Theevandi

Theevandi (transl. train) is a 2018 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Fellini T. P. and written by Vini Vishwa Lal.[1] The film stars Tovino Thomas, Samyuktha Menon, Sudheesh, Surabhi Lakshmi, Rajesh Sharma, Suraj Venjarammoodu, Saiju Kurup, and Shammi Thilakan in lead-roles. Principal photography began in November 2017 and ended around January 2018.[2] Kailas Menon composed the music and Appu Bhattathiri was the editor. The film was released on 7 September 2018.

Theevandi
Official Poster
Directed byFellini T. P.
Produced byAugust Cinema
Written byVini Vishwa Lal
StarringTovino Thomas
Samyuktha Menon
Surabhi Lakshmi
Saiju Kurup
Music byKailas Menon
CinematographyGautham Sankar
Edited byAppu Bhattathiri
Production
company
Distributed byAugust Cinema
Release date
  • 7 September 2018 (2018-09-07)
Running time
143 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Plot

Damodaran, a resident of the fiction village of Pullinad, is unable to transport his pregnant wife to the hospital due to heavy rain and the rebellion following the murder of Rajiv Gandhi. His wife's brother, referred to as Ammavan by the protagonist and his friends, arranges for a midwife. Damodaran is initially against it but later agrees. Unfortunately, the child is stillborn, and this devastates Damodaran. He places the lifeless child on a table and goes to see his wife whose condition has worsened. Ammavan, a chain smoker, blows smoke at the seemingly dead child, which causes it to begin breathing.

The child is named Bineesh. As a child, Bineesh buys cigarettes for his uncle using his allowance. When he becomes a teenager, he is prompted by his friend Safar to smoke a cigarette and eventually becomes addicted. Due to a foolish statement made by Safar, Bineesh is caught in the school for smoking and is asked to bring his parents. He decides to bring his uncle instead. That night, while he is going to meet his uncle, he sees a packet of cigarettes and chooses to smoke one. He heads outside and smokes peacefully. However, he is mistaken for a thief by two police constables and is taken to the police station; consequently, people learn about his secret.

As time passes, he becomes more and more addicted and receives the title of Theevandi (chain-smoker, colloquially). His elder sister eventually is married to Vijith, a BSCL (Bharatiya Socialist Congress League) party member while Bineesh falls in love with his childhood friend Devi. Devi is the daughter of Madhu, an active BSCL member. He is against the relationship of his daughter with Bineesh but later relents on the condition that Bineesh reduces his smoking.

Devi belongs to a different caste that is accustomed to a different thaali, a holy thread tied around the bride's neck that signifies marriage. Bineesh purchases it, and Devi asks him to show it to her father. After forgetting several times, he decides to bring the thaali in a cigarette packet, which he is sure he will not forget. Devi's heart is broken on seeing the thaali inside the cigarette packet, and this leads to their breakup.

Meanwhile, Ammavan and Safar are shown to frequently visit Edison Thuruthu (Edison's Island) which is hinted at being a haven for drunkards and hippies. Bineesh is frustrated and decides to smoke sixteen packets of cigarettes at a time, setting a new world record. The MLA's Nepali driver, Sanju, gives the money for the cigarettes, confusing everyone. One day, while driving the car with the MLA, it is revealed that the driver is a victim of the Blue Whale Challenge and is about to commit suicide as his fiftieth and final task. The car crashes into the building where Bineesh is smoking the cigarettes, Bineesh is shown smoking. The MLA falls into a coma while the driver manages to escape. Later that night a tiff happens over the nomination of a BCSL candidate for the by-election. Since the MLA is in a coma, they feel that there is no chance of recovery. The majority chooses Madhu while Bineesh demands to nominate his brother-in-law Vijith. Bineesh, who hates Madhu, does not want him to be the candidate. Madhu is an equally clever person and challenges Bineesh to abstain from smoking until a particular day when the party will organize a widespread protest in the village by forming a human chain. Madhu promises Bineesh that if he succeeds in this, he will renounce his claim to the nomination and let Vijith be the sole nominee. Bineesh accepts the challenge.

Madhu hires a network of spies to follow Bineesh. A few of them are asked to stay in his house and try to make him smoke. Bineesh is able to refrain from smoking for the first few days, but soon his body begins to react. One night he sneaks out of the house to smoke a cigarette. Libash, Madhu's spy, notices this and climbs a nearby tree to capture a video of Bineesh smoking. Luckily for Bineesh, there happens to be a giant snake on that tree which startles Libash, and he falls down before Bineesh lights his cigarette. Libash is taken to the hospital, and Madhu's spies accompany him. Vijith finds the cigarettes and decides to take Bineesh to Edison thuruthu. Madhu discovers this and informs his party members. When Vijith returns to the banks after dropping Bineesh in the island, he puts on an act in front of the party members and takes a spy of Madhu to Edison thuruthu.

Meanwhile, Bineesh finds that he has been cheated since Edison thuruthu is actually devoid of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. It is inhabited by two hippie-like musicians, Rasputin and Bob Marley. They moved to the island because they were unable to put up with politics in Pullinad. Bineesh is unable to leave the island since he cannot swim. Safar hires a group of goons to guard the island and wards off Madhu's men who try to smuggle cigarettes to the island on the pretext of meeting Bineesh. After several such failed attempts by Madhu's men, he approaches Libash for an idea. The person who is nursing Libash arranges a group of young men who are practitioners of Kalaripayattu.

On the last day, the day of human chain formation, Libash goes with the group and thrashes the goons guarding the banks and reaches the island on a boat. Upon arrival, Libash prompts Bineesh to smoke an imported cigarette. By now, Bineesh has learnt to love the world without cigarettes. He refuses the cigarette and thereby wins the challenge. Vijith is happy, but at the last minute the MLA's returns in a wheelchair to inaugurate the event, thereby shattering the dreams of Vijith. Vijith slips into smoking, thereby becoming a new companion for Ammavan. Bineesh and Devi reunite and decide to start a new life.

Cast

Production

In November 2017, Tovino Thomas agreed to work with Fellini T. P. on his debut directorial titled Theevandi. Filming which began in November 2017 was wrapped in January 2018.[3] Tovino plays a chain-smoker in the film.[4] Newcomer Samyuktha Menon played the female lead role.[5][6]

Fellini said that the film is a "coming-of-age drama" and contains smoking scenes almost throughout.[7] He also said that the movie is a "feel-good entertainer" rather than a dark comedy despite the presence of cigarette smoking.[8]

Soundtrack

The music for the film is composed by Kailas Menon. B. K. Harinarayanan won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics for the song "Jeevamshamayi".

Soundtrack
No.TitleMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Jeevamshamayi Thaane"Kailas MenonShreya Ghoshal, K. S. Harisankar5:23
2."Thaa Thinnam"Kailas MenonJob Kurian4:20
3."Maanathe Kanalaali"Kailas MenonKailas Menon, Alphons Joseph4:46
4."Oru Theeppettikkum Venda"Kailas MenonAnthony Daasan 
5."Vijanatheerame"Nivi ViswalalNivi Viswalal 

Release

The film was originally scheduled to release on May 2018, but was postponed to June end.[9] The 29 June 2018 release date was further postponed due to Kerala Floods and was finally released on 7 September 2018.[10][11][12][13]

The Times of India rated 3 out of 5 stars.[14] The Indian Express rated 2 out of 5 stars.[15]

References
  1. Theevandi Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos | eTimes, retrieved 26 June 2018
  2. "Tovino Thomas wraps up shoot for 'Theevandi'". The News Minute. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. "Tovino Thomas: Theevandi's trailer has Bineesh Damodaran on a smoking spree - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  4. "Theevandi official trailer is smoking hot and here is why one should not miss it". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  5. "Tovino Thomas' Theevandi team meet at Kochi - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  6. "Theevandi: Slapping Tovino wasn't a funny and easy task for me: Samyuktha Menon - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  7. "'Theevandi is not a dark film'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  8. "Theevandi is not a dark film: Debutant director Fellini T P". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  9. "Tovino Thomas' Theevandi to hit theatres by June end - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  10. "പുകവണ്ടിയായി ടൊവീനോ; തീവണ്ടി ട്രെയിലർ". ManoramaOnline. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  11. "Tovino Thomas' 'Theevandi' to release on June 29". Sify. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  12. "Tovino surprised as 'Theevandi' release gets postponed". Sify. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  13. "തീവണ്ടി വൈകിയേ ഓടൂ; തന്നോടെങ്കിലും ഒന്ന് പറയാമായിരുന്നുവെന്ന് ടോവിനോ". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  14. Soman, Deepa (7 September 2018). "Theevandi". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  15. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/theevandi-movie-review-tovino-thomas-star-rating-5345579/
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