Christian Brothers (film)

Christian Brothers

Theatrical poster
Directed by Joshiy
Produced by A. V. Anoop
Maha Subair
Written by Udayakrishna
Siby K. Thomas
Starring Mohanlal
Suresh Gopi
Dileep
Sarath Kumar
Lakshmi Rai
Kanika
Kavya Madhavan
Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
Music by Deepak Dev
Rajamani(Background Score)
Cinematography Anil Nair
Edited by Ranjan Abraham
Production
company
AVA Productions
Varnachithra Big Screen
Distributed by Varnachithra Big Screen & Ayngaran UK Through PJ Entertainments
Release dates
  • 18 March 2011 (2011-03-18) (India)
  • 25 March 2011 (2011-03-25) (UK, USA, Australia)
  • 31 March 2011 (2011-03-31) (Gulf)
Running time
 180 minutes
Country India
Language Malayalam
Budget ₹8 crore (US$1.2 million)[1]
Box office ₹17.4 crore (US$2.6 million)[2](In 2 months)

Christian Brothers is a 2011 Indian Malayalam action-thriller film directed by Joshiy. The film has an ensemble cast consisting Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Dileep, Sarath Kumar, Lakshmi Rai, Kanika, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy and Kavya Madhavan. The film is scripted by Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas duo, while musical score was composed by Rajamani and songs were created by Deepak Dev.

Plot

Palamattathu Varghese Mappila (Saikumar) is a wealthy Nasrani and a retired captain from the Indian Army. He has four children, Christy (Mohanlal), Joji (Dileep), Jessy (Lakshmi Gopalaswamy) and Stella (Kanika). Varghese Mappila also has a property dispute with Kunnel Kumaran Thampy who kills Kochuthomma.

Christy is a high-profile police informer who is working in Mumbai . His brother Joji goes to Italy to study theology, but later opts out of it after he falls in love with Meenakshi (Kavya Madhavan), daughter of the state home minister (Devan).

Christy is falsely arrested while rescuing his brother in law George Kutty. George Kutty later misleads Varghese Mappila & his family in believing that Christy is arrested due to his criminal activities and the relationship with Christy is broken. However the truth is that George Kutty is the one who is involved in sex racket and criminal activities. Meenakshi while returning to India is being kidnapped and the case is assigned to Christy since he is experienced in handling it. Christy finds that it is George Kutty who has kidnapped Meenakshi and rescues her. The next day the police finds that George Kutty is dead. Police arrest Christy for the crime through the assistance of IPS officer Joseph Vadakkan Suresh Gopi who is handling the case. Christy's friend (Sarath Kumar) assists him in escaping from the jail.

It is later revealed that Christy had not killed George Kutty but it was Joji who had done the crime. Joji learnt that George Kutty had killed his sister Jessy and forced her into prostitution. Joji could not tolerate and in a venegance killed George Kutty. In the end Christy kills Kunnel Kumaran Thampy and his family.

Cast

Production

The film was announced as a big budget film but the Association had set a norm that no Malayalam film should have a budget of more than ₹3.5 crore. The Association refused to give a clearance for the film’s shoot. The producers stated that given the star-cast and the subject of the film, it is not possible to make it at a lesser budget. Following the interests from stars, exhibitors and theatre-owners, the film was given a clearance despite its budget, which was many times the restriction set by the Association.[3]

The film started its production on 11 January 2010. First schedule of the film occurred at various locales in Kerala from January through September 2010. Palamattam tharavadu, where the major parts of the film are set was shot from Netto's bungalow near Edakochi.[4] The second schedule, which mainly included picturisation of a song, commenced in London the same month.[5] The principal photography completed by the end of 2010.

Tamil actor Arjun registered a complaint with Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) about using his name and photographs in connection with Christian Brothers without his consent or knowledge.[6] Arjun commented that no one has approached him to act in Christian Brothers and all this has happened without his consent or knowledge.[3] However, the issue was resolved when there came an official clarification that Arjun will not be a part of the film,.[7] In February 2010, it was reported that the producer of Christian Brothers excluded actorThilakan from the film at the request of the FEFKA, the predominant film technicians association. Thilakan had been earlier signed for the role played by Saikumar in the film.[8] On 3 February 2010, Thilakan publicly protested against the unofficial ban enforced on him by FEFKA. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) issued a show cause notice to Thilakan for bringing the issue into the public domain. Thilakan accused AMMA, of which he too is a member.[9] Several political parties came out openly in support of Thilakan.[10]

Release

The film released worldwide with a total of 327 prints on 18 March; 157 centres in Kerala and 90 centres outside Kerala and 80 centres overseas making it the widest release for a Malayalam Movie at that time.[11]

Reception

Critical response

The film received mixed reviews upon release.[12] Neethu Reghukumar of Bangalore Mirror gave a positive review and said, "The much-anticipated Christian Brothers proved to be worth the wait. Finally, Mohanlal fans have something to rejoice as he has made a rollicking start this year. Back in his elements, Lal steals the show, firing on all cylinders. However, at no stage the multi-starrer film does appear as a one-man show."[13]

M. Ashitha of Deccan Herald commented, "True, too many cooks spoil the broth. Despite having the luxury of actors like Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Dileep and Sarath Kumar together in the movie, Christian Brothers turns out not to be a disappointment. The film, heavily depending on the star power, is a good entertainment."[14]

Paresh C. Palicha of Rediff.com stated, "Christian Brothers is a typical multi-starrer that is made with an eye at the box office with not much depth in the subject. But you still get entertained."[15]

Sify.com's reviewer rated the film as a "Racy Entertainer" and stated, "Christian Brothers is a loud and high voltage thriller, for which you don't have to use your brains much. It could have definitely been more enjoyable if it was shorter by some twenty minutes or so, but even in the current form it could make you smile as the end credits start rolling. It's absolutely a no logic-popcorn fun and perhaps not meant to be taken too seriously."[16]

Box office

The film made at a higher budget of ₹8 crore (US$1.2 million)[1] completed 70 days run at the box office.[17] The film done good business in initial weeks grabbing a distribution share of ₹8.5 crore (US$1.3 million) in 25 days.[18] The film grossed ₹17.4 crore (US$2.6 million) at the box office in two months. Christian Brothers was the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year.[2] Apart from the box office revenue, the film made ₹5 crore (US$740,000) from satellite, overseas and outside Kerala distribution rights.[19]

Soundtrack

Christian Brothers
Soundtrack album by Deepak Dev
Released 11 March 2011 (2011-03-11)
Recorded Kodandapani Studio, Chennai
Genre Film soundtrack
Length 18:31
Label Satyam Audios

The soundtrack features four songs composed by Deepak Dev with lyrics by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. The songs managed to top the music charts in the initial weeks.[20]

Track # Song Singer(s) Duration Remarks
1 "Karthaave" Shankar Mahadevan, Rimi Tomy 4:33 Dileep & Kavya Madhavan
2 "Kannum" Shankar Mahadevan, Shweta Mohan 5:06 Mohanlal & Lakshmi Rai
3 "Mizhikalil Naanam" Nikhil Mohan, Ranjith, Rimi Tomy 4:32 Mohanlal, Dileep, Kaniha, Lakshmi Rai & Lakshmi Gopalaswami
4 "Sayyaave (Composers Version)" Shankar Mahadevan, Shweta Mohan 4:20 Mohanlal & Lakshmi Rai

Home video

AP International released the movie on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in India in 2011.

References

  1. 1 2 "2011 was troublesome for Malayalam films". New Delhi. IBN Live. 4 January 2012.
  2. 1 2 Manoj Nair (21 May 2011). "Malayalam movies: Non-linear narratives are making the box-office ring louder". India Times. Economic Times.
  3. 1 2 "Christian Brothers runs into troubled waters". Screen India. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  4. ↑ "All in the family". The Hindu. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  5. ↑ "Christian Brothers shooting in London". Oneindia.in. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Arjun to register a complaint against Christian Brothers". Nowrunning.com. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  7. ↑ "Arjun no longer a part of Christian Brothers?". Nowrunning.com. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "Denied role in film, Thilakan to stage sit-in". The Hindu. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "Actor Thilakan to stage sit-in over ban". Gulf Times. 5 February 2010. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  10. ↑ "Thilakan issue spills on to political domain". Press Trust of India. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  11. ↑ "Christian Brothers Releases In 244 Cinemas" Archived 24 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine.. SansCinema. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  12. ↑ Cristian Brothers No.1 | ആഗസ്റ്റ് 15 തകര്‍ന്നു, ക്രിസ്ത്യന്‍ ബ്രദേഴ്സ് വാഴുന്നു!
  13. ↑ "All guns blazing! Christian Brothers". Bangalore Mirror. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  14. ↑ "Many stars, great show". Deccan Herald. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  15. ↑ "Reivew: Christian Brothers is entertaining". Rediff.com. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  16. ↑ "Movie Review: Christian Brothers". Sify.com. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  17. ↑ "Christian brothers ends at 70 days". Bizhat.com. 2 June 2011.
  18. ↑ "Kerala box office - March 31 to April 13.". Sify. 19 April 2011.
  19. ↑ "Multistarrer era comes to Mollywood". The New Indian Express. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  20. ↑ "Can Mohanlal pull it off?". The Times of India. March 18, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2011.

External links

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