Vandanam

Priyadarshan's 1989 Malayalam film follows two policemen searching for an escaped prisoner. Unnikrishnan and his partner begin tailing the fugitive's daughter; she does not know who they are, and an unexpected closeness forms between them. The film moves between comedy and thriller. The surveillance scenes are used for jokes; in the second half the narrative turns serious and the officer's duty conflicts with his feeling. Mohanlal leads, in one of the roles most often cited in his career. Girija Shettar plays opposite him. Priyadarshan was making fast, dialogue-heavy comedies in this period, and the film ran for a long time in Kerala. Who it's for: those who like classic Malayalam comic thrillers. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a consistent genre; the film changes register freely.