2006 Indian film
Chinthamani Kolacase (transl. Chinthamani Murder Case) is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language action legal thriller film directed by Shaji Kailas with Suresh Gopi in the lead role, this film narrates the story of a Lal Krishna Viradiyar, a psychotic-daredevil lawyer, who provides verdict in his style of law enforcement for the criminals after the court sessions.
The style of the movie is non-linearity that is maintained throughout the entire film. The basic story-telling style of Shaji Kailas is spun on and off by the writer A. K. Sajan. It was remade in Telugu as Sri Mahalakshmi and remade in Tamil as Ellam Avan Seyal. The core storyline was also used in the Kannada movie Aptha.
Plot
Lal Krishna Viradiyar is a daredevil and psychotic criminal lawyer with an even more enigmatic mission. Lal Krishna assists hardened criminals to escape from the courts by efficiently managing the case, and stating lack of evidence. Post-acquittal, he pursues and takes them out in a bizarre show of vigilante justice. Isra Khureshi, who accused of killing his Arabic teacher Rasiya, invites Lal Krishna as his lawyer, asking him to join for a party at his farmhouse for celebrating the success. Lal Krishna arrives at the spot and kills Khureshi, claiming that it is his duty to wipe out evil forces to maintain law and order. Later, Lal Krishna kills David Rajarathnam, a Pondicherry-based garage owner, who was accused of assaulting his daughter.
ASP Jagannivasan, is suspicious of Lal Krisnan's moves, and has been closely observing him for a long time. Lal Krishna takes up the case of Mirchi girls, a band of spoilt, rich NRI's, who are accused in the ragging and murder of Chinthamani, their college mate, an innocent girl from a conservative background. Chinthamani's father Veeramani Warrier is fighting hard for justice and is represented by public prosecutor Kannayi Parameshwaran, who is famous for his unique style of argument. After a long court battle, Lal Krishna succeeds in bringing the judgement in favor of Mirchi Girls. L.K finds out that Kannayi Parameshwaran and college principal Dr. KIM Sudarshan are actually Chinthamani's killers. Kannayi is a silent partner in the private medical college, who killed Chinthamani.
Chinthamani was sent to Sudarshan's house by her conniving hostel warden, and was asked to withdraw her admission from the medical college, where she resists to comply, but Kannayi kills her, and place charges on the Mirchi Girls for the inhumane act. Kannayi had other major business interests, through selling the medical seats of Mirchi Girls, presumed to be vacated by them during the course of the investigation and trial of the case - to a potential buyer charging an exorbitant sum of ₹50 lakh (US$63,000) per seat. In his self-styled violent methods, Lal Krishna kills Kannayi and Sudarshan to deliver justice to Chinthamani and Veeramani Warrier. Though aware of the entire scenario, Jagannivasan is unable to arrest Lal Krishna, due to lack of evidence and leaves him with a small admiration for the latter.
Reception
Chinthamani Kolacase was released a few months after the success of Shaji Kailas - Suresh Gopi's film The Tiger. It went on become one of the biggest money grosser of the year 2006. This film also reaffirmed the chair of Shaji Kailas and Suresh Gopi in Malayalam cinema. The script of this film was done by A. K. Sajan, who had earlier done films like Butterflies, Janathipathyam, Crime File and Stop Violence.
Box office
The film was commercial success.[1][2] The film ran for 100 days in major centres of its release.[3]
Remakes
It was remade in Telugu as Sri Mahalakshmi starring Srihari and remade in Tamil as Ellam Avan Seyal with same director. Newcomer RK plays Lal Krishna and actress Bhama plays Chinthamani in the Tamil version and Srihari is L.K. and Shamna plays Sri Mahalakshmi in the Telugu version. The core storyline was also used in the Kannada movie Aptha.
