Spadikam


Spadikam is a 1995 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed and co-written by Bhadran and produced by R. Mohan through Shogun Films. Starring Mohanlal, Thilakan, Urvashi and Spadikam George, the film revolves around Thomas Chacko alias Aadu Thoma, a ruffian estranged from his toxic father C.P. Chacko alias Kaduva Chacko, upon failing to meet the latter's high expectations.
Development of the script took Bhadran three years to complete. It was based on three real-life ruffians who lived around Pala. The dialogues were written by Rajendra Babu. S. P. Venkatesh composed Spadikam's soundtrack and background score and J. Williams and S. Kumar were the cinematographers. Valsan and M. S. Mani were the film's art director and editor, respectively. The film was extensively shot in and around the town of Changanassery in Kottayam district, and was completed in 45 working days. Except for three days of shooting in Madras, Spadikam was filmed in Kerala.
Produced on a budget of ₹75 lakh, Spadikam was released on 30 March 1995 to critical acclaim, primarily for the performances of the lead cast, dialogues and cinematography. It was commercially successful and went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year; Spadikam completed a 100-day run in several centers. In addition to the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam, Spadikam won the Best Director and Best Actor at the 43rd Filmfare Awards South. Mohanlal also won the Kerala State Film Award Best Actor at the 27th Kerala State Film Awards. The film was dubbed and released in Tamil as Yuddham in 1996. It was remade in Telugu as Vajram, Tamil as Veerappu and in Kannada as Mr. Theertha.
Spadikam, which attained cult status, is considered instrumental in introducing thug life glorification of Mollywood superstars on screen. The film is also considered a milestone in the career of Mohanlal. The film along with Devaasuram indirectly marked the beginning of a new image of Mohanlal, that of an action hero that would appeal to the masses. The character of Aadu Thoma has over the years become a pop culture icon. In March 2020, during the 25th anniversary of the film, the plan to digitally enhance and a re-release it in theatres was announced. A digitally remastered 4K Dolby Atmos version of Spadikam was released theatrically on 9 February 2023.

Plot

Thomas Chacko, known by his alias "Aadu Thoma", is a well-known quarry owner and a gangster, who is the undefeated champion in his confrontations and leads his life on his own terms. He is the estranged son of a retired school headmaster C.P. Chacko alias "Kaduva Chacko" who is also a recipient of the President's medal award in mathematics. Thoma is a blemish on respectable Chacko's reputation, and both never get along. His mother Mary and sister Jancy are always left to choose sides between the two of them while Chacko's brother Manimala Vakkachan supports Thoma.
In the flashback, unlike his father, Thoma wasn't interested in mathematics, but excelled in mechanical and electronic gadgetry. He builds an AM radio receiver inside a soap case, at a time when phonographs were a fad. Thoma's talent astonishes others, whereas his father is dismissive. He always compares his son to Balu, the best student in the class adding to his pressure. He expects Thoma to be a mathematician like him and forces his teacher Ravunni to fail him on the notion that only low grades will provoke him to study harder. When Thoma discovers this, he becomes outraged and burns the answer sheet in front of Ravunni and runs away from the village after stabbing Balu's right hand with a compass in anger and sorrow. Fourteen years later, Thoma returns as a changed man, no longer a prodigy. He has become a quarry owner, lorry driver and a gangster. His father still despises him and professes to love his sister more, who lived up to his expectations.
Pookoya, a local baron, is the newly made enemy of Thoma, along with his sub-inspector friend, Kuttikkadan for supporting Pookoya's daughter's relationship with a penniless teacher. Thoma's relationship with a prostitute gets revealed when the police shame him publicly and Jancy's wedding almost fails, further angering his father. This forces him to rat out his son to the police on a later occasion, surprising even Kuttikadan with the act. The relationship between the two further declines after this incident, whereby entering into a fit of rage, Thoma cuts off the sleeves of his Chacko's shirts. Chacko then repaints his Thoma's lorry with the word, Chekuthan and plants a coconut tree in front of their house, naming it after Thoma, to insult him. But later, Thoma himself intervenes and restores Jancy's marriage alliance.
Meanwhile, Ravunni who had resigned from the school after being deeply saddened by the ill fate which happened to Thoma, comes back with his daughter Thulasi, who was Thoma's childhood friend. The Vicar of the local church, Thulasi and Vakkachan try to mediate between the two, by trying to get Thoma invited by his father, to attend Jancy's wedding. Thoma attends the wedding, hoping for the better but is insulted by his father. This forces Jancy to take a stand against her father, stating that she prefers her brother's small necklace to her father's high dowry, in her marriage. The necklace was actually a gift from Thulasi given by Thoma and this leads him to be deserted on the day of her wedding. When Thoma learns this, he becomes happy and thanks Thulasi. Mary, who was waiting for the wedding to take place, leaves him as well. At this point, Ravunni points out to Chacko that in fact he did not love anybody, including Jancy and he only pretended to love her in order to degrade Thoma. He also states that as the reason why Jancy stood against him. With his pride struck the worst blow, Chacko is left all alone, to rethink on his actions and decisions.
Soon afterward, Thoma is stabbed by a goon Thorappan Bastin, who is employed by Pookoya, in retaliation for helping his daughter elope with her lover, the teacher. Chacko secretly visits his son in the hospital, with regret. Coming back to health, Thoma's attempt at revenge on Kuttikkadan is foiled, when Thulasi interferes. On learning that Thulasi loves him, he tries to prevent her. With her help, he tries to back out from his wrong outlook of life. Filled with the guilt of ruining his son's life, Chacko repaints Thoma's lorry from Chekuthan to Spadikam and tries to commit suicide, which Thoma prevents. The two reconcile, thereafter. With a newfound joy, they, together, bring back his mother. He decides to quit everything and live for his family.
In a desperate attempt for revenge, Thoma's enemies unite against him. Pookoya and Kuttikadan tries to kill Thoma by placing a bomb in his lorry and blame Chacko. But Thoma manages to escape. In a tragic turn of events, Chacko is fatally shot by Kuttikadan while targeting Thoma. He becomes enraged and kills Kuttikadan. After visiting his deceased father at the hospital Thoma is taken into police custody on charges of killing Kuttikadan, leaving the helpless family and Thulasi in tears.

Cast

  • Mohanlal as Thomas Chacko, C. P. Chacko's son
  • * Roopesh Peethambaran as Younger Thomas
  • Thilakan as C. P. Chacko, a retired headmaster; Thoma's toxic and arrogant father
  • Urvashi as Thulasi, Thoma's girlfriend
  • * Arya Anup as Younger Thulasi
  • Spadikam George as SI Kuttikkadan, a cruel and corrupt police officer, the main antagonist
  • Rajan P. Dev as Manimala Vakkachan, Chacko's younger brother and Thoma's uncle who is always supportive and friendly towards Thoma
  • Nedumudi Venu as Ravunni, Thulasi's father who is supportive of Thoma
  • K. P. A. C. Lalitha as Mary Chacko, Thoma's mother and Chacko's wife
  • Ashokan as Jerry, Jancy's husband and Thoma's brother-in-law
  • Chippy Renjith as Jancy Chacko, Thoma's younger sister
  • Maniyanpilla Raju as Kunju Mohammad, Thoma's friend and lorry driver
  • Karamana Janardanan Nair as Fr. Ottaplakkan, church vicar
  • N. F. Varghese as Pachu Pillai, an honest police head constable and Balu's father who is supportive of Thoma
  • Nizar as Chandy, Thoma's friend
  • V. K. Sreeraman as Pookoya, Kuttikadan's friend and the secondary antagonist
  • Silk Smitha as Laila
  • Bindu Varapuzha as Mumthas
  • Bahadoor as Kurup
  • Kundara Johny as Maniyan, police constable and Kuttikadan's right hand
  • Bheeman Raghu as SI Somasekharan, Kuttikadan's friend, another corrupt cop
  • Indrans as Gafoor
  • Spadikam Sunny as Torappan Bastian, a gangster hired by Pookoya
  • Paravoor Bharathan as Joseph, Jerry's father
  • Kanakalatha as Geetha, Kuttikkadan's wife
  • Sankaradi as V.S. Eswara Iyer, Sub Judge
  • Chali Pala as Lukachan, Thoma's friend
  • N. L. Balakrishnan as Pathrose
  • Ajith Kollam as Georgekutty
  • Rajinikanth

    Production

Development

It took two to three years of preparation for the film, the screenplay was rewritten a few times. Producer R. Mohan wanted to name the film Aadu Thoma which he felt was more appealing to the public. But Bhadran wanted to name it Spadikam. The character Thomas Chacko / Aadu Thoma was based on three real-life ruffians who lived around Pala, one of them was known by the nickname Irattachankan, another one used to remove his mundu to wrap his opponent's head for hitting, and the third one had a downfall during his peaks period. The character Chacko Mash was based on four real-life characters Bhadran knew from his life, one was his own father who used to compare him with other kids, and the other three were his school teachers. In an interview, Bhadran said that Spadikam was inspired by his own life, but not that the character Aadu Thoma is him, but the film draws inspiration from his parents, village, priest, teachers, and disabilities of the education system at that time.