| Ramji Rao Speaking | |
| Director: | Siddique–Lal |
| Producer: | Fazil Ousepachan Vaalakuzhy, Swargachitra Appachan |
| Starring: | Sai Kumar Mukesh Innocent Vijayaraghavan Devan |
| Music: | S. Balakrishnan (Composer), AR Rahman (Keyboard) |
| Cinematography: | Venu |
| Editing: | T. R. Shekar |
| Studio: | Adithya Films |
| Distributor: | Century |
| Runtime: | 150 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Malayalam |
Ramji Rao Speaking is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-thriller film written and directed by the duo Siddique–Lal (in their directorial debut) and produced by Fazil, Swargachitra Appachan, and Ousepachan Vaalakuzhy. It stars Sai Kumar, Mukesh, Innocent, Vijayaraghavan, Devan, Rekha, with Sankaradi, Sukumari, Kunchan and Mamukkoya in other supporting roles. The film deals with social factors affecting Kerala including unemployment during the 1980s, and went on to achieve a cult classic status.[1] [2] [3]
Ramji Rao Speaking marked the debut of director duo Siddique and Lal, actors Sai Kumar (first appearance in a notable role), Rekha Harris, N. F. Varghese and Harishree Ashokan (both in minor roles), and music director S. Balakrishnan. Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995) and Mannar Mathai Speaking 2 (2014) are the sequels to the film.
The core plot of the movie was inspired by the 1971 American TV movie See The Man Run.[4] [5] [6] [7] Fazil remade this film in Tamil as Arangetra Velai, with Mamukkoya, Sukumari and Vijayaraghavan reprising their role and the character of "Gopalakrishnan" being replaced by a female. Priyadarshan remade the film in Hindi, titled Hera Pheri. It was also remade in Telugu as Dhanalakshmi, I Love You, in Kannada as Trin Trin, in Odia as Wrong Number, in Bengali as Hera Pheri and Punjabi as Gol Gappe.
The story revolves around three unemployed people (the third is a middle aged unsuccessful theatre owner). The story opens with the arrival of Balakrishnan in Kochi to dispute the denial of his company job which he was supposed to receive several years ago. Several candidates overtook his chance and the last one was Rani who pretends to be an influential figure, the daughter of Shivashankaran Panicker, a candidate who overtook his chance. Rani threatens Balakrishnan to continue to work despite his efforts to overthrow her. The company manager knows about her family situation and helps her keep the job. Balakrishnan is determined to stay in the town until he succeeds in getting the job.
During his stay, Balakrishnan finds a temporary lodging in 'Urvasi Theatre', owned by Mannar Mathai, with another tenant Gopalakrishnan, both unemployed and with insignificant earnings. Mathai is constantly pestered by calls intended for Urumees Thampan, a rich businessman, and vice versa. Initially, Gopalakrishnan does not like the new tenant because of a misunderstanding made by Balakrishnan that Gopalakrishnan is a pickpocket at the market, in vain. Gopalakrishnan is tricky and cunning. He lies to his mother by telling her that he works in a large company based in Calcutta and that he is building a new house in Kochi. Balakrishnan discovers the truth and mistakes Gopalakrishnan as a fraud. Gopalakrishnan makes Balakrishnan sign white paper and betrays him by writing a no-objection letter to Rani, thus giving her the job. Gopalakrishnan brings Balakrishnan's friend Hamzukkoya who is desperately searching for him to the house. Hamzukkoya threatens to commit suicide if he does not repay the debt of rupees 35000 he took for his sister's wedding, which Hamzukkoya wants to use for his daughter's wedding as fast as possible. He demands the money from Rani, but what shocks Balakrishnan most was the realisation of Rani's family situation, having a blind son who needs a surgery worth rupees 50000, which she had earlier demanded from Balakrishnan in return for the job. Balakrishnan gets drunk at night and reveals the fraud play of Gopalakrishnan done to his mother, which Gopalakrishnan justifies as comforting his mother, who has had health issues, because Gopalakrishnan did not get a job months after passing out of college. The truth melts the minds of both Balakrishnan and Mannar Mathai. They all become friends enjoy the night despite their unending problems.
Early in dawn, Balakrishnan wakes up to a ringing telephone. A gang leader named Ramji Rao has kidnapped Nisha Mol, Urumees's daughter and is asking for a ransom of one lakh rupees. The three unemployed have no relation with Urumees; Ramji Rao had apparently dialled the wrong number. Panicking, the trio tries to find the number of Urumees from a phone directory, only to find out that the numbers of Urvasi Theaters and Urumees have interchanged in the directory. Gopalakrishnan comes up with an idea and asks Balakrishnan to act as a dealer between Ramji Rao with Urumees, without letting them know about each other, and demand a ransom of four lakh to Urumees, instead of one lakh, get Nisha from Ramji Rao, and take the remaining three lakh for themselves. They narrowly escape Hamzukkoya who tries to assault Balakrishnan, who has not paid for the wedding. They find it difficult as the police suspect them and they find it hard to keep Urumees and Ramji Rao anonymous to each other. Finally, after a struggle, the three rescues Nisha from the gang leader and hands her over to Urumees. Ramji Rao is arrested, and they confess the play to him upon a police encounter. Gopalakrishnan gives Hamzukkoya his money, but is arrested along with Balakrishnan and Mannar Mathai soon after he reaches home. Urumees forgives them and is thankful for returning his daughter, and offers them the three lakh rupees as a reward, telling them that they do not have to stay at the police station for more than an hour. The film ends with Nisha calling Urumees, mocking Ramji Rao.
The movie is directed by Siddique–Lal duo, who were assistants of Fazil. The film is also produced by Fazil.Sai Kumar made his acting debut with this film.[9]
The film's soundtrack contains 4 songs, all composed by S. Balakrishnan in his debut, with the lyrics by Bichu Thirumala. A. R. Rahman programmed the song "Kalikalam".[10]
| Title | Singer(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Avanavan Kurukkunna" | M. G. Sreekumar, C. O. Anto, Chorus | |
| 2 | "Kalikkalam Ithu Kalikkalam" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | |
| 3 | "Kanneerkkaayaliletho" | M. G. Sreekumar, K. S. Chitra | |
| 4 | "Oraayiram Kinaakkalal" | M. G. Sreekumar, Unni Menon, K. S. Chitra, C. O. Anto, Chorus |
The film became a commercial success.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] In 1989, The Hindu wrote, "Siddique and Lal have to be complimented on their brilliant maiden venture, a rollicking comedy."[16] Kalakaumudi wrote: "Sai Kumar makes an impressive debut...However it is Innocent who is the showstealer."[17]
| Year | Film | Language | Cast | Director | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Arangetra Velai | Tamil | Prabhu, Revathi, V. K. Ramasamy | Fazil | |
| 2000 | Hera Pheri | Hindi | Priyadarshan | ||
| 2002 | Dhanalakshmi, I Love You | Telugu | Allari Naresh, Aditya Om, Naresh | Shiva Nageswara Rao | |
| 2004 | Trin Trin | Kannada | Dharma, Rakesh Krishna, Doddanna | Adithya Chikkanna | |
| 2002 | Wrong Number | Oriya | Bobby Islam | ||
| 2016 | Hera Pheri | Bengali | Rajatava Dutta, Vivek, Subhasish Mukherjee | Sujit Guha[18] | |
| 2023 | Gol Gappe | Punjabi | Binnu Dhillon, Rajat Bedi, B. N. Sharma | Smeep Kang[19] |
Mukesh's mother's warden's dialogue in the film "Kambilipothappu (woollen blankets)" became a catchphrase.[20]
