Yavanika

Yavanika is a 1982 Indian Malayalam-language mystery thriller film written and directed by K. G. George, and starring Bharath Gopi and Mammootty along with Nedumudi Venu, Jalaja and Thilakan in supporting roles. The film is regarded as one of the finest mystery or investigative thrillers ever made in Malayalam cinema.The movie makes use of the Rashomon Effect. The film received wide critical acclaim. Yavanika is one of George's most celebrated films, regarded by critics as a masterpiece of Malayalam cinema. Plot Vakkachan (Thilakan) is a popular theatre owner running his drama company known as 'Bhavana theatres'. He is the director of his dramas and is a critically acclaimed director and often surfaces as best ones in the state drama awards (in the story). The movie starts with a scene that the troupe departing for a stage show during that night in a distant place. All are on board but waiting for Kollappally (Venu Nagavalli), a popular and awarding winning performer of the troupe. In that rain shadowed evening Kollappalli arrives late (unusually) and gives excuses to Vakkachan for being late, and the bus departs. On the way they pick-up Rohini (Jalaja), who plays the lead female role in the drama, from her home. Vakkachan enquires where Ayyappan (Gopi), the Tabala player of the troupe, with whom Rohini lives, is. The gloomy faced Rohini says she doesn’t know where he is and he hasn’t returned home last night, she replies. Varunan (Jagathi Sreekumar), the comedian of the troupe, suggest to route the bus through the nearest liquor shop where Ayyappan, a drunkard by nature, might be sleeping by booze over last night. However the team could not find him at the liquor shop either and they proceed to the stage with an anticipation that Ayyapan might be joining directly there. As the drama starts, Ayyappan hasn't turned up yet but Vakkachan takes the risk of starting the show without the Tabalist. The drama goes well despite the orchestra had no Tabalist that night and the team proceed to a hotel mid way to the following day's stage show. In the morning Chellapan (Sreenivasan) sends another Tabalist as a replacement for Ayyappan. After two consecutive shows, the troupe returns and drops Rohini first at her home and finds that Ayyappan hasn’t returned to their home either.