# Rajavinte Makan (രാജാവിന്റെ മകൻ)
**Rajavinte Makan** (രാജാവിന്റെ മകൻ, transl. Rajavinte Makan (translating to Son of the king) is a 1986 crime drama in Malayalam from India, with Thampi Kannanthanam as its director and producer, a script by [Dennis Joseph](https://www.edgepedia.org/dennis-joseph), and Mohanlal in the lead role of underworld kingpin Vincent Gomas.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco) Released on 17 July 1986, it became one of the major commercial successes of that year and is widely regarded as the film that carried Mohanlal to superstardom in [Malayalam cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayalam-cinema).[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/) • [3](https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/resume-superstar-30-years-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan-pulimurugan-54938)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 17 July 1986 (India), Malayalam language[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/) |
| Director / producer | Thampi Kannanthanam[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco) |
| Writers | Story by Rajeev; screenplay and dialogue by Dennis Joseph[4](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7398/malayalam/rajavinte-makan/index.htm) |
| Lead cast | Mohanlal (Vincent Gomas), Ratheesh (Krishnadas), Ambika (Nancy), Suresh Gopi (Kumar)[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/fullcredits/) |
| Music | S. P. Venkatesh, his debut as a Malayalam film composer; lyrics by Shibu Chakravarthy[6](https://avmunniarchives.com/cinema/music-director-s-p-venkatesh-debut-rajavinte-makan-mohanlal-movie-1986-14/) |
| Budget and gross | First copy ₹1.4 million (₹14 lakh), total cost ₹4 million (₹40 lakh) including publicity and distribution, gross up to ₹8.5 million (₹85 lakh)[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html) |
| Remakes | Tamil as *Makkal En Pakkam*, Kannada as *Athiratha Maharatha*, Telugu as *Ahuthi*, and Hindi as *Kanwarlal*[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and characters
The film follows the rivalry between underworld don Vincent Gomas (Mohanlal) and Kerala Home minister N. Krishnadas (Ratheesh).[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/) With Vincent's help, Krishnadas builds a political career, but when Krishnadas cheats him for personal gain, Vincent decides to take revenge.[8](https://www.jiotv.com/full-movie/rajavinte-makan/36f9eed0a6805485abdb50996ece4523) Ambika plays Nancy, and [Suresh Gopi](https://www.edgepedia.org/suresh-gopi) plays Kumar; the supporting cast includes [Adoor Bhasi](https://www.edgepedia.org/adoor-bhasi) as a priest, Jose Prakash as the Chief Minister, Kunchan as Krishnankutty, and Kanakalatha, Kundara Johny, K. P. A. C. Sunny, and Mohan Jose.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/fullcredits/) • [9](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/rajavinte-makan)
Some critics consider the story a loose adaptation of the 1980 novel *Rage of Angels* by [Sidney Sheldon](https://www.edgepedia.org/sidney-sheldon).[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco)
## Production
**Casting.** Screenwriter Dennis Joseph initially conceived Vincent Gomes for Mammootty, who liked the script but declined the film; Joseph said that he and Kannanthanam had [Mammootty](https://www.edgepedia.org/mammootty) in mind while writing, but his dates did not work out.[10](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2021/05/10/dennis-joseph-about-rajavinte-makan-mohanlal-mammootty-thampi-kannanthanam.html) The role then went to Mohanlal, who agreed to the film without hearing the story, telling Joseph, "No need to hear the story. I trust you. I am ready."[10](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2021/05/10/dennis-joseph-about-rajavinte-makan-mohanlal-mammootty-thampi-kannanthanam.html) The female lead, Advocate Ancy, required a strong actor, and Kannanthanam cast Ambika, then a far bigger star than Mohanlal across South Indian cinema.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/mohanlal-rose-to-superstardom-with-rajavinte-makan-that-was-rejected-by-mammootty-10493530/lite/)
**Remuneration and schedule.** Mohanlal was paid ₹100,000 (₹1 lakh), the same as the leading lady; Ambika's mother initially demanded ₹125,000 (₹1.25 lakh), but a few days into filming Ambika reduced her fee to ₹100,000 (₹1 lakh).[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html) • [11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/mohanlal-rose-to-superstardom-with-rajavinte-makan-that-was-rejected-by-mammootty-10493530/lite/) The shooting was completed in 32 days, mostly in [Ernakulam](https://www.edgepedia.org/ernakulam).[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html)
**Music.** The songs were composed by S. P. Venkatesh, whom Kannanthanam introduced to Malayalam cinema with this film, to lyrics by Shibu Chakravarthy; they were recorded at Gemini Studios in Madras in April 1986, with singers including Unni Menon and Lathika.[6](https://avmunniarchives.com/cinema/music-director-s-p-venkatesh-debut-rajavinte-makan-mohanlal-movie-1986-14/) The film's songs were hits, and three hit songs in a single year was noted as a distinction of the film.[6](https://avmunniarchives.com/cinema/music-director-s-p-venkatesh-debut-rajavinte-makan-mohanlal-movie-1986-14/) • [12](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/actor-mohanlal-talks-about-his-super-hit-character-vincent-gomes/amp_articleshow/100411784.cms)
**Title.** Joseph initially named the film *Maharajavinte Makan*, with a first-look poster planned around a two-year-old boy on a grand throne; Kannanthanam changed the title to *Rajavinte Makan*, saying the shorter title had more punch.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html) • [13](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/mohanlal-first-super-hit-movie-054894.html)
## Release and box office
The film was released on 17 July 1986.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/) Kannanthanam, who had directed three consecutive failures (*Thavalam*, *Passport*, and *Aa Neram Alpa Dooram*), could not find a production banner willing to back a film with Mohanlal in a negative-shaded lead, so he produced it himself under the Sharon Pictures banner; it was distributed by Jubilee Pictures.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html) • [14](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/rajavinte-makan-1986.html)
Box office figures differ by source. A [Malayala Manorama](https://www.edgepedia.org/malayala-manorama) article published on 2 October 2018 cites a production and distribution budget of ₹4 million (₹40 lakhs) and a final gross of ₹8.5 million (₹85 lakhs).[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html) [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) reports a ₹4 million (₹40 lakh) budget with collections of ₹8 million to 8.5 million (₹80 to 85 lakh) despite low ticket prices.[11](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/mohanlal-rose-to-superstardom-with-rajavinte-makan-that-was-rejected-by-mammootty-10493530/lite/) IMDb lists an estimated budget of ₹1,400,000.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/)
## Impact on Mohanlal's career
The film is widely considered Mohanlal's breakout superstar film.[3](https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/resume-superstar-30-years-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan-pulimurugan-54938) Kannanthanam used to say that Mohanlal turned a superstar after the first show of the first day, at 2.30 pm on 17 July 1986.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html) From his next film, Mohanlal's remuneration rose tenfold.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html)
The character of Vincent Gomas became a cult figure, and the film's dialogues entered everyday conversation; the line "My phone number is 2255" is still repeated, and the number later became Mohanlal's own vehicle registration number.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco) • [10](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2021/05/10/dennis-joseph-about-rajavinte-makan-mohanlal-mammootty-thampi-kannanthanam.html) Lyricist Shibu Chakravarthy recalled that Mohanlal smiled in only one scene of the film, and that the film changed the image audiences had of an actor previously known for comic and light roles.[15](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/shibu-chakravarthy-revealed-how-mohanlal-s-image-changed-after-rajavinte-makan-release-074316.html) Film critic A. Chandrasekhar notes that Mohanlal's first registered fans' association formed after the film's release.[16](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/kerala/2026/Aug/05/flashback-to-1986-when-mohanlal-became-lalettan-with-34-films-in-a-year)
The film also made negative-shaded leads acceptable in Malayalam commercial cinema; Kannanthanam said he could let the character die because Mohanlal was not yet a star.[7](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html) Commentators have called it a precursor to later Mohanlal mass entertainers such as *Devasuram*, *Spadikam*, *Aaraam Thampuran*, and *Narasimham*.[17](https://www.newindianexpress.com/malayalam/2018/Oct/02/farewell-to-a-hitmaker-1880206.html)
## Remakes and unfulfilled sequel
The film was remade in Tamil as *Makkal En Pakkam*, in Kannada as *Athiratha Maharatha*, in Telugu as *Ahuthi*, and in Hindi as *Kanwarlal*, with Ambika reprising her role in the Tamil and Kannada versions.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco) Kannanthanam long hoped to remake the film with the same director and cast more than 25 years after the original, but the project was set aside because of his failing health; Mohanlal said no other director in Malayalam cinema had planned to remake a film 25 years later with the same hero.[18](https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/kannanthanam-s-dream-remake-rajavinte-makan-remains-unfulfilled-mohanlal-recalls-89342) A sequel with scriptwriter Dennis Joseph was also discussed but never happened.[19](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2021/05/11/mohanlal-on-rajavinte-makan-sequel-dennis-joseph.amp.html)
## Reception and legacy
On IMDb the film holds a rating of 7.7 out of 10 from 951 votes.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/) It has been described as achieving cult status in Kerala and as a milestone of the Malayalam film industry.[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco) Filmmaker Mahesh Narayanan named it among Malayalam films that remain relevant decades after release.[20](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/the-revival-of-the-golden-age-in-malayalam-cinema-7470969/) The film is available for streaming on Eros Now and Sun NXT.[21](https://www.komparify.com/entertainment/movie/rajavinte-makan)
## References
1. [Rajavinte Makan, 35 Years Special Video description, YouTube (RKR CUTZ)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyfO0u8qYco)
2. [Rajavinte Makan (1986), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/)
3. [Resume of a superstar: 30 years of Mohanlal from Rajavinte Makan to Pulimurugan, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/resume-superstar-30-years-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan-pulimurugan-54938)
4. [Rajavinte Makan Malayalam Movie, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7398/malayalam/rajavinte-makan/index.htm)
5. [Rajavinte Makan (1986) Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282889/fullcredits/)
6. [A new music director through Rajavinte Makan, AVM Unni Archives](https://avmunniarchives.com/cinema/music-director-s-p-venkatesh-debut-rajavinte-makan-mohanlal-movie-1986-14/)
7. [How a superstar was born: Kingmaker Thampy Kannanthanam & his great gamble, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2018/10/02/thampy-kannanthanam-mohanlal-rajavinte-makan.html)
8. [Rajavinte Makan, JioTV](https://www.jiotv.com/full-movie/rajavinte-makan/36f9eed0a6805485abdb50996ece4523)
9. [Rajavinte Makan, Moviebuff](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/rajavinte-makan)
10. [കഥ കേൾക്കാതെ ലാൽ പറഞ്ഞു, 'ഞാൻ റെഡി': 'രാജാവിന്റെ മകൻ' അറിയാക്കഥ, Manorama Online](https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2021/05/10/dennis-joseph-about-rajavinte-makan-mohanlal-mammootty-thampi-kannanthanam.html)
11. [Mohanlal rose to superstardom with a film that was rejected by Mammootty, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/mohanlal-rose-to-superstardom-with-rajavinte-makan-that-was-rejected-by-mammootty-10493530/lite/)
12. [Actor Mohanlal talks about his super hit character Vincent Gomes, Samayam Malayalam](https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/celebrity-news/actor-mohanlal-talks-about-his-super-hit-character-vincent-gomes/amp_articleshow/100411784.cms)
13. [രാജാവിന്റെ മകനല്ല മോഹൻലാലിന്റെ ആദ്യ സൂപ്പർഹിറ്റ്, FilmiBeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/mohanlal-first-super-hit-movie-054894.html)
14. [Rajavinte Makan (1986) Movie, FilmiBeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/movies/rajavinte-makan-1986.html)
15. [Shibu Chakravarthy revealed how Mohanlal's image changed after Rajavinte Makan release, FilmiBeat Malayalam](https://malayalam.filmibeat.com/features/shibu-chakravarthy-revealed-how-mohanlal-s-image-changed-after-rajavinte-makan-release-074316.html)
16. [Flashback to 1986: When Mohanlal became 'Lalettan' with 34 films in a year, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/kerala/2026/Aug/05/flashback-to-1986-when-mohanlal-became-lalettan-with-34-films-in-a-year)
17. [Farewell to a hitmaker, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/malayalam/2018/Oct/02/farewell-to-a-hitmaker-1880206.html)
18. [Kannanthanam's dream to remake 'Rajavinte Makan' remains unfulfilled: Mohanlal recalls, The News Minute](https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/kannanthanam-s-dream-remake-rajavinte-makan-remains-unfulfilled-mohanlal-recalls-89342)
19. [Had plans to do a sequel to 'Rajavinte Makan': Mohanlal, Onmanorama](https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2021/05/11/mohanlal-on-rajavinte-makan-sequel-dennis-joseph.amp.html)
20. [A new wave revives Golden Age of Malayalam cinema, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/the-revival-of-the-golden-age-in-malayalam-cinema-7470969/)
21. [Rajavinte Makan reviews and where to watch, Komparify](https://www.komparify.com/entertainment/movie/rajavinte-makan)
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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 Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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