Oppam


Oppam is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Priyadarshan from a story by Govind Vijayan. The film, produced Antony Perumbavoor for Aashirvad Cinemas, stars Mohanlal, Samuthirakani and Nedumudi Venu in lead roles.The songs were composed by the group 4 Musics, while the score was composed by Ron Ethan Yohann. The cinematography and editing were handled by N. K. Ekambaram and M. S. Ayyappan Nair.
Regular collaborators Mohanlal and Priyadarshan were expected to work on a film in 2015, but it was postponed before principal photography began until the following year. Priyadarshan decided to make another film with Mohanlal, and began looking at screenplays. They wanted a break from their usual comedy films. Priyadarshan agreed on a short story by Govind Vijayan which was suggested by Mohanlal. The director developed a plot and screenplay, which was on its final draft in February 2016. The film began principal photography in March and ended in June; it was filmed in Kochi, Ooty, Vagamon, Thiruvananthapuram, and Idukki.
Oppam was released in India on 8 September 2016 and internationally on 21 September 2016 where it received positive reviews from critics with praise for Mohanlal's performance and script. The film was box office success earning above 52 crore worldwide. It became the third-highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time and the second-highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year, behind Pulimurugan. At the Filmfare Awards South, the film was nominated in five categories and won in the categories of Best Lyricist and Best Male Playback Singer. It was dubbed and released in Telugu as Kanupapa on 3 February 2017, and in Hindi as Prime Witness. It was remade in Kannada in 2019 as Kavacha.

Plot

Jayaraman was born blind, but has a heightened sense of smell, hearing and touch and is an expert in the martial art of kalaripayattu. Part of a large family, he works as a lift operator and caretaker in Kochi apartment building and is struggling to earn money for his sister's wedding. Jayaraman is loyal to Krishnamoorthy, a retired Supreme Court chief justice who lives in the building, and accompanies Krishnamoorthy unquestioningly on a long search for someone. On one trip, Krishnamoorthy tells Jayaraman the story behind his search. Years ago, a man named Vasudevan was imprisoned by Krishnamoorthy for a crime he did not commit; the judge followed the letter of the law, although he knew that Vasu was innocent.
As a result, Vasu's family committed suicide by poisoning. Vasu becomes an insane with grief, resolves to avenge his loss and tells Krishnamoorthy that he will kill him and his family. Vasu has been released from prison and Krishnamoorthy feels threatened. Krishnamoorthy has a young daughter, Nandini, and is afraid that Vasu will kill her if he learns of her existence. To keep her safe, he sent her to a convent school and she knows nothing about him. Nandini's only link to her father is via Jayaraman, who frequently visits her at Krishnamoorthy's request. She asks Jayaraman about her father at each visit, and he replies that he will bring him the next time. Krishnamoorthy asks Jayaraman to help him transfer money from his bank account to another account he opened for Nandini.
To reduce scrutiny, they avoid an electronic transfer. Jayaraman withdraws the money and gives it to Krishnamoorthy; the transaction is seen by Devayani, a divorcee and maid in the apartment building. Krishnamoorthy puts the money in a safe in his apartment. A large wedding takes place, to which everyone in the building is invited. Jayaraman goes to Krishnamoorthy's apartment after the party only to find him dead and the money is missing from the judge's safe. He senses the presence of someone else in the apartment and the killer tries to escape, but Jayaraman subdues him. After learning Jayaraman is blind, the killer who is revealed to be Vasu sneak past him and escapes in an auto. In the chaos, Krishnamoorthy's money is missing and the police accuse Jayaraman of stealing it. After Krishnamoorthy's funeral, Vasu keeps on following Jayaraman. He tries to inform about Vasu to the police but fails.
They learn at the police station that Devayani's brother had the money, but Jayaraman is charged with murder. He vainly pleads for a chance to find the killer, whose presence he could sense. After Jayaraman is beaten by the police during an interrogation, he fights back and escapes. He tries to hide Nandini from Vasu with the aid of his officer friend Ganga. Jayaraman reveals to Ganga that Nandini is actually Vasu's daughter, whom the serial killer is trying to kill. He, Nandini and Ganga hide in the convent under the Mother Superior's supervision. However, Vasu arrives and attacks Ganga. Jayaraman tries to reveal that Nandini is Vasu's daughter, which she hears and becomes shocked. But Vasu believes that it as an emotional blackmail to save Nandini. Vasu tries all his way to kill Nandini but Jayaraman saves her. Jayaraman tells Nandini that she isn't actually Vasu's daughter and he told that to fool him. Suddenly when Vasu approaches Nandini, Jayaraman calls Vasu in his mobile phone. When the ringtone is heard, Jayaraman kills Vasu. In the end, Jayaraman and Nandini beginning a life together as a loving father and daughter.

Cast

Development

According to Priyadarshan, he was in a traumatic state after separating from his wife Lissy; he "couldn't think straight" and felt he had lost his "ability to make films". Mohanlal encouraged him to return to work, but "not with another comedy". They were scheduled to work on an untitled, multilingual film in late 2015. The principal photography, expected to begin in September, was first postponed until March 2016 and never begun due to unfavourable weather in Russia. Priyadarshan decided to go ahead with a new project, and began reading screenplays; the director also had a two-month commitment from Mohanlal because of the other film.
He chose a script by November, and it was reported that filming would begin in January 2016; Mohanlal would join the set after finishing his commitment to Janatha Garage. In December, it was reported that filming would tentatively begin in February. In the same month, the film's title was announced; Priyadarshan would take over the screenplay, based on a story by Govind Vijayan. The film was reported to be a thriller, with Mohanlal playing a blind man falsely accused of murder. Priyadarshan described it as a "cat-and-mouse game" with a "little bit of humour too". Ooty and Kochi were scheduled as the primary filming locations.
Oppam was conceived as a crime thriller and developed from the gist of a short story by Vijayan. Mohanlal discovered the story and sent it to Priyadarshan. When the director pointed out several logical errors in the story, Mohanlal asked if he could rework it into a screenplay. Priyadarshan was intrigued by its premise of a blind man witnessing a murder. After spending a month working on it, Priyadarshan told Mohanlal that it can be made into a film and took two more months to draft a screenplay. According to the director, Oppam was the most challenging screenplay he had written to date. Priyadarshan said in January that filming would begin on 20 February, but in February he was still working on the screenplay's final draft and casting.
Although it was reported in December 2015 that G. P. Vijayakumar would produce Oppam for Seven Arts International, the film was produced by Antony Perumbavoor through his company, Aashirvad Cinemas. Director I. V. Sasi's son, Ani, was an associate director, and Priyadarshan's son Sidharth was an unofficial assistant director. In a later interview, in 2019, Priyadarshan said that Mohanlal had contemplated on directing Oppam but later he decided against it.

Casting

Priyadarshan tailored the lead character, Jayaraman, for Mohanlal when he wrote the screenplay. Tamil actor Samuthirakani was cast after Mohanlal in December 2015, with the rest of the cast and crew yet to be finalised. Vijay Menon dubbed for Samuthirakani's character. Even though Mohanlal has acted temporarily blinded characters, Oppam was the first film in which he played a blind character throughout the film. Mohanlal told Priyadarshan that he would not act like a stereotypical blind man, but like a sighted person. They had visited a school for the blind in Chennai for pre-production research, and saw children playing and running between obstacles as if they could see. Priyadarshan had also known blind men whose other senses were keen. The character of Jayaraman has exceptionally sharp senses, and an expert in martial art of kalaripayattu.
In a January Deccan Chronicle article, Sanchita Shetty said that she liked the screenplay and would play a substantial role in her Malayalam film debut. The following month, Priyadarshan confirmed that Vimala Raman would play one of the film's two lead female roles; Shetty was on the shortlist for the other role. Vimala said that her role was Jayaraman's love interest, and the role is different from what she has done to date. Anusree was later cast in the other role, since Priyadarshan wanted an actress who "look very much a Malayali". She played Ganga, a newly appointed DSP whose grandfather is visually impaired; she trusts Jayaraman, and helps him uncover the truth. Anusree was so looking forward to act in a Priyadarshan directorial that she did not ask about her role when he called.
In February, Baby Meenakshi was confirmed in a significant role with Mohanlal. Kalabhavan Shajohn confirmed his role that month as a villainous character. Sreeya Ramesh was confirmed in an unidentified role in April, and Sasi Kalinga in June. Mamukkoya played comic security guard Kunjikka, who was unable to get names right, mistakenly substituting them with Islamic names. Aju Varghese had a brief role as an auto rickshaw driver in scenes with Mohanlal and Samuthirakani. Varghese, a fan of Priyadarshan's films, requested a role in Oppam. Devshi Khanduri made her Malayalam debut as a Punjabi girl in love with a Malayali boy. Priyadarshan described the film to Nandhakumar during preparations for the 2016 Celebrity Cricket League.
Innocent played Jayaraman's uncle, and Anjali Nair his sister. Producer Antony Perumbavoor made a cameo appearance. Chemban Vinod Jose, Hareesh Kanaran, Renji Panicker, Kunchan, Kalasala Babu, Idavela Babu, Sona Heiden, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, and Siddique also had supporting roles. In a December 2016 interview, Dharmajan Bolgatty said that he was offered a role in the film but could not commit due to scheduling conflicts.