Ali Bhai
| Ali Bhai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Shaji Kailas |
| Written by | T. A. Shahid |
| Produced by | Antony Perumbavoor |
| Starring | Mohanlal |
| Cinematography | S. Saravanan |
| Edited by | Don Max |
| Music by | Alex Paul |
Production company | |
| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 138 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Ali Bhai(transl. Brother Ali) is a 2007 IndianMalayalam-languageaction filmdirected byShaji Kailas,written byT. A. Shahid,and produced byAntony Perumbavoorthrough the companyAashirvad Cinemas.[1]It starsMohanlalas Anwar Ali alias Ali Bhai, an undisputed leader inKozhikodePalayam market and the savior of the poor. The character is based on the real-life person Ali Bappu, who lived inKondottya decade ago. The film also featuresGopika,Navya NairandShamna Kasimin Female roles. The plot is set in Kozhikode market and people whose livelihood depends on it, and also shows the culture of the traditionalBaramiMuslimcommunity, who migrated fromYemento Kozhikode centuries ago for trading and are known for makingUrus.[2]The plot follows Anwar Ali, a member of aBaramifamily, who flees home when he is wrongly accused of a theft. He moves to Kozhikode market and grew up as Ali Bhai, the protector of the market.
The film completed its post-production inChennai.[3]The film was released onIndependence Day(15 August 2007) and duringOnamfestival.[4]Chennai-basedPyramid Saimira Groupdistributed the film outsideKerala.[5]It was released in over 85 screens in Kerala, which was the largest release for a Malayalam film at that time. The film collected 84 lakhs on its first day, making it the highest ever first day gross for a Malayalam film at that time.[6][7]
Plot
[edit]Alibhai tells the story of Anwar Ali, alias Alibhai, a King "Dadha" of Palayam market, Kozhikode. He is the unquestionable hero in that area and savior of the poor and downtrodden. The movie opens with flashback sequences that establish Ali, who was a member of a Barami family famous for makingUrus,who leaves his home in his childhood when his father, Khalid Ahmed Sahib, mistakes him for being an unexpected thief and beats him black and blue in front of people. Ali's friend, Sundaran Thampi, tells the mob he saw the theft which was actually done by himself for avenging his father's rivalry with Ahmad Sahib. Ali, knowing he was cheated by his friend, grabs a butcher sword and chops off his right hand and flees from his home to the Palayam market. He never backs out from a fight where he grows up as Alibhai, an undisputed leader of the proletarian class, one who stands up to speak for them and even to clench his fists and fight for them and their rights. The son grows up to be a good-hearted toughie.
There are many whose lives revolve around Alibhai. There is Kunjikannan, alias Market Kunji, who is Alibhai's mentor and sort of guardian. There are a bunch of friends and well-wishers who form his gang, including Hameed, Salim Babu, Ramu, Podipaatti Kunjaattu, Sameer Das, Vijayan, Dasappan and a little boy Ganapathy. There is the flower girl Chenthamara who loves him deeply, and there is a young girl Kingini, who is brought up by Alibhai just as a father brings up his daughter. Then comes another girl Ganga, who is given refuge by Alibhai under some special circumstances. He also looks after Abraham, who earlier used to rule over the Palayam market as a goonda, and who was defeated in a fight by Alibhai, following which he was so badly injured that he has been bedridden ever since. All these and many others constitute the near and dear ones of Alibhai.
Once in a while, Alibhai goes to his own house to meet his mother and to secretly leave behind a gift for his father, whom he loves dearly. But all this is destined to change when Sundaran, who was actually the one who had plotted against Ali in his childhood, resurfaces after a long time and with a remorseful heart and begs of Ali to forgive him and to return home. At almost the same time, someone else appears – Daniel Abraham, the son of Ammu Bhai, who has certain motives of his own. From here, Alibhai's life is destined to change dramatically. They wanted to drive out Alibhai from the market and build a shopping mall with the help of local politicians. They are hand in glove with the city corporation and the state administration and are having the aid of big investors from foreign countries. They are into anything, to settle their old scores and change the Kozhikode city into an international tourist centre which provides fun, wine and women. At one stage, they planted a bomb and killed many of his friends and neighbours, including Kingini. Alibhai kills Daniel and his men single-handedly and become the godfather of that area.
Cast
[edit]- Mohanlalas Anwar Ali (Ali Bhai)
- Arun Kumar as Young Ali
- Aryaman D Shetty as Daniel "Dan" Abraham (voiceover byVijay Menon)
- Siddiqueas Sundaran Thampi
- Cochin Haneefaas Market Kunjikkannan
- Innocentas Khalid Ahmed Sahib, Anwar's father
- Navya Nairas Chenthamara
- Gopikaas Ganga
- Shamna Kasimas Kingini
- AnandasCity Police CommisionerBandadukka BhaskaranIPS
- Jagadishas Kallankari Dasappan
- Suraj Venjaramooduas Podipatty Kunjachu
- Sudheeshas Sameer Das
- K. B. Ganesh Kumaras Thirandi Ramu
- Shammi Thilakanas Vakkathi Vareed
- Vijayakumaras Vijayan
- Santhosh Jogias Salim Babu
- Sai Kumaras Abraham (Ambu Bhai)
- K. P. A. C. Lalithaas Canteen Ammayi
- Chitra Shenoyas Alibhai's mother
- Zeenathas Amminiyamma
- T. G. Ravias Maison Narayanan
- Kozhikode Narayanan Nairas Kunjali
- V. K. SreeramanasDYSPHamid
- Augustine as Nandan
- Antony Perumbavooras Bus Driver Salim
- Baburajas Musthaq
- Besant Ravias Pattani Paramashivam
- Santhoshas Shankaran, Ganga's cousin
- Kiran Raj
- Chali Palaas Shahul
- Krishna Prasad
- Rajan P. Devas Karunakaran Thampi, Sundaran's father
- Balachandran Chullikkaduas Calicut Collector Sukumaran Nair
- Fathima Babuas Ambu Bhai's wife and Dan's mother
- Saranya Sasi
Filming
[edit]The filmpoojaceremony was held atVismayas MaxStudio inThiruvananthapuramon 21 May 2007 coinciding withMohanlal's birthday. It was a rare pooja function inMollywood,around 3000 of his fans attended the function for the birthday celebration.[8][9]
The film was shot in Kozhikode andPollachi.[10]The art director of the film Bobban has erected a huge set for the film depicting Valiyangadi market, which resembles the original to the core. "As it is very hard for Lal sir to shoot amidst his great fans in Kozhikode market, we were forced to recreate the market here", says the producer Antony Perumbavoor.[11]The climax fight was shot in Binny mills,Chennai.Mohanlal was slightly injured with an air gun during the climax shoot.[12]
Release
[edit]Ali Bhaiwas released on 15 August 2007 on IndianIndependence day.Central Picturesdistributed the film in Kerala. It made a new record in Malayalam releasing over 80 screens inKerala.No Malayalam film has ever released in so many screens at that time.[13]Pyramid Saimira Theatres Ltd. (PSTL) the distribution division ofChennai-based multinational entertainment companyPyramid Saimira,one of the world's fastest-growing entertainment groups, distributed the film outside Kerala. The film was released simultaneously inMumbai,Chennai,DelhiandBangalore.[14]
Soundtrack
[edit]| Ali Bhai | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack albumby | ||||
| Released | 1 January 2006 | |||
| Recorded | 2005 | |||
| Genre | Film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 35:57 | |||
| Language | Malayalam | |||
| Label | Mc Audios | |||
| Producer | Antony Perumbavoor | |||
| Alex Paulchronology | ||||
| ||||
The film's soundtrack contains 8 songs composed byAlex Paul,with lyrics written byGireesh Puthenchery.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Aadimekha" | M. G. Sreekumar | 4:55 |
| 2. | "Karik Karik" | Andriya | 4:12 |
| 3. | "Arabikadalin" | M. G. Sreekumar | 4:56 |
| 4. | "Punchirikkana" | M. G. Sreekumar, Manjari, Liji Francis | 4:30 |
| 5. | "Pinchu Kidaangale" | Liji Francis | 5:04 |
| 6. | "Kainiraye" | Manjari | 4:43 |
| 7. | "Neelamizhi" | G. Venugopal,Jyotsna,Vidhu Prathap | 4:28 |
| 8. | "Makaale Makkale" | M. G. Sreekumar | 4:29 |
| Total length: | 35:57 | ||
References
[edit]- ^"Mohanlal - Shaji: A heavy duty combo".IndiaGlitz.25 May 2007.Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2007.Retrieved25 May2007.
- ^"Alibhai in the sets".indiaglitz.4 June 2007.Retrieved26 October2014.
- ^"'Ali Bhai' shoot complete! ".Sify.30 July 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2014.
- ^"For fans of Mohanlal".thehindu. 6 July 2007.
- ^P.K. Ajith Kumar (17 August 2007)."New cinema chain".Retrieved26 October2014.
- ^"'Ali Bhai' censored! ".bharatwaves.info. 14 August 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 26 October 2014.
- ^"Malayalam Top Ten: Year of failures".OneIndia.16 August 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 16 August 2011.Retrieved14 April2023.
- ^Indiaglitz (21 May 2015)."Colorful pooja for Alibhai".Indiaglitz.
- ^"Mohanlal birthday".Sify.Archived fromthe originalon 18 November 2015.
- ^"Alibhai - The one man army to Conquer".indiaglitz.6 August 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 24 August 2007.
- ^"Big sets for Alibhai".kerals. 8 June 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 23 December 2014.Retrieved26 October2014.
- ^"Ali Bhai".Sify.Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2014.Retrieved26 October2014.
- ^"'Ali Bhai' censored! ".Sify.14 August 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2014.
- ^"Alibhai getting ready to win".indiaglitz.31 July 2007.