Two Countries

{{Infobox film

| name = Two Countries

| image = Two_Countries.jpg

| caption = Theatrical poster

| director = Shafi

| producer = M Renjith

| writer =

| screenplay = Rafi

| story = Najeem Koya
Rafi

| based_on =

| starring = Dileep
Mamta Mohandas

| narrator =

| music = Gopi Sunder

| cinematography = Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran

| editing = V.Sajan

| studio = Rejaputhra Visual media

| distributor =

| released = {{film date|df=yes|2015|12|25|ref1=[http://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/movies/two-countries.html Two Countries (Two Countries Malayalam Movie)]. FilmiBeat (25 December 2015). Retrieved 1 January 2016.}}

| runtime = 161 minutes

| country = India

| language = Malayalam

| budget = 12 crore

| gross = {{INR}}55crore{{cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2016/two-countries-box-office-collection-60-days-217059.html|title=BOX OFFICE: Two Countries 60 Days Worldwide Collections|work=Oneindia|date=25 February 2016}}

}}

Two Countries is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language romantic comedy film written by Rafi and directed by Shafi. The film stars Dileep and Mamta Mohandas in the lead roles with Suraj Venjarammoodu, Mukesh, Aju Varghese, and Jagadish appearing in supporting roles.{{cite news|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17426/malayalam/two-countries/|title=Two Countries (2015) (Malayalam)|agency=Nowrunning.com|access-date=24 November 2015|archive-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113060315/http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/17426/malayalam/two-countries/|url-status=dead}} It was released on 25 December 2015 and became a commercial blockbuster at box office. It grossed 10 crores in just two days. The film was remade in Telugu as same name with Sunil{{Cite news|title=Sunil to star in the Telugu re-make of 'Two Countries'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Sunil-to-star-in-the-Telugu-re-make-of-Two-Countries/articleshow/53883482.cms|access-date=2021-01-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}} and in Kannada with Sharan titled Adyaksha in America.{{Cite web|last=TNN|date=November 10, 2017|title=Disha Pande joins Sharan's next|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/disha-pande-joins-sharans-next/articleshow/61574840.cms|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=The Times of India|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Shyam Prasad S|date=March 4, 2019|title=Sharan loses voice while dubbing|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/sharan-loses-voice-while-dubbing/articleshow/68246308.cms|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Bangalore Mirror|language=en}}

Plot

The plot revolves around Ullas, a 35 year old cunning procrastinator, who makes a living by conning people in his hometown. Money is the only motivator that works for him and he wants it without any risks. He decides to marry a disabled woman, Simran, who is the sister of a Maarwadi Patelar, from whom he had borrowed some money. Patelar agreed as he wanted nothing but to put a smile on his sister's face. But Ullas' motivation behind the marriage was the assets in favour of her. A name coincidence resulted in bringing Ullas a proposal from an Indo-Canadian rich Malayali woman, Laya. He immediately agreed to the proposal, and told Patelar that he had left his interest in marrying her sister, who in turn, was furious and became violent. Immigration to Canada and easy money allure him. Only later does Ullas come to the knowledge that Laya is a chronic alcoholic. The knowledge of funds deposited in her name, that Laya cannot claim due to her alcoholism, and the possibility of access entices him however and he adjusts to the troubles.

Ullas falls in love with his alcoholic wife, and the call of a husband makes him care for Laya even in trouble. Laya learns of Ullas's original plan through Avinash, Ullas's friend, accidentally. This leads to a divorce case. Initially, Ullas gains the upper hand from the court, citing his wife is an alcoholic and needs treatment and that the divorce case is resistant towards it. Laya gets treated through a de-addiction center.

With the guidance of the doctor, Ullas goes with the divorce process to help Laya. He returns and decides to marry Simran again. Patelar reluctantly agreed as Ullas promised he wouldn't change his mind again. Later, Laya understands the role of Ullas in her wellness and decides to fly back to India to meet Ullas. Ullas on meeting her requests her to never disturb him again as he is planning to marry a woman whom he deceived before and cannot do the same again. Ullas, regretfully, dresses up and leaves for the wedding. On arrival, he discovers that it was all a play by Patelar, as Ullas is deceived by him, for his past activity towards Simran. Ullas, cried mockingly, as things went well as he was reunited with Laya.

Cast

Dileep as Ullas Kumar
Master Naif as Young Ullas
Mamta Mohandas as Laya Ullas
Baby Parvathi as Young Laya
Mukesh as Simon Varghese/ Achayan, Ottawa Malayali Samajam President.
Aju Varghese as Avinash Kumbalachottil, Ullas's best friend
Suraj Venjarammoodu as Jimmy Chokliyil, Ullas's friend in Canada
Jagadish as Ujwal, Ullas's elder brother
Isha Talwar as Simran, Patelar's sister
Rafi as Daniel, Laya's father
Ashokan as Mukundan Menon, Laya's step father
Vinaya Prasad as Revathi, Laya's mother
Srinda Arhaan as Jessy / Jessica, Laya's stepmother
Lena as Adv. Susan, Simon's wife
Sajitha Betti as Reshmi, Ujwal's wife
Ajmal Ameer as Ullas Kumaran, a politician
Makarand Deshpande as Patelar
Kalasala Babu as Sukumaran Pilla, Ullas' father
Vijayaraghavan as Kochachan, Ullas's uncle
Shobha Mohan as Radhika, Ullas' mother
Kalyani Nair as Usha, Avinash's wife
Hareesh Kanaran as Sajan Koyilandy
Balachandran Chullikadu as Kanaran Master
J. Pallassery as Politician
Nandu Poduval as Politician Rameshan
Riyaz Khan as Kiran (cameo)
Dinesh Prabhakar as Bus Driver (cameo)
Saju Kodiyan as Chellappan (cameo)

Production

Originally, the film was entitled Canadian Tharavu, but this was later changed to "2 Countries" in August 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2015/dileep-canadian-tharavu-retitled-as-two-countries-193286.html|title=Dileep's Canadian Tharavu Retitled As Two Countries|date=6 August 2015|agency=Filmibeat}} Principal photography started in July 2015 in Canada by CanEast Films Ottawa (Biju George and Satheesh Gopalan) .,{{cite news|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/two-countries-started-rolling/111803/story.htm|title='Two Countries' started rolling|date=24 August 2015|work=nowrunning.com|access-date=29 November 2015|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208142438/http://www.nowrunning.com/two-countries-started-rolling/111803/story.htm|url-status=dead}} Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod and Ottawa Film Commission actively helped the Team. Team Fondly remembers Lisa's help all through during the shoot. About 80 per cent of the film was shot in Ottawa at locations like ByWard Market, Rideau Canal, Almonte, Manotick, and Brockville. The filming in Canada was completed on 6 August 2015.{{cite news|author=Chris Lackner|title=Bollywood by the Rideau: Indian film gets an Ottawa treatment|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/bollywood-by-the-rideau-indian-film-gets-an-ottawa-treatment|accessdate=14 January 2016|work=Ottawa Citizen|date=24 July 2015}} A large part of the film was shot in Ottawa, Montreal, and a song sequence was filmed at Niagara Falls, becoming the second Malayalam film that was shot in Niagara, after I. V. Sasi directed Ezham Kadalinakkare in 1979. The filming took place over the course of a month. The second schedule held in Kochi, Kerala.{{cite news|author=Sanjith Sidhardhan|title=How Dileep's team braved the Canadian summer|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/How-Dileeps-team-braved-the-Canadian-summer/articleshow/48913594.cms|accessdate=14 January 2016|work=The Times of India|date=12 September 2015}} The filming was finished in November 2015.{{cite news|url= http://www.nowrunning.com/two-countries-shoot-wrapped-up/114755/story.htm |title='Two Countries' shoot wrapped up|date=19 November 2015|work=nowrunning.com}}Namitha Pramod signed into play second female lead but was replaced by Isha Talwar.

Release

The film was released in Kerala on 25 December 2015 in the Christmas Day.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} It was released in theatres outside Kerala on 22 January 2016 and in 63 screens in the United Kingdom on 29 January.

Critical reception

The Times of India rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and stated "Packaged with umpteen laugh-out-loud moments, Two Countries is definitely what one would expect from a Dileep movie. The screenplay by Rafi is clean, situational humour with clever quips and the actors hit the ball out of the park with their comic timing".{{cite news|author=Sanjith Sidhardhan|title=Two Countries Movie Review|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/Two-Countries/movie-review/50352819.cms|accessdate=15 January 2016|work=The Times of India|date=28 December 2015}}

=Box office=

The film received a good opening at the box office, grossing {{INRConvert|100|m}} from theatres within five days.{{cite news|accessdate=1 January 2016|publisher=Manorama News|url=http://www.manoramanews.com/news/entertainment/2-countries-box-office-collection.html|title=അഞ്ചുദിവസം കൊണ്ട് 10 കോടി വാരി ടു കൺട്രീസ്|archivedate=25 January 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125011308/http://www.manoramanews.com/news/entertainment/2-countries-box-office-collection.html|url-status=dead}} It grossed {{INRConvert|178|m}} in twenty days from the Kerala box office.{{cite news|title='Pavada' rules box office; 'Two Countries', 'Charlie' running successfully|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/kerala-box-office-collection-pavada-leads-two-countries-charlie-running.html|agency=Malayala Manorama|date=18 January 2016|accessdate=28 January 2016}} After 40 days, the film had collected more than {{INRConvert|300|m}} from Kerala alone and the worldwide gross would come in much higher after adding the earnings from the rest of India and overseas markets. By this time, film already achieved the status of being one of the highest-grossing film in Malayalam.{{cite news|title=Dileep's 'Two Countries' to enter Rs 50 crore club|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/two-countries-movie-dileep-mamtha-box-office-collection-50-crore-club.html|accessdate=2 February 2016|agency=Malayala Manorama|date=2 February 2016}} It grossed an estimated sum of {{INRConvert|315|m}} with a net amount of {{INRConvert|249.8|m}} from 60 theatres in Kerala after 44 days, with a worldwide collection of {{INRConvert|500|m}}.{{cite news|author=Anu James|title=Worldwide box office collection: Dileep-Mamta Mohandas' Two countries enters Rs 50 crore club|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/worldwide-box-office-collection-dileep-mamta-mohandas-two-countries-enters-rs-50-crore-club-666243|accessdate=5 March 2016|work=International Business Times|date=9 February 2016}} After 60 days, worldwide gross was over {{INRConvert|550|m}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.kaumudiplus.com/news.php?nid=b78dd628140aa506c4a6ba55c2256de3&mcid=32&msid=3|title=Two countries to create Collection Record|work=Kerala Kaumudi|date=24 February 2016|accessdate=25 February 2016|language=Malayalam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303100306/http://www.kaumudiplus.com/news.php?nid=b78dd628140aa506c4a6ba55c2256de3&mcid=32&msid=3#.WkkoUSNOlnE|archive-date=3 March 2016}}