Kattathe Kilikkoodu (1983)
“A Birdnest in the Wind” – (Lit. Translation)Based on a story by Nedumudi Venu, and scripted by T Damodaran, Kattathe Kilikkoodu by Bharathan was one amongst his three releases that went on to become huge box-office successes while garnering critical acclaim, even on an international level. Kattathe Kilikkoodu was also Mohanlal’s first film with Bharathan, and Revathy’s debut in Malayalam cinema. The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, Best Female Playback Singer, the Best Art Director, Kerala Film Critics’ Award for Best Film and the Kerala Film Critics’ Award for Best Actor for the year. Bharat Gopy was also awarded the Special Jury Award at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival, Tokyo for Kattathe Kilikkoodu in 1985.
Srividya |
Bharat Gopy |
Revathy ( Debut in Malayalam Films ) |
Mohanlal |
KPAC Lalitha |
Jagathy Sreekumar |
Santhakumari |
Baby Ponnambili, Baby Anju, Master Prashobh, Baby Preetha. |
Director | Bharathan |
Producer | PV Gangadharan |
Banner | Grihalakshmi Productions |
Story | Nedumudi Venu |
Screenplay | T Damodaran |
Dialogue | T Damodaran |
Lyrics | Kavalam Narayana Panicker |
Music | Johnson |
Singers | KJ Yesudas, S Janaki, Sujatha Mohan, KP Brahmanandan, Sherin Peters, PV Sherin |
Cinematography | Vasanth Kumar |
Editing | NP Suresh |
Sound Recording | N Pandurangan,Manikkam,Menon |
Art Direction | Bharathan |
Costumes | Mani |
Makeup | Mani |
Design | Bharathan, Roy P Thomas, Ashok Kumar |
Distribution | Kalpaka Release |

“Shakespeare” Krishna Pillai’s blissful domestic existence is the perfect example of a loving family bonded in trust and laughter. Asha, an undergraduate in the Professor’s college moves in with her aunt, a spinster, who is also their immediate neighbor. Asha is dating Unnikrishnan, a good friend of the Pillais’ and the college athletic coach. A lovers’ tiff ends up with Asha, immature and insanely possessive about Unni deciding to pull a prank on him just to spite him – she pretends that she has feelings for the Professor.
Taken aback at first, the Professor mistakes it for genuine love and plunges into it head long, unmindful of the consequences. It takes a bit of arm-twisting and plain old confrontation for Asha to reveal that she had been play-acting all along. For the already guilt-ridden Professor, this is shattering news.
A Movie Clipping from Kattathe Kilikkoodu (1983)
Gopike nin viral
Singer : S Janaki | Lyrics : Kavalam Narayana Panicker | Music : Johnson
Koovaram kilikkoodu
Singer : Sujatha Mohan, KP Brahmanandan, Sherin Peters, PV Sherin | Lyrics : Kavalam Narayana Panicker | Music : Johnson
Nira nirakkoottil
Singer : KJ Yesudas, Sujatha Mohan | Lyrics : Kavalam | Music : Johnson
Prasanth's Film Review at GoodTamilFilms.com
At first glance, one might say that variations of this plot have been told on soap operas and daytime serials for a long, long time. However, it’s the mark of good filmmaking that Kattathe Kilikoodu is told with the sort of grace that you would never find in those versions, elevating it to a higher realm of quality. I will be quite upfront and say that I did not like everything about the movie, and I will discuss the negative points later.
Special Jury Award at the Asia Pacific International Film Festival, Tokyo for Kattathe Kilikkoodu in 1985.
Kerala State Film Awards 1983.
Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor – Bharat Gopy
Kerala State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer – S. Janaki
Kerala State Film Award for Best Art Director – Bharathan
Kerala Film Critics’ Award for Best Film
Film Fans Association Award for Best Film
Rotary Award for Best Film
Bharat Gopy as “Shakespeare” Krishna Pillai : An Overview
“Shakespeare” Krishna Pillai – the conceptualization of the onscreen character itself had a quaintness about it. He is the liberal, dedicated family man, brilliant academician, and the affectionate yet serious professor – all rolled into one. If there is a domestic heaven, he could very well be living in the center of it. And it is into this blissful existence that Asha enters. His student’s obvious overtures at first flummox him, yet slowly, as with any human being, they becomes a delicious proposition to revel in.
Oblivious of the ramifications in his social, professional and personal life, and the consequences his actions have on his loved ones, the Professor plunges headlong into this new-found cocoon of love that he thinks has a purpose and existence of its own. And when he realises that he has been taken for a ride all along, the tremors of the crumbling edifices inside his heart could very well be felt as our own.
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