Before Mohanlal, Iconic Movie Title ‘Kireedam’ Was Meant for a Mammootty Film; Sibi Malayil Reveals Unknown Secrets

By Entertainment Bureau, New Delhi Chronicle

As the historically significant Malayalam cinema classic Kireedam makes its grand return to the silver screen in a beautifully restored digital version 37 years after its original release, director Sibi Malayil has dropped a fascinating revelation. The filmmaker disclosed that the iconic title, which is now forever intertwined with the legacy of superstar Mohanlal, was never meant for this movie in the first place.

Speaking in a candid interview with digital channel Silly Monks, Sibi Malayil pulled back the curtain on the movie’s pre-production journey. He also paid a rich tribute to the legendary late screenwriter A.K. Lohithadas, credited with naming both Kireedam and its equally intense sequel, Chenkol.

How a Mammootty Film Rejected the Title ‘Kireedam’

Sibi Malayil revealed that the core plot of Kireedam had been in development long before Mohanlal was envisioned as the protagonist, Sethumadhavan. During that period, Lohithadas was actively writing scripts for several prominent directors across the industry, including the veteran hitmaker I.V. Sasi.

Recalling the turning point, Sibi Malayil said, “When Lohi and I were developing the story, we hadn’t even locked Mohanlal for the lead role. At the time, Lohi was also working in Madras on director I.V. Sasi sir’s project Mukthi, which starred Mammootty. When I went to meet him, Lohi explained that Mukthi was a story about the life of a collector and the symbolic ‘crown of thorns’ he was forced to carry.”

The director further noted that Lohithadas had originally suggested Kireedam (meaning ‘The Crown’) as the title for the Mammootty starrer. However, I.V. Sasi was not fond of the name and requested the writer to look for alternatives.

“When Lohi told me this, I immediately said, ‘That title belongs to us. Let’s use it for our film.’ Lohi agreed that it perfectly encapsulated the tragic narrative of our protagonist. That is how the name found its true home,” Malayil shared.

The Symbolic Origin of the Sequel ‘Chenkol’

Beyond the 1989 masterpiece, the director also shed light on how they arrived at the name for the 1993 sequel, Chenkol. According to Malayil, the creative team initially toyed with several heartbreaking titles, including Kanneerpoovu (Flower of Tears).

Ultimately, it was Lohithadas who stepped in to ensure thematic continuity. He envisioned a title that shared a regal connection with its predecessor.

“There is a deep, symbolic relationship between a crown (Kireedam) and a sceptre (Chenkol),” Sibi Malayil explained. “In fact, the closing text of the sequel explicitly describes Sethumadhavan as ‘a prince who lost both the crown and the sceptre.’ This poetic vision dictated the final naming process.”

A Timeless Cinematic Legacy

The creative trifecta of director Sibi Malayil, writer A.K. Lohithadas, and actor Mohanlal delivered some of the most emotionally charged milestones in Indian cinema history. While Kireedam continues to be a benchmark for tragic realism, Chenkol further intensified the emotional arc, concluding the saga on a profoundly heartbreaking note.

With the digitally restored version now running in theatres, fans of the Mohanlal Kireedam Malayalam classic are getting a rare opportunity to re-experience the magic on the big screen, decades after it first redefined regional storytelling.