Naduvazhikal (നാടുവാഴികൾ)
Naduvazhikal (നാടുവാഴികൾ) is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language action crime drama directed by Joshiy and written by S. N. Swamy, starring Mohanlal as Arjun, a son who takes over the business empire of his father Ananthan after rivals have the father falsely implicated and imprisoned.1 • 2 It was released on 5 May 1989 and, according to Moviebuff, was a phenomenal critical and commercial success, now regarded as one of the best thrillers in Malayalam cinema.1
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 5 May 1989, wide theatrical release in India1 |
| Director and writer | Joshiy (director); story, screenplay, and dialogues by S. N. Swamy1 |
| Production | Seven Arts Films banner; producer G. P. Vijayakumar, executive producer G. Jayakumar3 |
| Lead cast | Mohanlal as Arjun, Madhu as Ananthan, Thilakan as Shankaran, Rupini as Rose Mary2 |
| Music and crew | Music by Shyam; cinematography by Jayanan Vincent; editing by K. Sankunny3 |
| Runtime | 143 minutes (2h 23min) per most listings; Rotten Tomatoes lists 2h 35m4 • 5 |
| Audience rating | IMDb 7.3/10 from about 395 votes2 |
Spoilers
Plot
Arjun (Mohanlal) is the son of Ananthan (Madhu), the influential head of a business empire in his native place. Business rivals and enemies falsely implicate Ananthan and have him imprisoned, and Arjun is forced to take over the family's affairs and clash with his father's rivals while trying to prove his father's innocence.2 • 4
The main antagonists are the Chekkudi brothers, Mathukutty (Devan) and Cheriyan (Murali), supported by Abraham Varkey (Babu Namboothiri). Bent on destroying Ananthan, they take advantage of corrupt law enforcement to have him arrested and sent to prison. Arjun is recalled from Bangalore to free his father, but his first attempt fails, and the Chekkudi brothers, aided by Home Minister Gopalan Pillai (Kollam Thulasi) and C.I. Bharathan (Azeez), try to ensnare Arjun in false cases as well.1
Style and reception
The film is a crime-family drama that takes significant influence from Mario Puzo's The Godfather: like Michael Corleone, Arjun begins reluctant to enter his father's affairs and grows into the role over the course of the film.6 • 7 A 2014 retrospective review praised the convincing transformation of the protagonist and the well-drawn supporting characters, particularly the roles played by Thilakan and Jagathy Sreekumar, while noting that some scenes have not aged well.7
The film was a commercial success, and its climax sequence is frequently cited by viewers as among the most memorable action sequences in Malayalam film history.7 Moviebuff describes it as a phenomenal critical and commercial success regarded as one of the best thrillers in the history of Malayalam cinema.1
Music
The songs were composed by Shyam (credited as music director Samuel Joseph on Moviebuff) with lyrics by Shibu Chakravarthy; the tracklist includes "Nadiyorathile", "Raavil poonthen" (sung by Unni Menon), and "Venthooval pakshi", released on the Satyam Audios label.1 • 3
Later remakes and availability
In 2010 a sequel-remake titled Naduvazhikal 2 was announced, to be directed by Shaji Kailas with Prithviraj in the Arjun role and a script by S. N. Swamy, the original film's writer; Saikumar and Nedumudi Venu were reported for the roles played by Madhu and Thilakan.8 Shaji Kailas's 2012 film Simhasanam, starring Prithviraj, drew on the same source material, with the Annapoorna Group replacing the Chekkudi brothers as the central villains.6
The original film streams in India on Sun Nxt, VI movies and tv, and the Eros Now Select Apple TV Channel.4
References
- Naaduvazhikal (1989), Moviebuff
- Naduvaazhikal (1989), IMDb
- Naduvaazhikal (1989) full cast and crew, IMDb
- Naaduvazhikal streaming: where to watch online, JustWatch
- Naduvazhikal, Rotten Tomatoes
- 'Simhasanam' (Malayalam) review, The New Indian Express
- Naduvazhikal (1989), Films I Watch (blog review)
- Naduvazhikal 2: Prithviraj in the lead as Arjun, Zonkerala
Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Malayalam films before 2010
Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026
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