PremiumBefore Dileep's Thankamani, this Malayalam film accurately depicted the real incident’s harsh realities
Kerala was shaken by the Thankamani incident, which put a great deal of pressure on the government in power at the time following the revelation of the atrocities, in 1986.
Last Updated: 02.04 PM, Mar 09, 2024
The makers of Dileep's Thankamani heavily marketed the movie, claiming that it was based on actual events that happened in the same-named village in 1986. The film's lacklustre script, which only used the Thankamani incident as a springboard to develop a bitter hero and a tragic love story, is drawing criticism from the public.
But how many of you were aware that Itha Samayamayi, a Malayalam movie that came out precisely a year after the incident, tells the same story with accuracy? Late P G Vishwambharan’s directorial Ith Samayamayi is loosely based on the incident of police atrocities in Thankamany village in Kerala state.
Ratheesh-starrer Ith Samayamayi
The 1987 film, which is available on YouTube, stars Jagathy Sreekumar, Ratheesh, Shari, M G Soman and Karamana Janardanan Nair in prominent roles.
The Thankamani villagers in the movie rely on a single bus, named St Mathews, to transport them between Mundakkayam and Kilipaadi. Even though the bus stops three kilometres before the stop, the passengers are still required to pay Kilipaadi the full amount and take a walk to their location.
When the villagers seize his bus as a protest, drugs dealer Mathaichan calls the police, which sets off a series of disastrous events that permanently alter the villagers' lives.
The film is based on actual events that happened on October 21, 1986, in Thankamani, an isolated village in the Kamakshi gram panchayat of the Idukki district. These ended with gunfire and a ruthless police baton charge. In the 1980s, the entire state was shaken by the Thankamani incident, which put a great deal of pressure on the government in power at the time.
Dileep’s Thankamani
Though the Ratheesh Reghunandan directorial uses the same plot, the portrayal of real-life incidents takes less place in this action drama. The action drama portrays real-life incidents less than the Ratheesh Reghunandan film, despite sharing the same plot. Instead, it turns its attention to an unfortunate love story and a victim seeking vengeance.
Ifar Media, led by Rafi Mathira, and Super Good Films, led by R B Chaudhary, are producing Thankamani. Ajmal Ameer, Siddique, Manoj K Jayan, Kottayam Ramesh, Major Ravi, Santosh Keezhatoor, Sivakami, Sampath Ram and John Vijay are playing significant parts in this film.