Meesa Madhavan

'Moustache Madhavan') is a 2002 Indian Malayalam-language action comedy film directed by Lal Jose and written by Ranjan Pramod.

In a short prelogue, a young boy is seen stealing from Bhageerathan Pillai's house, while escaping he comes across an old thief- "Mullani Pappan (Mala Aravindan) being chased through the fields by villagers with torches and sticks at night.

Pappan helps him escape, when he learns that the boy Madhavan, stole from the village loan shark at night- only to payback a monthly interest due the next day.

Set in the imaginary village of Chekk, Palakkad, the story begins 15 years later, on the traditional newyear according to Malayalam calendar when we are introduced to Madhavan's family and friends.

Madhavan was forced to resort to petty thieving when his father dies and he has to find means for his elder brother's education.

Madhavan in desperation of losing his house to Bhageerathan's greedy scheme, plans to win his daughter Rukmini's heart, when he proposes her she insults him along with her friends.

In revenge, Madhavan breaks into her house, steals the golden waist Chain worn by a sleeping Rukmini and meets up with her next day confidently victorious that she won't file a police complaint of theft, to save her modesty.

Later on, Madhavan confronts a puzzled Bhageerathan, Rukmini and Thrivikraman and reveals that they spoiled Malathi's marriage proposal.

They move immediately to court to seize Madhavan's residential property before Malathi is married, to pressurize him to back off from his relationship with Rukmini.

His property and sister's wedding at stake, a steadfast Madhavan pledges his love to Rukmini amidst the villagers and a dumbstruck Bhageerathan and advocate duo.

At the temple ground, Malathi's fiancé Balan comes up to Madhavan and hands over the lump sum demanding absolute secrecy since his family will back off from the wedding if they came to know of what he's done.

The next day, the idol at the temple is found missing, and everybody thinks that Madhavan stole it, since his present desperate need for money was known well to the villagers.

Portraying the travails of a thief, Dileep characteristically performs to perfection eclipsing even the versatile Jagadhi Sreekumar.