha (ജാഗ്രത), also CBI Diary Part II, is a 1989 Malayalam crime thriller, the second CBI-series film, directed by K. Madhu, written by S. N. Swamy, starring Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer investigating actress Ashwathy's death; a good film that underperformed at the box office.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.franchise-series.franchise-series.action-thriller-series-entries.entries-released-in-the-1980s", "markdown": "# Jagratha (ജാഗ്രത)\n\n**Jagratha** (ജാഗ്രത) is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language crime investigative film directed by K. Madhu and written by S. N. Swamy, and the second installment of the CBI film series starring [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty) as the [Central Bureau of Investigation](https://www.edgepedia.org/central-bureau-of-investigation) officer Sethurama Iyer.[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/jagratha.html) It was released in Indian theaters on 7 September 1989, one year after the series opener *Oru CBI Diary Kurippu* (1988).[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271575/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 7 September 1989 (India); Malayalam language; also known as *CBI Diary Part II*[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271575/) |\n| Director and writer | K. Madhu (direction), S. N. Swamy (screenplay)[1](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/jagratha.html) |\n| Lead cast | Mammootty as Sethurama Iyer; Mukesh as Chacko; Jagathy Sreekumar as Vikram; Parvathy as Ashwathy[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/jagratha.html) |\n| Music and production | Music by Shyam; produced by M. Mani under Sunitha Productions[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/jagratha.html) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271575/) |\n| Plot premise | Sethurama Iyer and the CBI investigate the mysterious death of the famous actress Ashwathy in a hotel room[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/the-legacy-of-sethurama-iyer-and-where-the-cbi-franchise-should-have-ended-7964338/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271575/) |\n| Box office | A good film that failed to make a splash at the box office, unlike the other CBI entries[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/06/malayalam-cinema-sequel-hits-misses-empuraan-cbi-series.html) |\n| Audience rating | 7.5/10 on IMDb from about 1,100 votes[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271575/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nA renowned actress, Aswathi, is murdered, and when CBI officer Sethurama Iyer investigates the case, he unravels a dark secret about her that brings several complexities to light.[7](https://www.taste.io/movies/jagratha) The story is centered on the mysterious death of a film star in a hotel room, filled with potential suspects who had strong motives to eliminate the victim.[4](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/the-legacy-of-sethurama-iyer-and-where-the-cbi-franchise-should-have-ended-7964338/) According to a retrospective on the series, the motive in *Jagratha* involves illegitimacy and false ego: a father who kills his illegitimate daughter to save his face in society.[8](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958) The same retrospective notes that Iyer shows a rare display of emotion in this film, venting his distaste against the accused.[8](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958)\n\n## Place in the CBI series\n\nThe overwhelming success of *Oru CBI Diary Kurippu* led to the immediate release of its sequel, *Jagratha*, in 1989.[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/06/malayalam-cinema-sequel-hits-misses-empuraan-cbi-series.html) The CBI films, written by S. N. Swamy and directed by K. Madhu, are structured so that each installment features a new case, with only the recurring characters, Sethurama Iyer and his team, connecting the entries; this format gives creative freedom to the writer and director.[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/06/malayalam-cinema-sequel-hits-misses-empuraan-cbi-series.html) The series continued with *Sethurama Iyer CBI* (2004), *Nerariyan CBI* (2005), and *CBI 5: The Brain* (2022), all with the same director, writer, and lead actor.[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/06/malayalam-cinema-sequel-hits-misses-empuraan-cbi-series.html) • [6](https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/how-the-cbi-films-built-fan-loyalty-1105150.html)\n\nThe films keep the probes entirely professional and give Iyer almost no family backstory; *Jagratha* contributes one of the few personal glimpses, a game of chess with his son.[6](https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/how-the-cbi-films-built-fan-loyalty-1105150.html)\n\n## Production\n\nThe film was produced by M. Mani, who had also produced the first CBI film, under Sunitha Productions, with music composed by Shyam.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/jagratha.html) • [9](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/k-madhu-revealed-an-unknown-backstory-of-mammootty-starrer-jagratha-067758.html) In a later interview, K. Madhu recalled that he first narrated the story to another prominent Malayalam producer, who rejected it, saying the story would not work; M. Mani then told him to go ahead confidently, which gave Madhu the confidence to make the film.[9](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/k-madhu-revealed-an-unknown-backstory-of-mammootty-starrer-jagratha-067758.html)\n\nAlongside Mammootty, Mukesh, and [Jagathy Sreekumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/jagathy-sreekumar), the film features Parvathy, Sukumaran, and Janardhanan in major roles.[9](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/k-madhu-revealed-an-unknown-backstory-of-mammootty-starrer-jagratha-067758.html) [Sukumaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/sukumaran) plays Devadas, the corrupt police officer whose verbal duels with the serene Iyer were a draw in the first two CBI films.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271575/) • [8](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958) Shyam's background score in the first two films added the intrigue and suspense to the frames.[8](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958)\n\n## Reception\n\nUnlike the other CBI films, *Jagratha* did not become a commercial hit. Of the series' entries, three became superhits while *Jagratha* alone did not turn into a big success.[9](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/k-madhu-revealed-an-unknown-backstory-of-mammootty-starrer-jagratha-067758.html) Onmanorama describes it as a good film that failed to make a splash at the box office.[5](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/06/malayalam-cinema-sequel-hits-misses-empuraan-cbi-series.html) K. Madhu attributed the outcome to a narrative style that created some confusion for viewers.[9](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/k-madhu-revealed-an-unknown-backstory-of-mammootty-starrer-jagratha-067758.html)\n\nCritical and audience standing has been higher than its theatrical performance suggests. The Deccan Herald calls *Jagratha*, set around the death of a female actor, arguably the most compelling, and least popular, film of the series.[6](https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/how-the-cbi-films-built-fan-loyalty-1105150.html) Film Companion describes it as a gripping thriller that builds its characters and subplots strongly, and notes that the makers added a disclaimer requesting viewers not to reveal the climax.[10](https://www.filmcompanion.in/amp/story/features/best-malayalam-movies-on-netflix-amazon-prime-hotstar-sequels-ranked-drishyam-kireedam-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-for-the-people-mohanlal) The film holds a 7.5/10 rating on IMDb from about 1,100 users.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271575/) Madhu has said that even today, when the film appears on television channels, audiences watch it with anticipation.[9](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/k-madhu-revealed-an-unknown-backstory-of-mammootty-starrer-jagratha-067758.html)\n\n## Availability\n\nThe film has been available on streaming services in India, including Amazon Prime Video and Eros Now, though availability varies by region and date.[11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/jagratha)\n\n## References\n\n1. [ജാഗ്രത (Jagratha) movie page, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/jagratha.html)\n2. [Jagratha (1989), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271575/)\n3. [Jagratha 1989 Malayalam Movie: Release Date, Cast, Story, Crew, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/jagratha.html)\n4. [The legacy of Sethurama Iyer and where the CBI franchise should have ended, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/the-legacy-of-sethurama-iyer-and-where-the-cbi-franchise-should-have-ended-7964338/)\n5. [What makes a sequel click? Lessons from Malayalam's most iconic franchises, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/06/malayalam-cinema-sequel-hits-misses-empuraan-cbi-series.html)\n6. [How the 'CBI' films built fan loyalty, Deccan Herald](https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/how-the-cbi-films-built-fan-loyalty-1105150.html)\n7. [Jagratha (1989), Taste.io](https://www.taste.io/movies/jagratha)\n8. [30 years of 'Oru CBI Diary Kurippu', The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/30-years-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-mammootty-film-redefined-crime-thrillers-76958)\n9. [K Madhu Revealed An Unknown Backstory Of Mammootty Starrer Jagratha, Filmibeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/k-madhu-revealed-an-unknown-backstory-of-mammootty-starrer-jagratha-067758.html)\n10. [Best Sequels of Malayalam Cinema, Ranked, Film Companion](https://www.filmcompanion.in/amp/story/features/best-malayalam-movies-on-netflix-amazon-prime-hotstar-sequels-ranked-drishyam-kireedam-oru-cbi-diary-kurippu-for-the-people-mohanlal)\n11. [Jagratha streaming: where to watch movie online?, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/jagratha)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Franchise and series entries as standalone works › Action, thriller, and crime series film entries › Entries released in the 1980s*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/jagratha", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/jagratha.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Jagratha (ജാഗ്രത)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/jagratha. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Jagratha (ജാഗ്രത)](https://www.edgepedia.org/jagratha)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/jagratha](https://www.edgepedia.org/jagratha). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Jagratha (ജാഗ്രത)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/jagratha. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Jagratha, also CBI Diary Part II, is a 1989 Malayalam crime thriller, the second CBI-series film, directed by K. Madhu, written by S. N." }