Ee Parakkum Thalika (transl. This Flying Saucer) is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language slapstick comedy drama film starring Dileep,[3] Harisree Ashokan, Nithya Das, and Cochin Haneefa. It was directed by Thaha and written by V. R. Gopalakrishnan.[4] The film also marked the debut of Nithya Das.[5] The story follows bus owner Unnikrishnan and his assistant, Sundareshan, who live and sleep in their bus. It is considered one of the best slapstick comedy movies in Malayalam cinema and was one of the highest-grossing Malayalam movies in 2001.[6] The bus known as Thamarakshan Pilla, which is a central figure in the movie, eventually developed into a cult figure in Kerala.[7][8][9]
| Ee Parakkum Thalika | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Thaha[1] |
| Screenplay by | VR Gopalakrishnan[2] |
| Story by | Govind Padman Mahesh Mithra |
| Produced by | M. M. Hamsa |
| Starring | Dileep Harisree Ashokan Nithya Das Cochin Haneefa Salim Kumar |
| Cinematography | Saloo George |
| Edited by | Ranjan Abraham |
| Music by | Ouseppachan |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 142 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Plot
editUnnikrishnan owns an old bus,[10] received as compensation for his father Thamarakshan Pillai's road accident, which killed Pillai, who was a chenda master. Now, Unni faces consequences due to the pathetic condition of the bus, named after his father. He sold several valuable things to maintain the bus. His friend and distant relative, Sundareshan, is his only companion and the bus's cleaner. A mouse had eaten Sundareshan's passport and spoiled his chances of going abroad. Some part of the film's comedy involves Sundareshan running behind the mouse for revenge. A live TV show in which Unni badmouths Circle-Inspector Veerappan Kurup lands him in more trouble when the former commands Unni to leave the city with the bus. Sreedhara Kaimal, an advocate and well-wisher, tries to help Unni with a bank loan to run a mobile kitchen (Thattukada) from his bus.
The plot takes a turn when a girl named Basanthi enters the bus as a nomad. She is actually Gayathri, the daughter of an influential and politically powerful minister R. K. Santhanam in Puducherry. Santhanam forced Gayathri to join politics, which made her leave home. Initially, Gayathri refuses to leave the bus, despite Unni's and Sundareshan's constant efforts. The police trace her and take her back to Santhanam's custody. Santhanam is making arrangements for her marriage to someone else. Meanwhile, Unni realizes that he could not live without Gayathri. He and Sundareshan secretly enter her house. When Unni and his friends plan to take Gayathri, Santhanam finds them inside the almirah. The men of Santhanam start beating up Unni despite the requests of Gayathri. Terribly wounded Unni refuses to let go of Gayathri and Santhanam realises their true love, letting his daughter go with Unni on his bus.
Cast
edit- Dileep as:
- Unnikrishnan T.
- Irinjalakuda Thamarakshan Pillai, Unni's deceased father (photo)
- Harisree Ashokan as Sundareshan M. K. (Sundaran)
- Nithya Das as Gayathri Devi / Basanthi
- Sanusha as young Gayathri
- Cochin Haneefa as C.I Veerappan Kurup
- Salim Kumar as Koshi
- Oduvil Unnikrishnan as Sreedhara Kaimal, Bank manager
- Babu Namboothiri as Krishna Pillai
- Machan Varghese as Moosa
- P. Vasu as R. K. Santhanam
- Sabitha Anand as Lakshmi
- Kunchan as Avaran Aryakal
- Johny Antony as Kabuliwalla at police station
- Kalabhavan Haneef as wedding groom
- Geetha Salam as the wedding groom's father
- Narayanankutty as Police officer
- Kalabhavan Shajon as Traffic police officer
- Praseetha Menon as TV reporter
- Anwar Rasheed as Man drinking at Santhanam's house (cameo appearance)
Reception
editEe Parakkum Thalika was a major commercial success.[11] The film was one of the few films of the year that could retrieve its cost of investment and make a profit.[12][13] It is considered one of Dileep's first solo hits.[3] The success of the film further enhanced Dileep's stardom and established him as a bankable star.[12] In a year-end trade analysis by Rashtra Deepika, they called Ee Parakkum Thalika the biggest financial success of the year and termed it a "surprise hit"[14][15] It was the second-longest running Malayalam film of 2001, after the Mohanlal starrer Ravanaprabhu.[14]
Soundtrack
editAll lyrics are written by Gireesh Puthenchery; all music is composed by Ouseppachan[3]
| No. | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Arumayaam Sandhyayodu" | M. G. Sreekumar | |
| 2. | "Ka Kaattile" | K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra | |
| 3. | "Kudamulla Kammalaninjal" | K. J. Yesudas | |
| 4. | "Kudamulla" (Violin Solo) | Ouseppachan | |
| 5. | "Kuppivala Kaikalum" | K. S. Chithra | |
| 6. | "Kuppivala Kaikalum" | M. G. Sreekumar | |
| 7. | "Parakkum Thalika" | M. G. Sreekumar | |
| 8. | "Pathu Pavanil" | M. G. Sreekumar |
Remakes
editThe film was remade as Sundara Travels in Tamil, as Aaduthu Paaduthu in Telugu, and as Dakota Express in Kannada. Many scenes from the movie were used in the Hindi movie Chal Chala Chal.
References
edit- ^ "Hailesa: Comedy Thriller laced with Action". Oneindia.in. 14 October 2008. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
- ^ "VR Gopalakrishnan's film". Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. 2001. Retrieved 9 July 2009.[dead link]
- ^ a b c "Rise of a superstar". The Hindu. 15 July 2005. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
- ^ "Thaha to direct Suresh Gopi". Yahoo! Movies India. 27 August 2001. Archived from the original on 9 June 2010. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
- ^ "Nitya Das". my-kerala.com. 7 May 2002. Archived from the original on 30 August 2005. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
- ^ മേനോൻ, ശ്രീലക്ഷ്മി (4 July 2020). "ജൂലെെ നാല്: മെഗാ ഹിറ്റായ നാല് ചിത്രങ്ങളും കൂട്ടുകെട്ടും, ഹരിശ്രീ അശോകൻ പറയുന്നു". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Parakkum Thalika was a hit; But Thamarakshan Pillai is now a pain". ManoramaOnline (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "താമരാക്ഷന് പിള്ള ബസ്റന്റയെ വില എത്രയാണെന്ന് അറിയാമോ? വെളിപ്പെടുത്തി ക്യാമറമാന് സാലു ജോര്ജ്|ee parakum thalika|Saloo George|thamarakshan pillai bus". East Coast Movies & Entertainments News. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "#FilmyFriday! Ee Parakkum Thalika: Fasten your seatbelts, and get ready for the crazy ride - Times of India". The Times of India.
- ^ "Ee Parakkum Thalika — Movie Profile". seventymm.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
- ^ "Dileep and July 4 connection: Fans trend #GoldenDayOfDileep on Twitter". Malayala Manorama. 4 July 2020.
- ^ a b Unni R. Nair (4 January 2002). "Let down". Screen India. Archived from the original on 29 December 2007.
- ^ "Kerala House Udan Vilpanakku". Sify. 12 February 2004.
- ^ a b പറക്കും തളികയും ഷക്കീല തരംഗവും -Malayalam Cinema 2001 - Year End Magazine Report, 22 April 2020, retrieved 20 April 2023
- ^ "Dileep (Dileep Gopalakrishnan)". webindia123. com. Retrieved 9 July 2009.