Oppam () is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Priyadarshan from a story by Govind Vijayan. The film, produced Antony Perumbavoor for Aashirvad Cinemas, stars Mohanlal and Samuthirakani in lead roles.The songs were composed by the group 4 Musics, while the score was composed by Ron Ethan Yohann. The cinematography and editing were handled by N. K. Ekambaram and M. S. Ayyappan Nair.
Regular collaborators Mohanlal and Priyadarshan were expected to work on a film in 2015, but it was postponed before principal photography began until the following year. Priyadarshan decided to make another film with Mohanlal, and began looking at screenplays. They wanted a break from their usual comedy films. Priyadarshan agreed on a short story by Govind Vijayan which was suggested by Mohanlal. The director developed a plot and screenplay, which was on its final draft in February 2016. The film began principal photography in March and ended in June; it was filmed in Kochi, Ooty, Vagamon, Thiruvananthapuram, and Idukki.
Oppam was released in India on 8 September 2016 and internationally on 21 September 2016 where it received positive reviews from critics with praise for Mohanlal's performance and script. The film was box office success earning above 52 crore worldwide. It became the third-highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time and the second-highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year, behind Pulimurugan. At the Filmfare Awards South, the film was nominated in five categories (including Best Film, Best Director for Priyadarshan and Best Actor for Mohanlal) and won in the categories of Best Lyricist (for Madhu Vasudevan) and Best Male Playback Singer (for M. G. Sreekumar). It was remade in Kannada as Kavacha (2019) and in Hindi as Haiwaan (2026).
Plot Jayaraman is a blind lift operator and caretaker living in Kochi. Despite his visual impairment, he possesses heightened senses of hearing, smell, and touch, and is skilled in the martial art of kalaripayattu. He is devoted to Krishnamoorthy, a retired Supreme Court chief justice who lives in the same apartment complex.
Krishnamoorthy reveals to Jayaraman that years earlier he had sentenced a man named Vasudevan for a crime he knew the man had not committed. Following his release from prison, Vasudevan becomes determined to take revenge on the judge and his family. Fearing the consequences of his past actions, Krishnamoorthy lives in constant anxiety and relies on Jayaraman for assistance with personal matters.
Following an incident at the apartment complex, Krishnamoorthy is found dead and a large sum of money disappears. Jayaraman becomes the prime suspect in both the theft and the murder. While attempting to clear his name, he uncovers connections between Krishnamoorthy's past decisions, Vasudevan's quest for revenge, and a young girl named Nandini, whose safety becomes increasingly important.
As the investigation progresses, Jayaraman must evade the authorities, protect Nandini, and uncover the truth behind the crimes, leading to a final confrontation that resolves the long-running conflict.
Cast
Mohanlal as Jayaraman, blind caretaker and lift operator in an apartment building Samuthirakani as Vasudevan, the serial killer (voiceover by Vijay Menon) Nedumudi Venu as Krishnamoorthy, former Supreme Court Justice Meenakshi as Nandini, Vasudevan's daughter and Jayaraman's adopted daughter Anusree as ACP Ganga IPS Vimala Raman as Devayani, apartment maid Mamukkoya as Kunju "Kunjikka" Mohammad, security guard Renji Panicker as City Police Commissioner P. Padmakumar IPS Chemban Vinod Jose as CI Anayadi Anandan Innocent as Madhavan, Jayaraman's uncle Hareesh Kanaran as Veeran, security guard Kalabhavan Shajohn as Constable Madhu, Devayani's ex-husband Kaviyoor Ponnamma as Jayaraman's aunt Kunchan as Narendran, Ganga's grand father Idavela Babu as Swaminathan, apartment resident and Krishnamoorthy's nephew Aju Varghese as "Maala" Babu, auto-driver Krishna Prasad as Raghavan, apartment resident Manikuttan as Devayani's brother Arjun Nandhakumar as Ravi, apartment resident Kalasala Babu as R. K. Menon, apartment resident Devshi Khanduri as Sardarji's daughter and Ravi's Fiancée Sona Heiden as Sardarji's wife Kozhikode Narayanan Nair as Pillai, shopkeeper Sreelatha Namboothiri as Krishnamoorthy's sister Balaji Sarma as SI Bhadran Chethan Jayalal as the janitor boy Anjali Nair as Lakshmi, Jayaraman's sister Bineesh Kodiyeri as Kannan, Jayaraman's brother Pradeep Chandran as ACP George IPS Sasi Kalinga as Varghese Mappila, money loaner Suchitra Pillai as Alphonsa, school principal Siddique as Bappootty, Jayaraman's friend (cameo appearance) Antony Perumbavoor as Boat passenger (cameo appearance)
Production
Development According to Priyadarshan, he was in a traumatic state after separating from his wife Lissy; he "couldn't think straight" and felt he had lost his "ability to make films". Mohanlal encouraged him to return to work, but "not with another comedy" (on which they had frequently collaborated). They were scheduled to work on an untitled, multilingual film in late 2015. The principal photography, expected to begin in September, was first postponed until March 2016 and never begun due to unfavourable weather in Russia (where the film was set). Priyadarshan decided to go ahead with a new project, and began reading screenplays; the director also had a two-month commitment from Mohanlal because of the other film.
He chose a script by November, and it was reported that filming would begin in January 2016; Mohanlal would join the set after finishing his commitment to Janatha Garage. In December, it was reported that filming would tentatively begin in February. In the same month, the film's title was announced; Priyadarshan would take over the screenplay, based on a story by Govind Vijayan. The film was reported to be a thriller, with Mohanlal playing a blind man falsely accused of murder. Priyadarshan described it as a "cat-and-mouse game" with a "little bit of humour too". Ooty and Kochi were scheduled as the primary filming locations.
Oppam was conceived as a crime thriller and developed from the gist of a short story by Vijayan. Mohanlal discovered the story and sent it to Priyadarshan. When the director pointed out several logical errors in the story, Mohanlal asked if he could rework it into a screenplay. Priyadarshan was intrigued by its premise of a blind man witnessing a murder. After spending a month working on it, Priyadarshan told Mohanlal that it can be made into a film and took two more months to draft a screenplay. According to the director, Oppam was the most challenging screenplay he had written to date. Priyadarshan said in January that filming would begin on 20 February, but in February he was still working on the screenplay's final draft and casting.
Although it was reported in December 2015 that G. P. Vijayakumar would produce Oppam for Seven Arts International, the film was produced by Antony Perumbavoor through his company, Aashirvad Cinemas. Director I. V. Sasi's son, Ani, was an associate director, and Priyadarshan's son Sidharth was an unofficial assistant director. In a later interview, in 2019, Priyadarshan said that Mohanlal had contemplated on directing Oppam (which would have been his directorial debut) but later he decided against it.
Casting Priyadarshan tailored the lead character, Jayaraman, for Mohanlal (his regular collaborator) when he wrote the screenplay. Tamil actor Samuthirakani was cast after Mohanlal in December 2015, with the rest of the cast and crew yet to be finalised. Vijay Menon dubbed for Samuthirakani's character. Even though Mohanlal has acted temporarily blinded characters, Oppam was the first film in which he played a blind character throughout the film. Mohanlal told Priyadarshan that he would not act like a stereotypical blind man (blinking and look up), but like a sighted person. They had visited a school for the blind in Chennai for pre-production research, and saw children playing and running between obstacles as if they could see. Priyadarshan had also known blind men whose other senses were keen. The character of Jayaraman has exceptionally sharp senses, and an expert in martial art of kalaripayattu.
In a January Deccan Chronicle article, Sanchita Shetty said that she liked the screenplay and would play a substantial role in her Malayalam film debut. The following month, Priyadarshan confirmed that Vimala Raman would play one of the film's two lead female roles; Shetty was on the shortlist for the other role. Vimala said that her role was Jayaraman's love interest, and the role is different from what she has done to date. Anusree was later cast in the other role, since Priyadarshan wanted an actress who "look[ed] very much a Malayali". She played Ganga, a newly appointed DSP whose grandfather is visually impaired; she trusts Jayaraman, and helps him uncover the truth. Anusree was so looking forward to act in a Priyadarshan directorial that she did not ask about her role when he called.
In February, Baby Meenakshi was confirmed in a significant role with Mohanlal. Kalabhavan Shajohn confirmed his role that month as a villainous character. Sreeya Ramesh was confirmed in an unidentified role in April, and Sasi Kalinga in June. Mamukkoya played comic security guard Kunjikka, who was unable to get names right, mistakenly substituting them with Islamic names. Aju Varghese had a brief role as an auto rickshaw driver in scenes with Mohanlal and Samuthirakani. Varghese, a fan of Priyadarshan's films, requested a role in Oppam. Devshi Khanduri made her Malayalam debut as a Punjabi girl in love with a Malayali boy (Arjun Nandhakumar). Priyadarshan described the film to Nandhakumar during preparations for the 2016 Celebrity Cricket League.
Innocent played Jayaraman's uncle, and Anjali Nair his sister. Producer Antony Perumbavoor made a cameo appearance. Chemban Vinod Jose, Hareesh Kanaran, Renji Panicker, Kunchan, Kalasala Babu, Idavela Babu, Sona Heiden, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, and Siddique also had supporting roles. In a December 2016 interview, Dharmajan Bolgatty said that he was offered a role in the film but could not commit due to scheduling conflicts.
Filming
Oppam began principal photography on 5 March 2016 in Kochi, Kerala. Mohanlal joined the set that day, and Vimala a week later. A large set was constructed for a North Indian wedding with a song sequence with Mohanlal and Vimala and dancers in Punjabi dress. The elaborately produced song was completed in five days, and the dance was choreographed by Kala. Filming took place for three weeks at locations in Thammanam, Thrippunithura, and on Marine Drive in Kochi. The first shooting schedule was finished by the end of March. The film's cinematographer was N. K. Ekambaram.
The crew resumed filming in Kochi and in and around Ernakulam district in May 2016. Some scenes were shot at Fort Kochi, and tharavad scenes were filmed in Chottanikkara. Additional filming was done in Pullikkanam and Kanjar in Idukki district, where Mohanlal joined the set for a 10-day shooting schedule. Filming was done at Vagamon during the second week of May. Oppam fight scenes were coordinated by Stunt Silva.
Filming moved to Ooty in Tamil Nadu in the first week of June. Priyadarshan considers Ooty a lucky charm, since it was a location for some of his successful films. He recreated a frame from the 1986 film, Thalavattam, (his first film in Ooty) in the song "Minungum Minnaminuge". Using the same camera lens used in Thalavattam, it was filmed in School Manth (where the song "Ponveene", from Thalavattam, was shot). Mohanlal and Meenakshi appeared in the frame which featured Mohanlal and Lissy in the original.