Ajayante Randam Moshanam: Beyond a mass cinema, Tovino Thomas-starrer is also a film about intense romance, says Surabhi Lakshmi

Surabhi Lakshmi, who portrayed the role of Manikyam in the film, makes a strong case for why the love stories in Tovino Thomas’ Ajayante Randam Moshanam should also be celebrated

ARM

Ajayante Randam Moshanam, starring Tovino Thomas in triple roles has landed on Disney+ Hotstar. The plot revolves around the sacred lamp Chyothivilaku, made of celestial stone, and the three men who are on the quest for it, across different timelines. Though the action-adventure film revolves around the quest for Chyothivilaku, the movie has also beautifully weaved in the love stories of all three men.

Malayalam actress, Surabhi Lakshmi, who portrayed the role of Manikyam in the film, believes that ARM is also a film that portrays intense romance. Read on to know what the National Award-winning actress has to say about the romantic tryst in ARM. (Spoilers ahead)

Also read: Tovino Thomas reveals why Ajayante Randam Moshanam won’t have a sequel, but only spin-offs | Exclusive

ARM plot

Tovino Thomas appears in triple roles as warrior Kunjikelu, burglar Maniyan, and Ajayan who are on a quest to win, steal, or reclaim the lamp. While there is no question that Tovino Thomas owns Ajayante Randam Moshanam, Surabhi Lakshmi has also managed to stand out in the movie with her portrayal of Manikyam, the wife of Maniyan.

While talking to OTTplay after the movie’s theatrical release earlier, Surabhi Lakshmi had made a strong case for why the love stories in ARM should also be celebrated.

“Beyond a mass movie, Ajayante Randam Moshanam is a film about intense romance. All three men have strong love stories. In the first timeline, warrior Kunjikelu promises his love interest Chothi (played by Aishwarya Rajesh), who is from a lower caste, that he would show her the Chyothivilaku (sacred lamp). He promises that would install the lamp for her, but he comes down with small pox and dies,” Surabhi recounted.

Further tracing the romantic angle in the movie, Surabhi pointed out that Maniyan dedicated the sacred lamp to his wife, driven by his love for Manikyam and as a defiant reply to the humiliation she suffered. “Maniyan declares that the measly villagers can bow before the fake lamp, while you get to keep the original. That’s why he ventures out to hide the lamp,” Surabhi said.

Also read: Ajayante Randam Moshanam actress Surabhi Lakshmi: 'I did not see Tovino Thomas, it was only Maniyan' | Exclusive interview

However, he gets caught and is chased to the edge of a waterfall. He tries to throw the fake lamp into the waterfall. “But Manikyam dissuades him from doing that because she is well aware of the consequences that they would have to face. The entire villagers who had assembled there will beat all of them to death. There is nothing they can do here. In a show of respect and love for his wife, Maniyan, with his beastly power, listens to her, keeps the lamp down and jumps into the waterfall. There aren’t any dialogues between the lead characters here but still, it is conveyed because of the deep bond they share,” Surabhi said, decoding the crucial scene.

In the present-day timeline, Ajayan is also in a relationship with Lakshmi (Krithi Shetty), who happens to be the villain’s daughter.

Red herrings you may have missed in Tovino Thomas’ film

Talking further about the red herrings in the action-adventure movie, Surabhi explained that director Jithinlal and writer Sujith Nambiar had incorporated enough references about the lamp that were hiding in plain sight.

After a series of events, Ajayan is out to reclaim the lamp and is clueless about how to go about it. But Surabhi pointed out that his grandmother Manikayam had been dropping clues all along. The chart-topper 'Angu Vaana Konilu', sung by Vaikom Vijayalakshmi with lyrics by Manu Manjith, featured much earlier in the movie, also hints about the whereabouts of the lamp and how to retrieve it.

All those who have touched the lamp, get healing powers and enlightenment. Maniyan can come in any shape or form as crow, cat or even wind. That’s why Manikayam tells her grandson Ajayan that it is always better to befriend the crow and other animals. And crow is the one who helps him in his first robbery (Ayajanate Onnaam Moshanam), she added.

Finally, Surabhi gave the credit to the filmmaker and writer Sujith Nambiar for the depth in the script that made it an engaging film. “When you get a script with so much depth, as far as an actor is concerned, we can do anything we want,” she signed off!

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