Now that Mohanlal and Ranjith’s 2001 film Ravanaprabhu is back in theatres again, it is time to relive one of the most iconic scenes in the film. The moment comes about an hour into the film when Vijayaraghavan’s Mundakkal Rajendran goes to confront Mohanlal’s Mangalassery Neelakandan (MN) Karthikeyan for the latter breaking his family hospital. When Rajendran threatens to break Karthikeyan’s arm in return, the latter twists the former’s arm while kicking behind his back. At the same time, Rajendran’s goons, led by Baburaj’s Nadeshan, walk into the scene promising him that they will take care of the rest. As Rajendran walks away from the scene, he tells Nadeshan not to kill Karthikeyan. However, audiences have always taken a funny interpretation of the iconic line “Nadesha, kollanda” because of what followed. For the uninitiated, Karthikeyan beats everyone to a pulp.
In an old interview with Club FM 94.3, Vijayaraghavan said that the dialogue was not originally meant to be funny. “It was said seriously. But there is a humorous undertone to it as Lal (Mohanlal) twists my arm and kicks me,” the National Award winner shared. On the other hand, Baburaj also recalled the scene in another interview with the radio channel. “When Nadeshan and gang walk in, people would think that they are going to smash (Karthikeyan). However, I was airborne throughout the scene. I was kicked about like a football in that film.”
A sequel to 1993’s Devasuram, Ravanaprabhu is releasing this Friday again in a 4K restored version.
