Padayottam

Plot

The Kolathiri Raja (Thikkurisi Sukumaran Nair) is a prosperous ruler of Northern Kerala. Prince Udayan (Prem Nazir), Raja's second nephew, is handsome, brave and intelligent than Prince Devan (Madhu), Raja's elder nephew. The King named Udayan as his successor to the throne in accordance to matrilineal traditions along with marriage of his daughter Princess Parvathi (Lakshmi), who was in deep love with Udayan. This has dashed the hopes of Devan, who secretly admired and longed to marry Parvathi.

On the other hand, 2 nobles of court, Kammaran (Mammootty) and Perumana Kurup (N. Govindan Kutty) were upset by Udayan's ascension. Cashing on Devan's frustrations, Kammaran made Devan against Prince Udayan. For this, Kammaran used Kompan Dacoits, who were frequent raiders in many villages, to stage a royal pardon, sought presence of Prince Udayan in his position as Crown Prince for signing the peace treaty. Without knowing as a honey trap laid by Kammaran and Kurup, Udayan drove to Kompan's camp, only to fall in the trap laid. However, news flashed in the country as Prince Udayan betrayed Kolathiri Raja and killed some of the Raja's men. This made the Raja furious, who declared Udayan as a traitor and cancelled the marriage.

Kompan instructs his men to kill Udayan. However, they decided to sell him as a slave to a cruel captain of a slave ship. While as a slave, he meets another slave, Kunjali (Nellikode Bhaskaran), from whom he learnt the death of Kolathiri Raja and his queen at Arakkal Ali Raja's boat by forces arranged by Kammaran and Kompan. Ali Raja tried to save the Kolathiri Raja and his queen, but was killed by Perumana Kurup. Kunjali, the trusted slave however saved Ali Raja's daughter, Lalia, with the help of his men. However, he could not escape himself from the Kompan's men, who sold him as slave to slave ship. From Kunjali, Udayan came to know the place where the treasures of Ali Raja and his daughter were taken to. In the meantime, Prince Devan married Princess Parvathi and became the new Kolathiri Raja. However, the Royal crown and staff were missing.

After some years, Udayan and his fellow slave prisoners staged a coup in the ship, killing the captain and releasing themselves. Udayan ran away, became a rich Arab merchant after finding the lost treasures of Ali Raja and his daughter Lalia (Poornima Jayaram). Both decided to make a return to Kolathiri Kingdom in disguise to make their revenge. They return to the Kolathiri Kingdom in a floating palace as an Arab Merchant and Princess. Years made people to forget Udayan and no one was able to recognize him in his new attire and lifestyle, except Queen Parvathi, who understood him just at a glimpse.

King Devan and Queen Parvathi's son Prince Chandra (Shankar) fell in love with Laila. Meanwhile, Udayan was hatching a plot to trap Perumana Kurup, after coming to know that the crown and staff of Kolathiri Raja were in his custody, as King Devan declared it missing. Udayan approached Perumana Kurup and let him know that he is interested in purchasing rare jewels and crowns, at an astronomical price which lured Kurup to bring out from its secret place. However, he was caught red-handed by the public and brought before trial. At the trial, he declared that the old Raja had given the crown and staff to him, for attempting to rescue the king from attack and he challenged the prosecutors that they have no evidence against him for betrayal and robbery. It was at this moment Lalia enters into court room to declare her true identity as Princess Laila – the heir apparent of Ali Raja and presented herself as sole eyewitness to the incident. This made Perumana Kurup to commit suicide when he tries to run away.

Udayan's second target was Kammaran. Kammaran is the new finance minister of the state. The kingdom was facing extreme financial crisis due to mismanagement and corruption. Kammaran advises the king to seek financial assistance from the visiting Arab prince and he pays a visit at the Udayan's palace to seek finance without understanding his true identity. Udayan refused to finance rather says that he would finance if Kammaran becomes king. This offer made Kammaran greedy and he hatches a plan to trap Devan similar to the way by which he trapped Udayan earlier. In the meantime, Udayan double-crosses Kammaran by sending a message to the Devan directly that he is ready to finance. This made Devan suspicious of Kammaran and secretly through his spies he understands the plot his close friend Kammaran made to trap him.

Kammaran repeats the old strategy with assistance of the Kompan Dacoit who asked the king to come directly with a tribute in order to prevent an attack. However, understanding the trap, Devan comes with money chest with soldiers hiding inside and they attack Kammaran and Kompan in surprise. While Devan orders his forces to arrest Kammaran, he escapes, finding himself under custody of Udayan. After realization of his true identity, Udayan's soldiers fires Kammaran.

Udayan's final revenge is now against Devan and he was planning on that. In the meantime, Prince Chandran through his close friend Kannan (Mohanlal) who was Kammaran's son came to know the double cross made by Udayan. He understood it was Udayan who spoiled the relationships between Kammaran and Devan and challenged Udayan for a public duel, which Udayan accepts. That night a mysterious lady figure enters into Udayan's palace, who was Queen Parvathi, pleading for her son's life to Udayan. Udayan refuses as he said that it was Prince Chandran declared duel against him and he can't quit it. Queen Parvathi said that she understood it was Udayan in disguise and pleaded him considering her love earlier. Udayan promises that he won't kill Chandran.

Prince Chandran saw his mother coming out of Udayan's Palace, which made him furious. He questioned his mother. It was then revealed by Paravathi to Chandran that he is actually Udayan's son born to Parvathi. This made Chandran surrender to Udayan while at the duel. Hearing his son's surrender without a fight made King Devan furious who went to Udayan's palace to challenge him. It was there, for first time after his betrayal, Devan saw Udayan, which made him to fall down. When Udayan was about to kill Devan, Parvathi rushes and stops him saying that Devan has paid for his sins by raising up Chandra despite of knowing that he was the son of Udayan. This made Udayan to forget his revenge and he forgives Devan. He decides to leave. Hearing that the king has fallen, the Kompan dacoits raided the palace. As the king had fallen and attack was unexpected, the Kolathiri forces were overrun by the Kompan Army. However, timely intervention of Udayan's army killed Kompan and all his men. He took the crown and gave it to Devan and blessed all of them. When Devan asked Udayan to stay back, he said he has to go back. However, he gave his stepdaughter Lalia to Chandran who was in love with her.

Cast

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Guna Singh and lyrics was written by Kavalam Narayana Panicker.

Reception

The film was released in India during the Onam festival of Kerala on 1 September 1982. It received good collections from theatres and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the time. Padayottam was also the return vehicle of Nazir as a lead actor in Malayalam cinema after playing few supporting roles at the time.

Trivia