Anandabhadram (transl.”eternally safe”) is a 2005 Indian Malayalam-language romantic dark fantasy horror film based on the novel of the same name by Sunil Parameshwaran, and directed by Santosh Sivan.
The film stars Manoj K. Jayan as the leading antagonist, with Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kavya Madhavan in the titular roles.
Alongside Kalabhavan Mani, Biju Menon, Riya Sen, Revathy, Kalasala Babu, Cochin Haneefa and Nedumudi Venu plays other pivotal roles.
The film was inspired by the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Theyyam, Kathakali dance movements, and Kalaripayattu martial art form.
Anandabhadram was released on November 4 coinciding with Diwali and received critical acclaim for its screenplay, story, music, cinematography, cast performances and horror elements.
It was also dubbed in Tamil, Telugu (as Sivapuram), Hindi (as Phir Wohi Darr) and English, and was an inspiration for Tanthra (2006), another Malayalam film.
She tells him that his family comes from a line of powerful magicians named Madambi Tharavadu, and they are responsible for protecting nagamanikyam, a jewel on a serpent's head.
Years later, obeying the wishes of his dead mother, Ananthan returns to his ancestral village from America to light the lamps at Shivakavu, a dark and mysterious temple of Shiva.
The dreaded wizard named Digambaran opposes the lighting of the lamps on the grounds of local superstitions in order to get his hands on the nagamanikyam and also to take revenge against the entire Madambi Tharavadu family for killing his grandfather Siddhayogigal.
In his effort to fit into the local environment, Ananthan gradually wins the villagers' hearts over by his easy and kind manners.
At one point, Bhadra faces the dilemma of choosing between Ananthan's love and becoming a Devi in a mystical ritual of self-offering.
The film ends with a blind Digambaran helplessly wailing loudly near the cave, after losing his powers, eyesight and everything he possessed.
[2] Set in rural Kerala, the story is a fairy tale dominated by Shakta black magic, martial arts, and tantric seduction rituals.
Raja Ravi Varma: The director used three paintings of Raja Ravi Varma – Damayanti and the swan, Lady in thought and Girl carrying milk tray – as inspiration to picturize the song Pinakkamano (acted by Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kavya Madhavan; sung by M. G. Sreekumar and Manjari; choreographed by Aparna Sindhoor).
"[15] This song came in the wake of a renewed interest in Varma's work in Indian showbiz, as evidenced in Indian pop star Falguni Pathak's music video for the song "Meri Chunar Ud Ud Jaaye" (2001, acted by Trisha Krishnan) which emulated Varma's Shakuntala[16] and Shaji Karun's declared film to be made on the artist's life which would feature Madhuri Dixit (actress of Gaja Gamini, a film by painter M.F.
[17][18][19] Pattanam Rasheed said about the make-up of the Pinakkamano sequence, "The skin tone I gave the characters is akin to an oil painting, orange-yellow shades, which give a painting-like look.
[31] Anandabhadram received critical acclaim for its screenplay, story, music, cinematography, cast performances and horror elements.
Sunil Babu, the art director, came to the notice of Kerala audience through the film, especially for his treatment for the Raja Ravi Varma inspired song, Pinakkamano.