Utharam - Another Investigate thriller classic from the late 80's

Another lazy Saturday evening at our bachelor flat in Kochi when I stumbled across an old film, Utharam.

Utharam - 1988

The film was born at a time when Mammootty and investigative thrillers were a thing. The premise of the film is interesting and puzzling. A mishap kills Selina Joseph(Suparna), a budding and talented poet at her house. Planter Joseph played by Sukumaran is depressed after having lost his wife. Joseph and Selina has had a happy life together and there is little reason to suspect a suicide. Joseph is restless to know if it's a mishap or a suicide, This is when Mammotty's character Balachandran comes to the scene. A journalist and close friend of the couple, Balachandran is equally puzzled with the affairs. Joseph asks Balachandran to dig deep and solve the mystery, if any. The story of Balachandran solving the mystery of Selina's death forms the plot of this thriller. 

What makes this film special is it's screenplay by MT Vasudevan Nair. A screenplay that is reminiscent of Hitchcock thrillers and a lead character that has shades of a mini Sherlock. The film is directed by V.K. Pavithran.  Shankaradi, Sukumari, Parvathy and Innocent are also part of this film. This would go down easily to the list of best investigative thrillers in Malayalam cinema.