The Ornate Lock) is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language epic psychological horror film directed by Fazil, written by Madhu Muttam and produced by Swargachitra Appachan.

[5] The story is inspired by a tragedy that happened in the Alummoottil tharavad located at Muttom (near Haripad), belonging to central Travancore.

The inheritor of the Alummoottil property and his domestic worker girl were murdered by the son-in-law after he had been written-off from the marumakkathayam system of inheritance prevalent in Kerala at the time.

[6] Sibi Malayil, Priyadarshan and Siddique–Lal served as the second-unit directors, who worked separately but simultaneously with Fazil to significantly speed up the filming process.

The cinematography was done by Venu, Anandakuttan and Sunny Joseph served as the second-unit cinematographers, the film was edited by T. R. Shekar.

Manichitrathazhu is considered by many critics as one of the best films in Malayalam cinema and developed a cult following, years after its release.

Despite warnings from elder family members, Nakulan insists on staying at his ancestral home, the Madampalli Tharavad, which is apparently haunted.

Nakulan’s maternal uncle, Thambi, cautions the couple to avoid certain parts of the house, particularly a locked room known as the "Thekkini."

About 150 years ago, the family’s patriarch and the ruling feudal lord, Karnavar Sankaran Thambi, fell in love with a dancer named Nagavalli during a trip to Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu and brought her back to the mansion.

When the Karnavar discovered the affair, he decapitated them both and dumped their headless bodies into fire, after which legend has it that Nagavalli's vengeful spirit began haunting the mansion.

Ganga, after listening to the story, dismisses it as a mere legend meant to scare people away from hidden treasures in the house.

After gaining access, strange events begin to occur: people see apparitions of a woman, objects break mysteriously, and Ganga's sari catches fire.

After arriving at the mansion, Sunny encounters several mysterious events, including an attempt on Alli’s life, as well as a woman's eerie voice singing and dancing in Tamil emanating from the locked Thekkini at midnight.

Meanwhile, Thambi and the family, skeptical of Sunny's treatment of Sreedevi, call in a tantric expert, Pullattuparam Brahmadathan Namboodiri, for another solution.

She quickly reverts to Nagavalli’s persona later that night and believing Mahadevan to be Ramanathan, follows him to the rituals prepared by the Namboodiri in front of everyone, to their shock.

Nakulan is brought before her but just before she prepares to strike, Namboodiri blows smoke and ash into her face to temporarily close her eyes.

Durga was not credited in the film or its publicity material and until 2016, the popular belief was that Bhagyalakshmi solely dubbed both voices.

[35] Certain themes that were discussed in the movie were Ganga’s yearning for intimacy with her husband Nakulan, Mental health disorders and why it’s important to turn to science rather than trust conventional modes of treatments as well as Dr.

Sunny and Ganga’s passionate friendship, all of which were rare in Indian cinema, creating a unique blend which received a positive response from the audience.

[39] The film also deals with the devadasi courtesan practice formerly prevalent in southern India and its patronage by local Nair chieftains, caste prejudices and Tantric cults.

[43] One of the most memorable or defining scenes of the movie where Nakulan provokes Ganga to transform into the Nagavalli persona was recreated in later Malayalam films like Om Shanti Oshana.

[45] "Vijanaveedhi", a Malayalam horror novel by Aswathi Thirunal, has been listed by some as an inspiration for the film, though director Fazil and writer Madhu both deny this.

[46] A spin-off titled Geethaanjali was released on 14 November 2013, directed by Priyadarshan with Mohanlal reprising his role as Sunny and Suresh Gopi as Nakulan in a cameo appearance.