Hugely popular political satire penned by Sreenivasan. The film is equally brutal in its admonishment of both major political formations in Kerala. Veteran actor Thilakan, as always, is brilliant as the Station Master who returns home after retirement to find his sons Prabhakaran (Sreenivasan) & Prakashan (Jayaram) as jobless petty politicians. Their political rivalry spills over & begins to dictate every aspect of family life, this is the central theme of the film. The movie skillfully & hilariously exposes the double-speak & hypocrisy of the Communists and the corruption & sycophancy in the Congress party. No character or situation felt out of place during the entire film. Every character had a message for the masses- be it Siddique, as the upright agriculture officer, Mala Aravindan as the cowardly police inspector, Shankaradi as the Marxist ideologue or even Bobby Kottarakara as the small time party worker. "Sandesham" without any doubt ranks among the best Malayalam movies of all time & is best remembered for its dialogues, some of which have become part of the Kerala folklore. Kudos to Sathyan Anthikad & Sreenivasan for this fantastic creation!
17 Reviews
It would be an understatement to categorize this movie as a mere political satire...
judemarcus-117 December 2016
I have watched this movie like a 100 times and not once has this movie failed to put a smile on my face...There aren't many movies that makes you laugh and think at the same time.If a non malayalee watch this movie without subs he would mistake it for a serious movie..that's the beauty of the film. It's the situations and the sarcasm that gives you laughs rather than the stupid gimmicks other comedy movies resort to.The movie delivers socio-political messages at multiple levels, a rare cinematic feat in malayalam cinema. The importance of family, parent's blind love for their children,the time we waste on stupid arguments,political manipulation and many other events that we can relate to our daily lives come and go in a beautiful manner. wonder why they don't make movies like this anymore....
One of the best political satires in malayalam
apremaraj23 September 2006
A movie which makes fun of the political gimmicks in kerala and how the public is affected by it all...
The writer and director does a very good job in making mockery of all the kerala political parties.
The story is about the family of a retired station master which consists of his wife, 3 sons and 2 daughters. The two elder sons are local leaders of rival political parties. How the family goes through this infight between brothers forms the crux of the story.
One of the best efforts of the Sreenivasan & Sathyan Anthikkad team, this film is sure to make you laugh as well as think.
The writer and director does a very good job in making mockery of all the kerala political parties.
The story is about the family of a retired station master which consists of his wife, 3 sons and 2 daughters. The two elder sons are local leaders of rival political parties. How the family goes through this infight between brothers forms the crux of the story.
One of the best efforts of the Sreenivasan & Sathyan Anthikkad team, this film is sure to make you laugh as well as think.
Best political satire film ever made in Malayalam
vjnambu28 November 2018
Raghavan nair(Thilakan) is a station master in tamil nadu. After retiring, he returns back to his village in kerala to live the rest of his life happily with his wife and children. But he comes to know that his two sons prabhakaran(sreenivasan) and prakashan(jayaram) are jobless local politicians working for rival parties rdp(left) and insp(congress) respectively. Initially raghavan feels proud of his sons political ambitions later he realises it's problems he and his family had to face. Will he be able to reform his sons?
The biggest highlight of sandesham is its refreshing humor which never leaves me with a smile on my face. One reason why this film is considered as one of the best films made in malayalam is because it showed equally the flaws of the ruling and opposition party. If sreenivasan had only shown the flawed side of either one of them, it would have been called as a propaganda film.
Thilakan, jayaram, sreenivasan, maamukoya, oduvil unnikrishnan, mala, shankaradi, maadhu, kaviyoor ponamma and innocent(in a hilarious cameo as a hindi politician) all gave superb performances but my favorite is siddique as the agriculture officer udayabhanu.
Sandesham and panchavadi paalam are considered as the best political satire films in malayalam but I would prefer pp over sandesham. Because sandesham is not just a brilliant satire but also an excellent family drama. PP was a full fledged satire. Sandesham is a film which I never get tired watching.
nothing can replace this
mohdbasithnp23 July 2020
The best political comedy movie in malayalam.
arun_mr2 January 2018
Script; Sreenivasan had a rhetoric about Sathyan Anthikkad before he started writing the message of 'mess' without a queue:
I'm promising you the Ugran dialogues in this movie. That word from the first scene of the movie to the scene and Sreenivasan
Has done. The message is the script that can not be edited without editing a line. Each conversation spans a thousand stories. These are still scary bombs. As time passes, their blast is increasing. These bombs can still break our political world. Sreenivasan has written the script for two days after Knowing that Kottapalli Prakash and Prabhakaran are not only two personalities. Prakash is a Congressman, there is not much talk or intellectual burden, laughing like the color of the Qadar and no revolution in the revolution but in power. He only dream of 'Swaraj'.
Has done. The message is the script that can not be edited without editing a line. Each conversation spans a thousand stories. These are still scary bombs. As time passes, their blast is increasing. These bombs can still break our political world. Sreenivasan has written the script for two days after Knowing that Kottapalli Prakash and Prabhakaran are not only two personalities. Prakash is a Congressman, there is not much talk or intellectual burden, laughing like the color of the Qadar and no revolution in the revolution but in power. He only dream of 'Swaraj'.
Timeless classic
mailrashmi-366936 July 2020
This is an all time favourite movie of most Malayalis. Some scenes tickle your funny bones. In some scenes it's heart wrenching to see the poor father suffer because of his sons who are political rivals but the messaging is so strong and so relevant that you cannot stop admiring this political satire.
Kotrapilli , a text book example
subin_freedom20 February 2019
One of the greatest malayalam movies.
vengatesh-7458724 June 2021
No wonder It's widely regarded as the best malayalam movie....it's simple movie with strong emotions..it has comedy,drama, political commentary,family values..Thilakan was terrific...it was One Of The finest movies I've ever seen.
Best political comedy satire
arundasmsd10 April 2020
The best malayalam movie
zajinplayankadu15 May 2021
That Malayalam Classic which changed the definition of Family Dramas with brilliant use of Political Satire element.
SAMTHEBESTEST13 June 2021
Sandesham (1991) :
Brief Review -
That Malayalam Classic which changed the definition of Family Dramas with brilliant use of Political Satire element. Haven't we all seen the family drama over the years. That same formula of Father and Mother goes through terrible conflicts and torments after their own blood and flesh don't care about them. And then the old age tragedy turns into an inspiration for all parents on how to come back strongly in last days and teach a lesson to their own childrens who abandoned them. Well, it started in Hollywood in 30s with 'Make Way For Tomorrow' then there was Japanese adaption 'Tokyo Story' in 50s and Bollywood made many films in 70s and 80s with the same content. If you notice all these films either had emotional, sad ending or a happy reconciliation while rest of the narrative didn't offer anything much. Sandesham comes with an upgraded storyline. It compiles a Political Satire into Family Drama and also gives that much needed message at the end and i mean a new one, not the same old one. Sandesham is a satire on contemporary Kerala politics where brothers turn local leaders of rival parties, leading to distress for their aged and once-proud parents. There are two daughters too, one is greedy, unlovable and the other one is kind and obeyed. Unlike those melodramatic Family Dramas made in Indian Cinema before it, Sandesham is far more entertaining and essential. It doesn't make any melodramatic scene even when you wish to see one, it doesn't have any long speeches made by the father or mother's character nor it has any extremely emotional segments. It keeps those speeches short and poignant, it keeps the climax portable and accessable to everyone rather than making it utterly filmy. Acting, writing, screenplay, dialogues, camera and direction everything hits the bar. Overall, a model changing Classic but Top Rated Malayalam Film at IMDb is bit doubtful.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest.
That Malayalam Classic which changed the definition of Family Dramas with brilliant use of Political Satire element. Haven't we all seen the family drama over the years. That same formula of Father and Mother goes through terrible conflicts and torments after their own blood and flesh don't care about them. And then the old age tragedy turns into an inspiration for all parents on how to come back strongly in last days and teach a lesson to their own childrens who abandoned them. Well, it started in Hollywood in 30s with 'Make Way For Tomorrow' then there was Japanese adaption 'Tokyo Story' in 50s and Bollywood made many films in 70s and 80s with the same content. If you notice all these films either had emotional, sad ending or a happy reconciliation while rest of the narrative didn't offer anything much. Sandesham comes with an upgraded storyline. It compiles a Political Satire into Family Drama and also gives that much needed message at the end and i mean a new one, not the same old one. Sandesham is a satire on contemporary Kerala politics where brothers turn local leaders of rival parties, leading to distress for their aged and once-proud parents. There are two daughters too, one is greedy, unlovable and the other one is kind and obeyed. Unlike those melodramatic Family Dramas made in Indian Cinema before it, Sandesham is far more entertaining and essential. It doesn't make any melodramatic scene even when you wish to see one, it doesn't have any long speeches made by the father or mother's character nor it has any extremely emotional segments. It keeps those speeches short and poignant, it keeps the climax portable and accessable to everyone rather than making it utterly filmy. Acting, writing, screenplay, dialogues, camera and direction everything hits the bar. Overall, a model changing Classic but Top Rated Malayalam Film at IMDb is bit doubtful.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Sandesham gives the best message
sonypadikal6 February 2023
Sandesham is the best message to a keralite forever where most people find politics as their main priority. This message is always relevant beyond time limits. I wish everyone watch this movie. Story and direction is beyond excellence. Everyone lived in the charector. In fact its not like a movie its real life in our society. I wish all those who give politics as their priority must watch this sandesham and realise life is beyond your petry politics. At least the new generation, i wish, get rid of politics which has absolutely been corrupted in our society. It may take time but i am sure it will happen one day.
100% Engaging.
radhakrishnanbes8 May 2021
I need subtitle
jebingeorgecoc25 February 2020
Masterpiece
aryannairarun3 April 2024
This movie is infinitely rewatchable. Everything, from Thilakan's performance, the comedy, and Sreenivasan's script is perfect. The best thing about this movie is how well it holds up. The satire and commentary on our society is still very relevant. And so is how politics is something foolish and every politician only cares about themselves. The performances are all great but thilakan and oduvil unnikrishnan completely sweep the floor with their acting and chemistry as longtime friends. And lines like "nariel ka paani" and "polandine patti oru aksharam mindalle" will be remembered forever. The film doesnt go over its runtime and the pacing is still somehow perfect. In short, this is the perfect satire.
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