Chanthupottu

Chanthupottu is a 2005 Malayalam film directed by Lal Jose, written by Benny P. Nayarambalam, and produced by Lal. The story is about a man named Radhakrishnan (Dileep) who was brought up like a girl by his grandmother. This film was a super hit at the box office. This movie was based on a play of the same name (which, in turn, was based on the life of an actual man with female mannerisms).

Plot

Radhakrishnan (Dileep) is dysfunctionally brought up like a girl by his grandmother (Sukumari) who wanted a granddaughter. There by, he becomes effeminate and milquetoast. She calls him Radha, which becomes his nickname. Radha's father Divakaran (Lal) goes to jail for a murder that he accidentally commits. Radha is ridiculed among the people in the village but he is not worried and spends time with the girls singing and teaches dancing. His best friend is Malu (Gopika) who is wooed by Kumaran (Indrajith), a local money lender and the son of the man whom Radha’s father had killed.

Divakaran comes back from jail and is shocked to see that his only son is a good for nothing transvestite, but can do nothing about it. Slowly Radha’s liking for Malu turns into love and when Kumaran sees it, he beats up Radha with the help of her father (Rajan P. Dev), a local astrologer and dumps him in deep sea. But he is saved by Freddy (Biju Menon), a restaurant owner, in some distant shore. Freddy takes him to the former's native where he is living with his sister Rosie (Bhavana) and his grandmother (Valsala Menon), who is a mental patient due to the shock of the sudden death of Freddy's other sibling, Jonfy. He soon becomes a part of their family, as the grandmother begins to identify him as the late Jonfy. With a change in environment, he also discovers the manly element in him and starts to transform from his female mannerisms slowly.

Biju Menon

Biju Menon (born 9 September 1970) is an Indian film actor who has starred in over a 100 Malayalam films, along with a couple of Tamil and Telugu films. .He appears mostly in supporting roles, but has also acted in lead and antagonistic roles. He made his debut in 1995 in Puthran.

Biju's popular films include Mannar Mathai Speaking (1995), Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997), Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu (1999), Madhuranombarakattu (2000), Meghamalhar (2001), Shivam (2002), Marykkundoru Kunjaadu (2010), Seniors (2011), Spanish Masala (2011), Ordinary, Mayamohini (2012), Romans (2013), and Vellimoonga (2014).

Acting career

Biju Menon started his acting career through Malayalam television serials such as Ningalude Swantham Chanthu, Parudeesayilekulla Patha and Mikhayelinte Santhathikal. He made his debut in films with Puthran, the sequel of Mikhayelinte Santhathikal. He acted in a number of movies as villain and second hero. During the second half of nineties, he was considered to be the superstar in making. But most of the films with Biju Menon as hero failed in box office,in spite of his good performance, though his roles as second hero were very popular. He acted with Suresh Gopi in a number of super hit movies like Pathram, F. I. R., and Chinthamani Kolacase. During the later 1990s and early 2000s he appeared in a few offbeat movies with directors like T. V. Chandran, Lenin Rajendran, and Kamal in the films Mazha, Madhuranombarakkattu, Anyar, and Meghamalhar.

Lal Jose

Lal Jose is an Indian film director and producer best known for his Malayalam films.

Lal Jose started his film career as an assistant director to Kamal. Lal Jose worked on a slew of Kamal's films during the 1990s. His directional debut was the film Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998). His popular films include Chandranudikkunna Dikhil (1999), Meesa Madhavan (2002), Achanurangatha Veedu (2006), Classmates (2006), Arabikkatha (2007), Neelathaamara (2009), Diamond Necklace (2012), Ayalum Njanum Thammil (2012) and Immanuel (2013).

Lal Jose won the Filmfare Award for Best Director twice for his films Meesa Madhavan and Ayalum Njanum Thammil. He also won the Kerala State Award for Best Director for Ayalum Njanum Thammil. While his films Classmates and Ayalum Njanum Thammil have won the Kerala State Award for Best Popular Film. He has frequently collaborated with screenwriters Babu Janardhanan, Ranjan Pramod, Benny P. Nayarambalam, James Albert, Iqbal Kuttippuram and M. Sindhuraj.

Biography

Born in Valapad in Thrissur, Kerala to Jose and Lilly, Lal Jose did his schooling at NSS KPT School and NSS College Ottapalam. He is married to Leena. The couple have two daughters, Irine and Catherine. After completing his degree, he left for Chennai, with an aim of getting into movies. He got into the world of cinema by assisting noted director Kamal. He worked with Kamal in 16 films, from Pradheshika Varthakkal to Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu. He worked as associate director to prominent filmmakers like Thampy Kannamthanam, Lohithadas, Harikumar, Vinayan, K. K. Haridas, and Nizar.