2014 Indian film
Vikramadithyan is a 2014 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film co-produced and directed by Lal Jose. The film stars Dulquer Salman, Unni Mukundan, Namitha Pramod and Anoop Menon.[2] Nivin Pauly did a cameo appearance in the film. The screenplay is by Iqbal Kuttippuram, while Jomon T. John handles the cinematography. The music is composed by Bijibal.[3] The film was released on 25 July 2014 on the occasion of Eid-ul Fitr.[1]
Plot
Kunjunni Menon, a witty thief, loves Lakshmi, a police constable. While following her one-day, he finds out that she wishes to marry a policeman. Vasudeva Shenoy, Laksmi's colleague expresses his desire to marry her, despite his mother's objections. Kunjunni poses as a police constable and manages to marry Lakshmi before Shenoy can convince his mother. Shenoy then gets married, and both couples are blessed with baby boys on the same day. Lakshmi finds out that Kunjunni had cheated her, but they pretend to have an amicable marriage. A young Adithyan still believes his father to be a policeman, where he and Vikram become rivals in school and start competing with each other; wagering that the loser should salute the winner, a habit they then carry into adulthood. Adithyan always ends up losing.
One day, Kunjunni is caught red-handed by Shenoy and his team while attempting a theft and is paraded half-naked throughout the street. Unable to face a distraught Adithyan and berated by Lakshmi, Kunjunni reaches a bridge and commits suicide. Years later, Vikram grows up into a hard-working young man while Adithyan becomes quite lazy and does petty illegal activities to gain some pocket money. Adithyan falls in love with Deepika, who is Vikram's close friend. Once the duo passes their degrees, both decide to apply for the SI selection test. Though the two share a healthy rivalry, Shenoy is spiteful towards Adithyan, who outranks Vikram in the preliminary round. However, Vikram acknowledges Adithyan's superior intellect displaying his deep respect for his rival.
Shenoy is able to trap Adithyan in a narcotics case and desperate to put him behind bars, where he also guards the evidence personally, but Adithyan is saved when Vikram secretly swaps the evidence with Lactose powder and Adithyan expresses his gratitude, revealing that the respect they hold is mutual. In a final attempt, Shenoy convinces Lakshmi that he was the one who swapped in evidence and asks her for a favor in return. Lakshmi hides the interview memo Adithyan was to receive and only Vikram's name appears on the list for the final exam. A heartbroken Adithyan blames Lakshmi for Kunjunni's death and claims that she could have changed him had she tried. Adithyan disappears that night.
Years later, Vikram became an SI and took charge on the day of Shenoy's retirement. Among the notable guests, new sub-collector Lokesh joins as a surprise to wish the father-son duo. Lokesh reveals that he met Adithyan on a train journey to Delhi and stopped him from committing suicide. The two later became close friends and roommates. On Lokesh's insistence, Adithyan prepared for the UPSC exams while doing odds jobs in between. Both of them cleared the exam together and Lokesh further reveals that Adithyan is now an ACP, Shenoy's and Vikram's superior. Shenoy is forced to accept defeat and salute Adithyan.
Satisfied with his revenge, Adithyan decides not to tell Vikram. Vikram manages to find out and salutes Adithyan publicly. The two embrace and acknowledge their friendship. Vikram asks Adithyan to accept Deepika and reveals that his next goal will be to catch up with Adithyan.
Release and reception
The film was released on 25 July 2014 on the occasion of Eid-ul Fitr.
Critical reception
Dalton L of Deccan Chronicle rated the film 3 in a scale of 5 and concluded his review saying: "Lal Jose’s nonlinear romantic love triangle may be somewhat idealistic in nature. However, it’s a compelling entertainer that extols the virtues of education, work, perseverance, and the struggle for goodness; and inspires one to compete with nothing but the highest order."[4] Nicy V. P of the International Business Times praised the script and called the film a perfect, well crafted flick for Eid and gave the film four stars on five.[5] Paresh C. Palicha of Rediff wrote, "Vikramadityan is entertaining but with little depth."[6]
P. Sanalkumar of Kerala Kaumudi was however, critical of the film and called the film's script "weak" and was critical about the film's cinematography and acting by Anoop Menon. He concluded the review saying that the film is reserved only for those who are "meek and lowly in spirit".[7]
Box office
The film was a commercial success,[8][9] grossing approximately 11.5 crores in Kerala.[10] The film collected US$34,767 from UK box office.[11] The film collected $23,799 (₹14.53 lakhs) from US box office in its eight-week run.[12] The film ran over 100 days in theatres.[13]
