When the grapevines sprout) is a 2017 Indian Malayalam-language domestic drama film directed by Jibu Jacob and written by M. Sindhuraj.

Produced and distributed by Sophia Paul through Weekend Blockbusters, the film stars Mohanlal and Meena as panchayat secretary Ulahannan and his wife Annyamma.

He developed a new story by setting it in a different background and adding additional characters, and by incorporating his own novelette Schoolilekku Poya Penkutty.

Ulahannan "Unnachan", a middle-aged secretary in Keezhattur panchayat, is bored with his monotonous life and no longer cares for his wife Annyamma.

In meantime, he meets Julie, a seductive NRI girl at his office, and begins a relationship with her by messaging and calling every day.

Jacobettan tells him that Annyamma is helping the kids with the songs for the annual gathering program of the colony members.

That night Ulahannan tells Annyamma about the incident and promises to take the family to a vineyard to see the grapevines sprout.

The film ends with Annyamma taking responsibility for their daughter's mistake, realising that children should grow up seeing their parents love and affection.

Mohanlal announced an untitled film through his Facebook page on 26 June 2015, to be produced by Sophia Paul for Weekend Blockbusters, written by M. Sindhuraj, and directed by Jibu Jacob.

[4] "Pranayopanishath" tells the story of a middle-aged couple deciding to rekindle their romance after nineteen mundane years of married life.

Sindhuraj told James that he would step back, but would still like to buy the rights if the other film did not materialise within a given time, which he eventually did.

Sindhuraj thought of the film's tagline "My Life is My Wife" during his vacation in Sri Lanka, where he saw it written on an auto rickshaw.

[3] For the female lead, Ulahannan's neglected homemaker wife, Sophia Paul wanted "a classy beauty" and Vidya Balan was her first choice.

[9] In March 2016, Weekend Blockbusters released a cast list including (apart from Mohanlal and Meena): Biju Menon, Nedumudi Venu, Aju Varghese, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Kalabhavan Shajohn, and Sudheer Karamana.

Biju Menon was said to be playing a government employee even though he, Nedumudi Venu and Aju Varghese were not part of the final cast.

Aju Varghese first informed her of a potential role in the film while they were working on Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016), and asked her to set aside a few months for it.

[22] In July, additional cast members Anoop Menon, Alencier Ley Lopez, and Srinda Arhaan were confirmed.

[26] Neha Saxena was signed to play Julie, a non-residential Indian girl who becomes a turning-point in Ulahannan's family life.

[32] Under the working title Production No:2, principal photography began on 15 July 2016 in Kozhikode, Kerala; a puja ceremony for the film was held that day.

For the housing colony, the team searched across the state for one that is densely populated and found the Kesava Menon Nagar in the suburb of Bilathikulam in Nadakkavu, Kozhikode.

[37] A scene was set at a bus terminus in Kozhikode, but when Mohanlal arrived, a large crowd of spectators gathered and caused a traffic jam, making it difficult to shoot.

[41] It was completed before October and for the next schedule, the crew moved to Alappuzha district where, in Kuttanad, Ulahannan and Annyamma's ancestral homes are situated in the film.

[50] The makers also released a "how-it-was-made" video of the song "Athimara Kombile" on the video-sharing site; it was sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Vijay Yesudas.

It was postponed by Sophia Paul to 22 December 2016 to release before Christmas, to avoid a clash with Mohanlal-starring films Oppam and Pulimurugan still running in theatres.

[76][77][78] Anu James of the International Business Times wrote "Munthitivallikal Thalirkkumbol will make you fall in love with your spouse all over again ... it has an engaging storyline with many comedy elements that will make the audience remember the good old Malayalam movies," and praised Mohanlal, saying: "It's Mohanlal who shines throughout the movie with his charisma and natural performance.

and wrote, "Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol is an engaging family saga that justifies its tagline 'My life is my wife' ... scenarist M. Sindhuraj has come up with a competent script, with honest intentions."

He is funny, genuine and brilliant, evoking memories of some of his acclaimed films," he also mentioned Menon's "impressive comic timing.

He added, "without an iota of vulgarity or scenes that make the family audience uncomfortable, Jibu Jacob has dealt with the most controversial topic — infidelity — in the most charming way possible.

[60] Writing for Malayala Manorama, Litty Simon awarded 3.25 on a scale of 5 and said: "Jibu [Jacob] has made the characters and their performance as real as it could be.

"[85] V. G. Nakul of Kalakaumudi stated that the "film will reflect some of the characters and situations we are familiar with ... some events which could or can happen in a family, with a simple beginning and an end.