Kannur Deluxe
Kannur Deluxe is a 1969 Indian Malayalam-language thriller film, directed by A. B. Raj and produced by T. E. Vasudevan who wrote the story under the pseudonym V. Devan.[1] It is the first road movie in Malayalam which pivots on a theft that occurs in a bus and stars Prem Nazir, Sheela, Adoor Bhasi. The film was released on 16 May 1969.
| Kannur Deluxe | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | A. B. Raj |
| Screenplay by | S. L. Puram Sadanandan |
| Story by | V. Devan |
| Produced by | T. E. Vasudevan |
| Starring | Prem Nazir Sheela Adoor Bhasi Ammini |
| Cinematography | T. N. Krishnankutty Nair |
| Edited by | T. R. Sreenivasalu |
| Music by | V. Dakshinamoorthy |
Production company | Jaya Maruthi |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Plot
Cast
- Prem Nazir as Thirumeni /CID Officer
- Adoor Bhasi as Chanthu, Thirumeni's Assistant/Assi. CID Officer
- K. P. Ummer as Venu, K. B. Pillai's Son
- Sankaradi as Kammath, a Passenger
- Sheela as Lady on the Bus
- N. Govindan Kutty as KBS Nair
- Jose Prakash as Gopalakrishnan, the thief
- T. R. Omana as K G Pillai's wife
- Nellikkodu Bhaskaran as Bus Conductor
- G. K. Pillai as K. B. Pillai
- Paravoor Bharathan as K B Pillai's company manager
- P. Sreekumar K R Radha a Job aspirant
- Ammini
- Abbas
- Kottayam Chellappan
- Paappi
- K. Radhakrishnan
- M. Radhakrishnan
Production
The film is perhaps the first road movie in Malayalam.[1] A real life incident that occurred at Cherthala in Alappuzha district of Kerala inspired the modus operandi used to arrest the thief in the film. Major portions of the film were shot inside Kannur Deluxe, a KSRTC bus service between Trivandrum and Kannur that was started in 1967 and is still on.[2] The indoor portions were shot at Vahini, Arunachalam, and Newton Studios. I. V. Sasi worked as assistant director in the film.[1]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by V. Dakshinamoorthy and the lyrics were written by Sreekumaran Thampi.[3]
| Song | Singers |
|---|---|
| "Ee Muhabathenthoru" | K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki, P. B. Sreenivas |
| "Ethra Chirichaalum" | K. J. Yesudas |
| "Kannundaayathu Ninne" | P. Leela, P. B. Sreenivas |
| "Marakkaan Kazhiyumo" | Kamukara |
| "Thaippooyakkaavadiyaattam" | K. J. Yesudas |
| "Thulliyodum Pullimaane" | P. Jayachandran |
| "Varumallo Ravil" | S. Janaki |
Historical importance
The film helped the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to win a trademark case against the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation by submitting its scenes with the KSRTC logo as prime evidence.[4] The scenes were used to prove that the Transport Corporation existed in Kerala even before the Karnataka RTC.[5]
References
- Vijayakumar, B. (5 July 2015). "Kannur Deluxe: 1969". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- Krishna Kumar KE (29 September 2014). "47 yrs on, 'Kannur Deluxe' still KSRTC's ambassador". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- "കണ്ണൂര് ഡീലക്സ് (1969)". malayalasangeetham.info (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- "ആനവണ്ടിക്കേസില് കര്ണാടകയെ കുടുക്കിയത് സിഐഡി നസീറും ഷീലയുടെ ഇന്റലിജന്സും!". Asianet News (in Malayalam). 5 June 2021. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- "How a 1969 movie helped Kerala win rights over 'KSRTC' use". Hindustan Times. 6 June 2021. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.