# Niram (നിറം)
**Niram** (നിറം) is a 1999 Malayalam-language romantic comedy film directed by Kamal, starring [Kunchacko Boban](https://www.edgepedia.org/kunchacko-boban) as Aby and Shalini as Sona, two childhood friends and neighbors whose friendship turns to love after Sona's marriage is arranged with another man.[1](https://www.mallurelease.com/2019/04/niram-1999.html) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255426/) It was produced by K Radhakrishnan under the Jayalakshmi Films banner, from a story by Iqbal Kuttippuram and a screenplay and dialogues by Sathrughnan.[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en) FilmiBeat describes it as one of the biggest hits of 1999 in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema).[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/niram/story.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / producer | Kamal; produced by K Radhakrishnan, Jayalakshmi Films[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en) |
| Writing | Story by Dr. Iqbal Kuttippuram; screenplay and dialogue by Sathrughnan[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en) |
| Lead cast | Kunchacko Boban as Aby, Shalini as Sona, Jomol as Varsha, Boban Alummoodan as Prakash Mathew[1](https://www.mallurelease.com/2019/04/niram-1999.html) |
| Music | Vidyasagar; lyrics by Gireesh Puthenchery and Bichu Thirumala; seven songs cataloged[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en) • [5](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/listsongs.php?ln=ml&m=3202) |
| Release | September 16, 1999 per MalluRelease; the Times of India lists 10 August 1999[1](https://www.mallurelease.com/2019/04/niram-1999.html) • [6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-details/niram/movieshow/65512834.cms) |
| Runtime / certificate | 2h 31m (MalluRelease, IMDb, Apple TV); 2h 35m per the Times of India; rated U[1](https://www.mallurelease.com/2019/04/niram-1999.html) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255426/) • [7](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%B1/umc.cmc.3lc2ilot1ft10m52omerlhlz6?l=ml) • [6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-details/niram/movieshow/65512834.cms) |
| Reception | IMDb rating 7.0/10 from 815 votes; 1 award win listed[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255426/) |
| Remakes | Telugu *Nuvve Kavali*, Tamil *Piriyadha Varam Vendum*, Kannada *Ninagagi*, Hindi *Tujhe Meri Kasam*[8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ34DaD5VPw) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Aby (Kunchacko Boban) and Sona (Shalini) are neighbors and family friends, of similar age, whose inseparable friendship dates from childhood but never turned toward romance.[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/niram/story.html) When Sona travels to [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore) as part of a college youth festival, the first separation of their lives makes Aby realize that he loves her as more than a friend.[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/niram/story.html) Fearing that a confession would destroy even the friendship, he hesitates; Sona returns with news that the college singer Prakash Mathew (Boban Alummoodan) has proposed to her, and Aby, deciding to remain a good friend, supports the match.[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/niram/story.html) As the marriage with Prakash Mathew is fixed and the two contemplate having to part, Sona gradually comes to recognize her own feelings for Aby.[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/niram/story.html) IMDb summarizes the premise as two childhood friends realizing their love for each other after being betrothed to different people.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255426/)
## Cast and crew
The supporting cast includes Lalu Alex as Dr. Sunny, Aby's father; Ambika as Dr. Baby, Aby's mother; Devan as Job John, Sona's father; Bindu Panicker as Maya, Sona's mother; KPAC Lalitha as Prakash Mathew's grandmother; Prem Prakash as Mathukkutty; Ponnamma Babu as Sarah, Prakash's mother; [Kovai Sarala](https://www.edgepedia.org/kovai-sarala) as Rukku; Babu Swamy as Colonel Menon; and Rizabawa as Jinan, a jewelry owner. Divya Unni appears as herself in a guest role.[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en) Shalini's voice was dubbed by [Sreeja Ravi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sreeja-ravi), and Boban Alummoodan's by Vijay Menon.[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en)
**Technical crew.** P Sukumar (Kiran) handled cinematography, K Rajagopal the editing, and M Bava the art direction; distribution was by Sagariga Release.[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en) MalluRelease notes that the film marked the fourth and final collaboration of the leading pair Kunchacko Boban and Shalini, together with Jomol and Kovai Sarala.[1](https://www.mallurelease.com/2019/04/niram-1999.html)
## Music
Vidyasagar composed the score and songs, with lyrics by Gireesh Puthenchery and Bichu Thirumala.[3](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en) Seven songs are cataloged, sung by KJ Yesudas, KS Chithra, P Jayachandran, Sujatha Mohan, Vidyasagar himself, Shabnam, and Vidhu Prathap.[5](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/listsongs.php?ln=ml&m=3202) The song "Mizhiyariyaathe", with lyrics by Bichu Thirumala, was recorded in two versions, one sung by KJ Yesudas and one by [Sujatha Mohan](https://www.edgepedia.org/sujatha-mohan).[5](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/listsongs.php?ln=ml&m=3202) The other numbers are "Yaathrayaay" and "Shukriya Shukriya", both with lyrics by Gireesh Puthenchery, "Prayam Nammil" by Bichu Thirumala, and "Minnithennum Nakshathrangal" by Gireesh Puthenchery.[5](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/listsongs.php?ln=ml&m=3202)
## Release and reception
The release date is disputed between sources. MalluRelease states that the film reached theaters on September 16, 1999,[1](https://www.mallurelease.com/2019/04/niram-1999.html) while the Times of India lists 10 August 1999.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-details/niram/movieshow/65512834.cms) Runtime figures also differ slightly: 2h 31m is reported by MalluRelease, IMDb, and Apple TV,[1](https://www.mallurelease.com/2019/04/niram-1999.html) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255426/) • [7](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%B1/umc.cmc.3lc2ilot1ft10m52omerlhlz6?l=ml) and 2h 35m by the Times of India.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-details/niram/movieshow/65512834.cms)
FilmiBeat describes the film as one of the biggest hits of 1999.[4](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/niram/story.html) On IMDb it holds a rating of 7.0/10 from 815 votes, with one award win listed.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255426/) The Times of India reports renewed interest decades later: Kunchacko Boban expressed delight that the film was screened again after 20 years.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-details/niram/movieshow/65512834.cms)
## Remakes
The story was remade across Indian languages: in Telugu as *Nuvve Kavali* starring Tarun and [Richa Pallod](https://www.edgepedia.org/richa-pallod), in Tamil as *Piriyadha Varam Vendum* starring [Prashanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/prashanth) and Shalini, in Kannada as *Ninagagi* with [Vijay Raghavendra](https://www.edgepedia.org/vijay-raghavendra), and in Hindi as *Tujhe Meri Kasam* starring Ritesh Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza.[8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ34DaD5VPw)
## References
1. [Niram | നിറം (1999), MalluRelease](https://www.mallurelease.com/2019/04/niram-1999.html)
2. [Niram (1999), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255426/)
3. [Niram (1999), Malayala Chalachithram](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=3202&ln=en)
4. [നിറം കഥ, FilmiBeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/niram/story.html)
5. [നിറം എന്ന സിനിമയിലെ മലയാളം സിനിമാ ഗാനങ്ങളുടെ പട്ടിക, Malayala Chalachithram](https://www.malayalachalachithram.com/listsongs.php?ln=ml&m=3202)
6. [Niram Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos, eTimes](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-details/niram/movieshow/65512834.cms)
7. [നിറം, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%B1/umc.cmc.3lc2ilot1ft10m52omerlhlz6?l=ml)
8. [Niram (നിറം) Romantic Movie, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ34DaD5VPw)
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*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 Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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