Vietnam Colony


Vietnam Colony is a 1992 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film written and directed by Siddique-Lal. It stars Mohanlal, Innocent, Kanaka, and K. P. A. C. Lalitha. The soundtrack of the film was composed by S. Balakrishnan. The film achieved considerable success following its theatrical release and became the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year. A Tamil remake of the film, starring Prabhu was released in 1994 with the same title. The movie is based on the 1983 Scottish movie Local Hero.

Plot

G. Krishnamoorthy, hailing from an orthodox Tamil Brahmin community, gets a job with Calcutta Constructions as a supervisor. Calcutta Company has been working to restructure their land by vacating an illegal colony lying adjacent to its premise. Popularly known as Vietnam Colony, it is inhabited mainly by day laborers. The company has been in efforts to demolish the colony for long time, but failed to do so. The colony is now under the rule a few hardcore criminals to whom the residents have to pay specific amount every week. Now, Krishnamoorthy is appointed by company to evacuate the colony, by dealing with these criminals. He is assisted by K. K. Joseph.
Both arrive at the colony under the disguise of professional writers planning to write a story on the life of the colony residents. Upon arrival, both enter the house of Pattalam Madhavi Amma in search of a house, but she mistakes them to have come to see her daughter Unnimol and calls Unni to bring tea and snacks. But after knowing about the goof happened, she lets them stay on the top floor of her house. Upon the advice of Erumely, the broker, Madhavi Amma believes that with time, her daughter might fall in love with Krishnamoorthy and might marry this educated Brahmin man.
In the coming days, Krishnamoorthy befriends various members of the colony and tries to read out their idea about vacating the colony. But he realizes that it is not an easy task to evacuate the people and thinks about different plans to be operated. From Madhavi Amma, Krishnamoorthy comes to know that the entire colony was owned by Moosa Sait, a millionaire, who even gave up his mom for money. Suhra Bai, his mother is now living a pathetic life inside the colony. Krishnamoorthy meets up with Paravoor Rauthar, Irumbu John and Kannappa Srank, the criminal leaders who are now controlling the colony.
One night, Rauthar kicks Surabai in a fit of rage and she is killed. To get her final rituals done, Krishnamoorthy sets out in search of Moosa Sait, but is shocked to find Advocate Thomas, the legal adviser of his company in Sait's Bungalow. More shocked he was, when saw Moosa Sait, now living on streets like a beggar. Moosa Sait tells Krishnamoorthy that he was duped by Thomas, who by crook owned up his whole property including his house. Krishnamoorthy brings in Sait to the colony and make him do the last rites of his mother.
In the meantime Unni, falls in love with Krishnamoorthy. He slowly realizes the fact that the company is illegally trying to own up the land, while the justice is on the side of colony residents. He decides to support the people in their fight for justice. But Company join hands with the criminal leaders to finish off Krishnamoorthy. He is attacked by the criminal gang, but Krishnamoorthy succeeds in finishing them off and bringing justice to the people.

Cast

Vietnam Colony was produced and distributed by Swargachitra Appachan under the banner of Swargachitra, co-produced by Joy for President Movies. The film was shot in Alappuzha, and Kalpathy in Kerala. In 2017, actor Jayasurya revealed that he came to the filming location in Alappuzha as a junior artist, but was not recruited as the preference was for the local people in Alappuzha.

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack contains six songs, all composed by S. Balakrishnan and lyrics by Bichu Thirumala.
No.TitleSinger,Raga
1"Pavanarachezhuthunnu"K. J. Yesudas,Raga:Mayamalavagowla
2"Thaala Melam"M. G. Sreekumar, Minmini
3"Lallalam Chollunna"K. J. Yesudas
4"Paathiravayi Neram"Minmini
5"Pavanarachezhuthunnu"Kalyani Menon, Sujatha Mohan, Chorus,Raga: Mayamalavagowla

Awards

;Kerala State Film Award