Yachakan (1951)
The Mendicant
Release date : 12 September 1951
Released for Onam in cinemas by Kairali Pictures, Yachakan ‘s clichéd & drab theme of lost-and-found with the usual over-the-top dramatisations was mostly shunned by the audiences. The film was an adaptation of the Malayalam novel ‘Paradeshi’ authored by Dr. P.S. Nair. The silver lining was the the debut of legendary Sarvodaya leader Prof MP Manmadhan in the leading role as Chandran (his first & last role on celluloid), the ‘yachakan‘. Miss Kumari as Sathi, the adopted daughter who falls in love with this mendicant, who is in fact the long-lost heir to her adopted family fortune was stellar in her role. The movie also was a pathbreaker in bringing original Carnatic-ragas-based songs to its soundtrack, in a marked difference from the staid Hindi copy-cat tracks.
Movie Handbill
Publicity Still from Yachakan (1951)
More about the Movie
| Thiruvananthapuram Kuttan Pillai | Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai |
| Achamma | Ambalappuzha Krishnamoorthy |
| Ambalappuzha Meenakshi | Aranmula Ponnamma |
| Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair | Lakshmikkutti |
| Prof. MP Manmadhan | Miss Kumari |
| Pallam Joseph | Rajamma |
| SJ Dev | SP Pillai |
| Thankam | SV Susheela |
| Director | R Velappan Nair |
| Producer | KS Akhileswarayyar |
| Banner | Kairali Productions |
| Lyrics | Abhayadev, Bodheswaran, G Sankara Kurup |
| Music | SN Chaami (SN Ranganathan) |
| Story | PS Nair |
| Screenplay | PS Nair |
| Dialogues | Abhayadev, PS Nair |
| Playback Singers | T Lokanathan, VN Rajan Cinematography R Velappan Nair, Kaviyoor CK Revamma |
| Art Direction | A Balu |
| Editing | KD George |
Copyrights & Courtesy : The Hindu (B Vijayakumar’s MetroPlus Kochi Column)
Sudhakara Prabhu (S. J. Dev) a wealthy landlord lords over ‘Padmalayam’. The film opens with Prabhu conducting an elaborate Onam feast in his palatial house. Sathi (Miss Kumari) is the daughter of an old servant of this house who was given refuge by Prabhu when her father fled away from the city. Gopi Mohan (Kottarakkara) is the manager of ‘Padmalayam’. He has an eye on the wealth of ‘Padmalayam’ and manages to win the heart of Sarojam (Ambalapuzha Meenakshi), sister of Prabhu. He is even able to manipulate the wealth with Sarojam’s support.
Sathi falls in love with Chandran (M. P. Manmathan), a beggar who is engaged in a struggle for their welfare and rehabilitation. Prabhu appreciates the noble cause for which Chandran works and supports him with generous donations. But he turns against Chandran when he comes to know that Chandran is in love with Sathi.
Sarojam becomes pregnant and Gopi Mohan betrays her. He now tries to win over Anandam (Aranmula Ponnamma), a prostitute, and her friend Meenu (Thankam). He misleads Anandam and makes her believe that he is the landlord of ‘Padmalayam’. Gopi Mohan is expelled from the house when Prabhu comes to know about his misdeeds.
Gopi Mohan tries to molest Sathi but the timely intervention of a masked man saves the girl. Sarojam gives birth to a child and out of shame runs away from the house leaving her child at ‘Padmalayam’.
Prabhu changes his mind when he comes to know about the true love of Sathi and Chandran. He promises to conduct their marriage. Sathi leaves home in search of Chandran. Now, a misunderstanding springs up between the lovers. Chandran suspects that Sathi is in love with Prabhu and begins to spurn her. Gopi Mohan reaches Chandran’s hut and attempts to kill him.
Again the masked man appears and saves Chandran’s life. Gopi Mohan’s vengeance does not end. He attacks ‘Padmalayam’ with his gang and tries to molest Sathi in the presence of Prabhu. The masked man appears again and beats back Gopi Mohan.
Now to the climax of the film, which is reconcilation and clearing of all misunderstandings. Sarojam finds Gopi Mohan on the streets, seriously ill and brings him home. Chandran’s foster father reveals to him on his death bed that he is none other than the elder brother of Sudhakara Prabhu, who was kidnapped by Madhu Pillai (Muthukulam) while he was a child. The child was handed over to the beggars by Madhu Pillai.
The masked man is Kunju, who has been pretending to be the faithful servant to Gopi Mohan in order to save others from his cruel deeds. Sathi and Kunju are children of Raghu Raman, the faithful servant of ‘Padmalayam’ who was forced to leave the household due various reasons. Gopi dies of illness and Madhu Pillai becomes a lunatic. Sudhakara Prabhu invites his elder brother Chandran to take over charge of ‘Padmalayam’. But Chandran refuses for his life’s mission is welfare of the beggars. He leaves home with Sathi.