Season (film)

Season

Promotional Poster
Directed by Padmarajan
Produced by M.G.Gopinath (Pandalam Gopinath)
Written by Padmarajan
Starring Mohanlal
Gavin Packard
Maniyan Pilla Raju
Ashokan
Shari
Leena Nair
Music by Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography Venu
Edited by B. Lenin
V. T. Vijayan (assistant)
Production
company
Shanthi Cine Arts
Distributed by Thomsun Films
Release dates
  • 1989 (1989)
Country India
Language Malayalam

Season is a 1989 Malayalam-language Indian feature film directed Padmarajan, starring Mohanlal and Gavin Packard in lead roles. The film, though a failure at the box office, stands apart because of Padmarajan's story-telling style, unconventional plot and characters, realistic portrayal of drug trade in Kovalam and flawless performance of Mohanlal and is considered now as a cult classic. The story is set in the beautiful locales of Kovalam beach in Kerala and Poojappura Central Prison, Trivandrum.

In spite of the film's commercial failure at the time, Season is now considered to be amongst the best revenge thriller classics ever made in Malayalam and Mohanlal's performance in the movie stands apart because of his unconventional style of acting in such a complex plot. The film also showed how narration can be used as a strong tool in storytelling. Many feel that this movie was much ahead of time and if it would have released in late nineties, would have done good business.

Plot

Jeevan (Mohanlal) is taken to central jail from court. It is the year 1988. In his own words, "My name is Jeevan. I feel so depressed to know that I can't see this dew morning and the street lamps for years; but little would benefit in regretting now".

The story now moves back to 1982, at Kovalam where Jeevan is running a restaurant. He also is involved in sale and purchase of several smuggled foreign goods along with transfer of foreign currency. Popularly and fondly called by everyone as 'Uncle', Jeevan is one of the richest businessman in Kovalam, and has no bad vices. He is a real mystery to all, as he also keeps everyone away from his personal life. Porinju (Ashokan)and Kanthi (Maniyan Pilla Raju), two jobless youths are involved in small time drug business to meet the both ends. Both have their own families and personal issues and dreamof being rich one day. They happen to meet Fabien, a European tourist, who wants them to fetch him three kilos of brown sugar. Both Porinju and Kanthi get allured into this deal. Jeevan supports them by lending 1.5 lakhs, on the condition that they will give up drug trade after the deal is closed. Both Porinju and Kanthi leave for Goa. They return a week later at night with the stuff. They directly go to the restaurant run by Jeevan and inform him about it. Jeevan warns them to be careful. Fabien is informed about the stuff and asked to arrive at the lighthouse late in the light. At the lighthouse, Fabien plays foul and shoots down Porinju. Meanwhile, Merlin (Leena Nair), the girl friend of Fabien breaks into the Jeevan's place and steals around four lakhs rupees along with gold. On getting the information Jeevan comes to the house, but find it completely ransacked. Kanthi, who got escaped from Fabien reaches Jeevan and informs him about the death of Porinju. He takes Jeevan to the hut where Fabien was staying with Merlin. But Fabien had within the time escaped with the currency and drugs. He had jilted even Merlin. She was assaulted and left back. Jeevan finds her with both hands and legs tied. She informs him that Fabien is already on his way and they won't be able to chase him. She also informs that he is a psychopath killer. Kanthi takes Jeevan's car and leaves to chase Fabien, but is killed on the way by him. The next day, the police recover the bodies of Porinju and Kanthi. Jeevan is shocked to find that Merlin has also committed suicide by taking sleeping pills. Jeevan is main suspect as Kanthi's body was found in his car and Merlin was found dead in his house. He is arrested and sentenced to 7 years in prison. But the prosecution couldn't nail for murders of Porinju and Kanthi as there were no proofs. He gets 5-year jail term for the death of Merlin. It was just weeks before his release that Fabien enters his jail. Jeevan agrees to help Fabien in escaping from jail, if he pays Rs 5 lakhs. After the release, Jeevan plans everything and is back in jail for a petty crime. His sole aim is to finish of Fabien. The film then cuts to the present. On the day of Gandhijayanthi, when, all the cops are busy with the celebrations. Jeevan escapes from jail with Fabien. On their way, Fabien collects Rs. 5 lakhs from an agent and pays it to Jeevan. After collecting the amount, Jeevan in a fiery fight finishes of Fabien. Jeevan goes back to jail when his voice over comes in background with the visual of him driving the van and images of passing street lights in the plain glass of the van "I am getting sad to know that I am going to miss these street lights again.I had great comfort when she (one of his friend's lovers) accepted the money (that Jeevan took from Fabien) and the happy thing for me is that this time is that they won't have any circumstantial evidences against me; but only evidence, the real evidence. Its on my shirt, on my face, on my hands...and everywhere ". He smiles triumphantly and reaches back at the prison. When the cops ask about Fabien, Jeevan walks with a winning smile and opens the door of the van where the cops find Fabien's corpse.

Cast

Credits

Remake

Anurag Kashyap is going to remake 'Season' with reports suggesting that Anand Menon will portray Jeevan in the Hindi version of the following.

External links

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