‘Valyettan’ was a gift to Mammooty for doing this film for Mohanlal: Shaji Kailas

It’s been 25 years since Narasimham, the iconic Malayalam film that immortalized powerful dialogues and unforgettable characters, hit theaters. Directed by Shaji Kailas and written by Ranjith and starring Mohanlal as the fierce Poovalli Induchoodan, remains etched in the hearts of Malayalis. But behind the larger-than-life character of Induchoodan lies an intriguing tale of collaboration and an unexpected gift for one of Kerala’s biggest stars—Mammootty.

Released on January 28, 2000, Narasimham marked the first production venture for Aashirvad Cinemas, helmed by Antony Perumbavoor. The star-studded cast, including Thilakan, Jagathy Sreekumar, and N.F. Varghese, elevated the film, but it was Mammootty’s guest appearance as Advocate Nandagopala Marar that created a lasting impact. 

"There are people who watch the film even whenever it is on TV. My fans today are children who were not even born when that film was released...' Shaji Kailas had said earlier while sharing the wonders of the film Narasimham," said director Shaji Kailas.

In a recent interview, Shaji Kailas shared the backstory of Narasimham. “After Aaram Thampuran was completed, we were brainstorming ideas to top it. One day, Mohanlal asked if we could create a film for Antony Perumbavoor and Production Controller Sachi,” Kailas recalled. The conversation happened at Thiruvananthapuram’s Pankaj Hotel.

With financial backing secured from Antony Perumbavoor and Swargachitra Appachan, Kailas and Ranjith didn’t have a fully formed story yet but decided to press ahead. Their initial idea—David Raja—didn’t quite feel right, so they reworked the concept into a tale of revenge, set against a feudal backdrop.  The comeback of a hero who failed at some point in his life is always a topic that the audience enjoys. The character of Induchoodan, a man who returns from prison after six years for a crime he didn’t commit, thus took shape.

Kailas and Ranjith quickly traveled to Kozhikode to flesh out the details of the plot before presenting it to Mohanlal in Chennai. Initially titled Simham, the film’s name was later changed to Narasimham to reflect its powerful, grounded essence. Trusting his team, Mohanlal agreed to star in the film without even asking for the full script.

But the surprise doesn’t end there. While writing the second half of the script, Kailas knew he needed a strong character to step in and help Induchoodan—Advocate Nandagopala Marar. Though he considered many actors, it was Mammootty who ultimately took on the role. When Mammootty asked what he would get in return for agreeing to the part, Kailas promised him, “We will do a film for you.”

True to his word, Kailas and his team later fulfilled that promise, giving Mammootty the unforgettable character of Valliyettan, a role that would go on to be remembered as one of his finest. “We gave him Valliyettan as a gift,” Kailas said, reflecting on the bond between the two superstars.

The songs in this film, composed by M.G. Radhakrishnan, also became one of the greatest hits of all time.