Christian Brothers (film)

Palamattathu Varghese Mappila is a generationally wealthy man and retired captain from the Indian Army. He is a widower and has four children named Christy, Joji, Jessy and Stella. Varghese is entrusted with an important document pertaining to the transfer of vast amount of land, which was once granted to the Christian missionaries by his younger brother Thomas alias Kochu Thoma, a village officer. While Varghese was serving in the Army, his children were taken care by Kochu Thoma, who remained unmarried, took care of them and buried the absence of motherly affection and care. Christy is currently working as a high-profile police informant and as a secret agent of the Central Government in Mumbai. Joji left to Italy to study theology, but he travels to London and later opts out after he falls in love with Meenakshi, the daughter of State Home Minister Sudhakaran.

Kunnel Kumaran Thampi, a ruthless liquor baron wants to usurp the land for the construction of a resort, where he kills Kochu Thoma for his incorruptible obstinacy and orders to dump his body in a quagmire with his car, where he sets to find the documents. Varghese lodges a missing petition with the cops regarding the prolonged disappearance of his brother. Meanwhile, Meenakshi's father learns her relationship with Joji and fakes a heart attack to make Meenakshi return from London. When Joji finds out that she is leaving, he joins her but her cousin Vinod and his friends burns his passport. Upon returning to India, Meenakshi gets kidnapped and the case is assigned to Christy due to his professional experience. To his shock, Christy learns that the kidnapper is Jessy's husband Georgekutty and recollects his past.

Past: Christy arrived at Mumbai to work as a senior manager in a bank, where he decided to spend some time with Jessy and Georgekutty who were also in Mumbai at the time. Unbeknownst to them, Georgekutty was a pimp, womaniser and a gangster, who is also involved in narcotics and extortion. Christy happens to run into a cat and goose chase when Georgekutty was targeted by Andrews Bandara alias Karim Lala's men. Georgekutty gave a gun to Christy, with which he killed a few goons during the fight. Christy was imprisoned as the gun carried his fingerprints. When Jessy learns of this, she tries to inform Varghese, but Jessy is killed by Georgekutty. Georgekutty misleads the entire family into believing that Christy was the reason for Jessy's death. Since then, Varghese disowns Christy and considers Georgekutty as his elder son while Christy is released from prison by Andrews.

Present: Christy goes to the building where Georgekutty has kept Meenakshi as hostage and rescues her. After a few hours, the cops learn that Georgekutty was murdered, where they arrest Christy through the assistance of SP Joseph Vadakkan. However, Christy escapes from custody and hides in the Home Minister's house, to find the real culprit and prove his innocence in front of Varghese. Joseph marries Stella while Christy attends the marriage in secret. With Joseph's help, Christy helps Joji and Meenakshi get married. Later, Joseph tells Varghese about Christy's innocence in Georgekutty's and Jessy's death. They all return home and Christy reconciles with Varghese.

Soon, Joseph concludes that Joji is Georgekutty's murderer. Being questioned by Joseph, Joji reveals the truth. After Vinod and his friends burned his passport, he revealed everything to Georgekutty and seeks help from him to convince Meenakshi about the plan her father had made to separate them. But Georgekutty plays foul and bargained ransom with Meenakshi. Joji arrives at the place and learned this after he saw Georgekutty's conversation with Christy. When Joji confronted Georgekutty, he reveals his true face and Christy's innocence. Angrily, Joji kills Georgekutty with Christy's gun, as he ruined their family and killed Jessy. Christy believed that what he did was right and decided to take the blame to save Joji. Varghese overhears the conversation and becomes very emotional. At this time, Kumaran Thampi, along with his sons and goons barge into Palamattathu to steal the property deed from Varghese's locker and hurriedly leaves after fatally shooting Varghese. During the chaos, Thampi reveals the fate of Kochu Thoma, which is later told to Christy by a terribly wounded Varghese. At the hospital, the doctors administer ventilator support to Varghese, as his condition is critical. Enraged about Varghese's plight and the murder of his loving uncle, Christy and Joseph goes to take revenge on Kumaran Thampi. Meanwhile, a group of goons tries to kidnap Meenakshi and attack Joji. Andrews saves them and fights all the goons. They later go to help Christy and Joseph and the four of them together kill Kunnel Kumaran Thampi and his sons.

{{Cast listing|

• Mohanlal as Christy Varghese Mappila (Sherson)
• Suresh Gopi as SP Joseph Vadakkan IPS, Christy's and Joji's brother-in-law
• Dileep as Joji Varghese Mappila, Christy's younger brother
• R. Sarathkumar as Andrews Bandra (Karim Lala), Christy's brother like friend, who helped him from George Kutty's trap (extended cameo appearance)
• Sai Kumar as Captain Palamattathu Varghese Mappilla, Ex-Indian Army officer and feudal lord. Christy's, Joji', Jessy's and Stella's father and Joseph's father-in-law
• Jagathy Sreekumar as Thomas Palamattathu (Kochu Thoma), Varghese Mappilla's younger brother
• Biju Menon as Commissioner Hariharan Thampi IPS, Kunnel Kumaran Thampi's younger son
• Vijayaraghavan as Kunnel Kumaran Thampi
• Kaniha as Stella Varghese Mappila, Christy's and Joji's younger sister and Joseph Vadakkan's wife
• Kavya Madhavan as Meenakshi, Joji's lover turned wife
• Lakshmi Gopalaswamy as Jessy Varghese Mappila, Christy's younger sister
• Raai Laxmi as Sophie, Christy's love interest (cameo appearance)
• Jayan Cherthala as Rajan Thampi, Kunnel Kumaran Thampi's elder son
• Suresh Krishna as George Kutty, Jessy's husband who is a pimp
• Devan as Sudhakaran, Home Minister of Kerala and Meenakshi's father
• Anoop Chandran as Kunjachan, Varghese Mappila's assistant
• Salim Kumar as Purushothaman, Minister's personal assistant
• Suraj Venjaramood as Pappu, Master chef in minister's house
• Harisree Ashokan as Krishnankutty, Marriage broker
• Subair as Manoj Thampi, Kumaran Thampi's second son
• Babu Antony as Captain Rasheed Rahman, NSG officer
• Besant Ravi as Crane Murugan (cameo appearance)
• Kazan Khan as Khan Bhai, Karim Lala's assistant (cameo appearance)
• Anand as Ranjith, Christy's assistant
• Niyas Musliyar as Rocky, Christy's assistant
• Kiran Raj as Williams, Andrews's assistant
• Kunchan as Achuthan, Minister's driver
• Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Joseph's mother
• Shobha Mohan as Viji, Sudhakaran's wife and Meenakshi's mother
• Sivaji Guruvayoor as IG Chandradas IPS
• Kalabhavan Shajon as SI Damodaran
• Santhosh Jogi as SI Johnson
• Jagannatha Varma as Bishop Alexander
• P. Sreekumar as Sathyanath IAS, Home Secretary of Kerala
• Kollam Thulasi as Tahsildar

}}

The film was announced as a big budget film but the Kerala Film Producers Association had set a norm that no Malayalam film should have a budget of more than {{INR}}3.5 crore. The association refused to give a clearance for the film's shoot. The producers stated that given the star-cast and the subject of the film, it is not possible to make it at a lesser budget. Following the interests from stars, exhibitors and theatre-owners, the film was given a clearance despite its budget, which was many times the restriction set by the association.{{cite web|url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/Christian-Brothers-runs-into-troubled-waters/542730/|title=Christian Brothers runs into troubled waters|work=Screen India|date=20 November 2009|access-date=4 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108132935/http://www.screenindia.com/news/Christian-Brothers-runs-into-troubled-waters/542730|archive-date=8 November 2010|df=dmy-all}}

Tamil actor Arjun Sarja registered a complaint with Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) about using his name and photographs in connection with the film without his consent or knowledge.{{cite news|url=http://nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=27434|title=Arjun to register a complaint against Christian Brothers|date=13 November 2009|publisher=Nowrunning.com|access-date=5 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816034810/http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=27434|archive-date=16 August 2011|url-status=dead}} Arjun commented that no one has approached him to act in Christian Brothers and all this has happened without his consent or knowledge. However, the issue was resolved when there came an official clarification that Arjun was replaced by actor Sarathkumar in the film.{{cite web|url=http://nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=27135|title=Arjun no longer a part of Christian Brothers?|date=2 November 2009|publisher=Nowrunning.com|access-date=5 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816034817/http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=27135|archive-date=16 August 2011|url-status=dead}}

In February 2010, it was reported that the producers of Christian Brothers excluded actor Thilakan from the film at the request of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), the predominant film technicians association. Thilakan had been earlier signed for the role played by Sai Kumar in the film.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article101276.ece|title=Denied role in film, Thilakan to stage sit-in|date=5 February 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=5 March 2011}} On 3 February 2010, Thilakan publicly protested against the unofficial ban enforced on him by FEFKA. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists issued a show cause notice to Thilakan for bringing the issue into the public domain. Thilakan accused AMMA, of which he too is a member.{{cite news|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=341253&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |title=Actor Thilakan to stage sit-in over ban |date=5 February 2010 |newspaper=Gulf Times |access-date=5 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314010728/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=341253&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |archive-date=14 March 2010 }} Several political parties came out openly in support of Thilakan.{{cite news|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/527887_Thilakan-issue-spills-on-to-political-domain|title=Thilakan issue spills on to political domain|date=20 February 2010|publisher=Press Trust of India|access-date=5 March 2010}}

The film began production on 11 January 2010.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} First schedule of the film occurred at various locales in Kerala from January through September 2010. Palamattam tharavadu, where the major parts of the film is set was shot from Netto's bungalow near Edakochi.{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/23/stories/2010042351230200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041824/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/04/23/stories/2010042351230200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2011|title=All in the family|date=23 April 2010|work=The Hindu|access-date=4 March 2011}} The second schedule, which mainly included picturisation of a song, commenced in London the same month.{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2010/christian-brothers-mohanlal-140910.html|title=Christian Brothers shooting in London|date=16 September 2010|publisher=Oneindia.in|access-date=4 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208195627/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2010/christian-brothers-mohanlal-140910.html|archive-date=8 December 2010|df=dmy-all}} The principal photography was completed by the end of 2010.

{{Infobox album

| name = Christian Brothers

| type = soundtrack

| longtype = to Christian Brothers

| artist = Deepak Dev

| cover =

| alt =

| released = 11 March 2011

| recorded = 2011

| venue = Chennai

| studio = Kodandapani Studio

| genre = Feature Film Soundtrack

| length = 18:31

| label = Satyam Audios

| producer = Deepak Dev

| prev_title = Tournament – Play & Replay

| prev_year = 2010

| next_title = Urumi

| next_year = 2011

| misc = {{External media|

| audio1 =

{{YouTube|mzSDAdstDqY|Audio Jukebox (Satyam Audios)}}

| audio2 =

{{YouTube|PIi4w_lfbBo|Video Song}}}}

{{Singles

| name = Christian Brothers

| type = soundtrack

| single1 = Karthaave Nee

| single1date = 11 March 2011

| single2 = Sayyaave

| single2date = 11 March 2011}}

}}

The soundtrack features four songs composed by Deepak Dev with lyrics by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri. The songs managed to top the music charts in the initial weeks.{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-18/news-interviews/29144385_1_malayalam-film-starrer-suresh-gopi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922083533/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-18/news-interviews/29144385_1_malayalam-film-starrer-suresh-gopi|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 22, 2012|title=Can Mohanlal pull it off?|work=The Times of India|date=March 18, 2011|access-date=March 18, 2011}} The soundtrack album was released by Satyam Audios.

{{Track listing

| headline = Christian Brothers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length = 22:58

| title1 = Parmanandam

| extra1 = Shankar Mahadevan, Rimi Tomy

| length1 = 4:30

| title2 = Sayyaave

| extra2 = Shankar Mahadevan, Shweta Mohan

| length2 = 5:05

| title3 = Mizhikalil Naanam

| extra3 = Nikhil Mohan, Ranjith, Rimi Tomy

| length3 = 4:31

| title4 = Thammil Thammil

| extra4 = Shankar Mahadevan, Shweta Mohan

| length4 = 4:20

| title5 = Karthaave

| note5 = Karaoke Version

| extra5 =

| length5 = 4:32

}}

Complaint by Arjun Sarja

Tamil actor Arjun Sarja registered a complaint with Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) about using his name and photographs in connection with the film without his consent or knowledge.{{cite news |date=13 November 2009 |title=Arjun to register a complaint against Christian Brothers |publisher=Nowrunning.com |url=http://nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=27434 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816034810/http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.aspx?it=27434 |archive-date=16 August 2011}} Arjun commented that no one has approached him to act in Christian Brothers and all this has happened without his consent or knowledge.{{cite web |date=20 November 2009 |title=Christian Brothers runs into troubled waters |url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/Christian-Brothers-runs-into-troubled-waters/542730/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108132935/http://www.screenindia.com/news/Christian-Brothers-runs-into-troubled-waters/542730 |archive-date=8 November 2010 |access-date=4 March 2011 |work=Screen India |df=dmy-all}} However, the issue was resolved when there came an official clarification that Arjun was replaced by actor Sarathkumar in the film.

Replacement of Thilakan

In February 2010, it was reported that the producers of Christian Brothers excluded many actors from the film, including veteran actor Thilakan from the film at the request of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), the predominant film technicians association. Thilakan had been earlier signed for the role played by Sai Kumar in the film.{{cite news |date=5 February 2010 |title=Denied role in film, Thilakan to stage sit-in |newspaper=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article101276.ece |access-date=5 March 2011}} On 3 February 2010, Thilakan publicly protested against the unofficial ban enforced on him by FEFKA. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists issued a show cause notice to Thilakan for bringing the issue into the public domain. Thilakan accused AMMA, of which he too is a member.{{cite news |date=5 February 2010 |title=Actor Thilakan to stage sit-in over ban |newspaper=Gulf Times |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=341253&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314010728/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=341253&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22 |archive-date=14 March 2010}} Several political parties came out openly in support of Thilakan.{{cite news |date=20 February 2010 |title=Thilakan issue spills on to political domain |publisher=Press Trust of India |url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/527887_Thilakan-issue-spills-on-to-political-domain |access-date=5 March 2010}}

with a total of 400 prints; 157 centres in Kerala, 100 centres outside Kerala and 85 centres overseas, making it the largest release for a Malayalam film at that time.This film beat previous collection records.[http://www.sanscinema.com/2011/03/christian-brothers-releases-in-244-cinemas/ "Christian Brothers Releases In 244 Cinemas"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324080236/http://www.sanscinema.com/2011/03/christian-brothers-releases-in-244-cinemas/ |date=24 March 2011 }}. SansCinema. Retrieved 19 March 2011. It was released in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia on 25 March 2011, in Gulf countries on 31 March 2011.

The film was made on a budget of {{INR Convert|15|c}}, a high budget for a Malayalam film at that time.{{cite news|title=Malayalam film Christian Brothers to go global|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-christian-brothers-to-release-worldwide/20110316.htm|agency=Rediff.com|date=16 March 2011}} Christian Brothers completed 100 days run at theatres.{{cite web|title=Christian brothers ends at 100 days|url=http://filmnews.bizhat.com/2011/06/02/christian-brothers-ends-at-70-days/|publisher=Bizhat.com|date=2 June 2011|access-date=15 August 2015|archive-date=27 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927022347/http://filmnews.bizhat.com/2011/06/02/christian-brothers-ends-at-70-days/|url-status=dead}} In two weeks, the film grossed {{INR Convert|11.35|c}} from Kerala box office with a distributors share of {{INR Convert|5.60|c}}.{{cite web|title=Kerala Box Office- March 1 to 30|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14966793&cid=14625530|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409171420/http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14966793&cid=14625530|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 April 2011|website=Sify|access-date=8 February 2017|date=5 April 2011}} It did good business in initial weeks grabbing a distributors share of {{INR Convert|8.5|c}} in 25 days.{{cite web|title=Kerala box office - March 31 to April 13.|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/boxoffice.php?id=14967836&|website=Sify|date=19 April 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The film grossed {{INR Convert|37.4|c}} at the box office in two months. Christian Brothers was the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year.{{cite news|author=Manoj Nair|title=Malayalam movies: Non-linear narratives are making the box-office ring louder|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/business-of-bollywood/malayalam-movies-non-linear-narratives-are-making-the-box-office-ring-louder/articleshow/8478136.cms|work=India Times|agency=Economic Times|date=21 May 2011}} Apart from the box office revenue, the film made {{INR Convert|5|c}} from satellite, overseas and outside Kerala distribution rights.{{cite news|title=Multistarrer era comes to Mollywood|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2011/jun/05/multistarrer-era-comes-to-mollywood-259784.html|access-date=29 October 2016|work=The New Indian Express|date=5 June 2011}}

The film received positive reviews praising plot and the performances.[http://malayalam.webdunia.com/entertainment/film/topmovies/1103/28/1110328018_1.htm Cristian Brothers No.1 | ആഗസ്റ്റ് 15 തകര്‍ന്നു, ക്രിസ്ത്യന്‍ ബ്രദേഴ്സ് വാഴുന്നു!] Neethu Reghukumar of Bangalore Mirror gave a positive review and said, "The much-anticipated Christian Brothers proved to be worth the wait. Finally fans have something to rejoice as he has made a rollicking start this year. Back in all elements, all steals the show, firing on all cylinders. However, at no stage the multi-starrer film does appear as a one-man show."{{cite web|url=http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/76/2011031820110318200043240e92002ad/All-guns-blazing-I-Christian-Brothers-I.html|title=All guns blazing! Christian Brothers|publisher=Bangalore Mirror|date=18 March 2011|access-date=22 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321113529/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/76/2011031820110318200043240e92002ad/All-guns-blazing-I-Christian-Brothers-I.html|archive-date=21 March 2011|url-status = dead}}

M. Ashitha of Deccan Herald commented, "True, too many cooks spoil the broth. Despite having the luxury of actors like Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Dileep and Sarath Kumar together in the movie, Christian Brothers turns out not to be a disappointment. The film, heavily depending on the star power, is a good entertainment."{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/146993/many-stars-poor-show.html|title=Many stars, great show|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=22 March 2011|access-date=22 March 2011}} Paresh C. Palicha of Rediff.com stated, "Christian Brothers is a typical multi-starrer that is made with an eye at the box office with not much depth in the subject. But you still get entertained."{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/south-review-christian-brothers/20110318.htm|title=Review: Christian Brothers is entertaining|work=Rediff.com|date=18 March 2011|access-date=22 March 2011}}

Sify.com's reviewer rated the film as a "Racy Entertainer" and stated, "Christian Brothers is a loud and high voltage thriller, for which you don't have to use your brains much. It could have definitely been more enjoyable if it was shorter by some twenty minutes or so, but even in the current form it could make you smile as the end credits start rolling. It's absolutely a no logic-popcorn fun and perhaps not meant to be taken too seriously."{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/christian-brothers-review-malayalam-14965505.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023190445/http://www.sify.com/movies/christian-brothers-review-malayalam-14965505.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2013|title=Movie Review: Christian Brothers|website=Sify|date=18 March 2011|access-date=22 March 2011}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20100513042426/http://www.themoviechristianbrothers.com:80/}}
• {{IMDb title|1877589}}
• [https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1877589 Christian Brothers] at Box Office Mojo

{{Joshiy}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Indian action thriller films

Category:Indian gangster films

Category:Indian family films

Category:Films about Christianity

Category:Films shot in Kochi

Category:Films shot in Mumbai

Category:Films shot in London

Category:Fictional portrayals of the Kerala Police

Category:2010s Malayalam-language films

Category:Films directed by Joshiy