Premalu to Grihapravesham: References in Guruvayoorambala Nadayil you might have missed

Director Vipin Das’ Guruvayoorambala Nadayil is packed with film references, which keep the laughs coming. Here’s a list of these you could have missed in Prithviraj Sukumaran, Basil Joseph-starrer

Poster of Guruvayoorambala Nadayil

If there’s a movie that could go neck-to-neck in terms of film references used, with Mohanlal’s Aaraattu , it could very well be director Vipin Das’ Guruvayoorambala Nadayil that has Prithviraj Sukumaran and Basil Joseph in the lead. The comedy entertainer, set against the backdrop of a wedding, is packed to the brim with references from several popular movies and that also keeps the laughs coming in the movie, which hit theatres on May 16, 2024.

While the movie has already made a killing at the box office on Day 1, taking in close to Rs 3.8 Cr, here’s a look at some of the smart and obvious references that the film’s makers have managed to squeeze in to keep it entertaining. [This article has potential spoilers].

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Film references in Guruvayooramabala Nadayil you could have missed

Some of these references also help make sense of the relationship between the various characters, and weren’t explained vividly.

Grihapravesham

The casting of Jagadish and Rekha as parents of Prithviraj and Anaswara Rajan’s characters itself caught the attention of the audiences before the film’s release. But given that the film addresses a turbulent relationship with the brothers of Rekha’s character especially during their wedding and later, would remind the audience of the duo’s 1992 movie Grihapravesham, which revolved around a wedding mix-up at the premises of Guruvayoor temple, the same setting as this film.

Premalu and Kaathal

The makers try to squeeze in the names of two of the recent superhits in Malayalam through a cheeky dialogue in the film, when a character describes a relationship one has for the other in the film. Revealing more would be a spoiler. But given how Premalu is now trending more than Premam among Malayalam youth, even as a word, it’s a smart reference.

Also read: Guruvayoorambala Nadayil review: Vipin Das’ craft elevates Prithviraj and Basil Joseph’s crisp entertainer

Drishyam

As Prithviraj’s character Anandan heeds Vinu’s words to make amends with his in-laws, he proceeds with a line that had the audience in splits. The line happened to be similar to what Mohanlal’s Georgekutty says while trying to explain his situation in Jeethu Joseph and that it was delivered with the trademark shoulder tilt made it even more funny.

The viral wedding invite

Technically, this is not a film reference and hence can be lost on most people. In fact, even Prithviraj had said that he didn’t know the context when he read it in the script till director Vipin explained it to him. The scene is where Prithviraj points to the people sitting outside a tea shop and inviting everyone to come to his sister’s wedding, and it’s a direct reference to a viral video of a middle-aged lady inviting her neighbours to her daughter’s wedding.

Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal

Despite having spent hours talking on the phone, when Anandan and Vinu meet for the first time, the song Kannam Thumbi Poraamo plays out - effectively relaying to the viewers the kind of bond that the duo shares. The film doesn’t truly explore what made Anandan and Vinu care for each other, but the song - which in Kakkothikkavile Appooppan Thaadikal encapsulated the relationship between two siblings - gives the audience some context.

The obvious references in Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer

While some of the subtle references were smart, the more obvious ones drew more laughter in the theatre as the audience could readily connect with them. Here’s a list of those that added to the comedy in the film, also starring Nikhila Vimal.

Nandanam

This was a given, especially because the movie was set against the backdrop of Guruvayoor Temple - just like Prithviraj’s debut film Nandanam. A few surprising cameos and dialogues make this expected reference work wonders.

Ullathai Alitha

To be specific, the makers used the song Azhagiya Laila from the Karthik and Rambha movie to “define” a particular character. But the track was impactful every time it was used, especially where the characters meet each other and set off the twist.

Minnal Murali and Lucifer

Both the lead actors’ biggest directorials - Prithviraj’s Lucifer and Basil Joseph’s Minnal Murali - get a nod through Siju Sunny’s character describing the newspaper ad that would appear on the day of the wedding.

Premam

Nivin Pauly’s Premam gets a passing reference, just like Naslen and Mamitha Baiju’s Premalu, when Anandan asks Vinu about his heartbreak. Vinu’s reaction affirms that he is over it and is ready to move on.

Rajavinte Makan

In another hilarious Mohanlal reference from the film, Basil, Jagadish and Prithviraj’s character contest the authenticity of a forged medical document and the veracity of a landline number which is short of the required digits. Incidentally, the sequence also gets reference to Mammootty’s car numbers.

Pattanapravesham

Joemon Jyothir's character of psychiatrist Dr George L gets a hilarious sequence when he impersonates a fortune teller, but without a parrot. The scene draws heavily from Mohanlal and Sreenivasan's sequence in Pattanapravesham where they turn up wearing different disguises. But within the scene, the film's writer has also mentioned several dialogues including one referencing Akshay Kumar's Pakshirajan from 2.0.

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