Spadikam (1995) Poster

(1995)

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10/10
A must watch for all those who love cinema. A terrific performance by MOHANLAL.
midhundas-kct13 July 2010
One of the best performances By Mohanlal and Thilakan. Backed up with a very good story and direction which leaves a raw image after u come out of the cinemas. I pity that friend of mine who mentioned about the film as just a mediocre one!!! Wonder why films aren't being made of this class in the current malayalam film industry. Its rated as Mohanlal's, who is considered as one of the finest actors in the industry, one of the best performance so far in his career. The Mohanlal-Thilakan combo scenes are a treat to be watched. Cant really rate who's better. Aaduthoma,the protagonist of the story, is one of the finely etched out characters by the Director-Writer Bharathan. The real life-like characters which used to appear in malayalam film industry as in Sphadikam is gone missing.
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10/10
The movie represents the obscure relationship between a father and a son in the most legendary fashion and the result is one of the best Indian movies
rjtkrishnan4 June 2012
Sphadikam, belongs to the class of south Indian cinema which is almost extinct at the present time. One of the most prodigal characters, Thomas chako aka aadu thoma along his father chako maash(kaduva chako) make the movie the most impactful psychological experience a south Indian can achieve. The kind of music, direction and cinematography we can spot in the movie is completely void from the south Indian film industry now. The striking dialogs and incredible acting make the viewer have goosebumps. Its a shame that Malayalam movies have gone a lot down from this kind of quality in direction and acting. Even Mohanlal(Thomas chako) has begun doing pathetic movies like Alexander the great and Kandahar. As for sphadikam, its the most kick-ass movie in Malayalam along with devasuram. Truly a legendary one for the directors.
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10/10
That rare masala movie with soul
Cinema_freak1 November 2015
This movie is filled with action and may be be best known for the signature Mohanlal-mundu attack, but the father-son relationship is the center-stage for the whole movie. Some scenes are very moving. For example, the scene where Thoma's father is to invite Thoma to his sister's wedding, Mohanlal driving the lorry in anguish, the hospital scene, and yes, the climax.

Mohanlal doesn't have a chiseled body or bulging biceps. But his gait, body language, dialogue delivery - all ooze masculinity. Wonderful acting by Mohanlal and Thilakan. This movie seems something at first, but turns out to be something else.

The story (based on a real-life person), background score and acting all fit into place. A definite watch and an all-time Malayalam classic.

This fine movie is director Bhadran's sole saving-grace.
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10/10
The Mass+Class Character Ever Seen In Malayalam Cinema
gvndvnd20 November 2018
This movie whose central character Adu Thoma Is A film of both class and mass. Aadu Thoma is a mass action hero. But he is still not essentially larger than life. Thoma is a rogue. He doesn't fear anything. He thrashes policemen. But to Bhadran's credit, he still keeps Thoma grounded. Unlike other mass characters Mohanlal portrayed later, Aadu Thoma hasn't traveled to foreign countries after he fled his home as a child. He hasn't learnt music, other skills or achieved great things. In fact the movie doesn't really talk about what he did the 14 years he was away. Thus This Film is a must watch for every film lovers.
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10/10
A must watch classic Movie
rahulchandra-152555 March 2021
A mind-blowing performance by Mohanlal in each scene.Story-wise one of the best story. Supporting actors like thilakan and all other best performance.
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10/10
A rare Gem in Malayalam films
vivektpv25 March 2019
This movie is a real gem. It has everything in it to entertain us. We can see Thilakan and Mohanlal, they really challenged each other when portraying their respective characters and the result was precious. Thilakan as Chacko Mash a strict school headmaster and Mohanlal as Aadu Thoma who turned out as a local Goonda hold a grudge against his father for the stubbornness he imposed on Thoma and spoiled his life. All other characters done by actors like Nedumuti Venu, Rajan P Dev, KPAC Lalitha, Chippy, Urvasi did their part very well so that every part of the movie is so interesting. This movie is timeless.
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10/10
MASS & CLASS MOVIE ....
ericsaju-1240312 April 2021
One of the Gretest Movie from the malayalam movie industry ... The story of the Movie is Nice .. 'ADU THOMA' is well in professional things but his father 'THILAKAN' sir does not interested his activates. Due to his father torture 'THOMA' become a criminal .. Overall ' A MUST WATCH MOVIE'
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10/10
*NAVARASA*. UNDERRATED AF
deadlymathematician28 September 2021
Among the most perfect films ever made, spanning the entire spectrum of known human emotions, right up there with The Godfather or Titanic, if not nearly beyond.
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8/10
Lalettan with his curled mustache
jinson_cme26 February 2005
Warning: Spoilers
In Spadikam, Mohanlal dons the role of real-life rowdy Thomas Chacko aka Aadu Thoma. The film follows the account of Thomas and his father who he has grown estranged from in his childhood. Living under the same roof, they are unable to be father and son to each other. Thomas, the classic rowdy and his father the schoolmaster.

Mohanlal does an excellent job in the portrayal and this has to be one of his best works. The opening scene where Thomas appears from out of the wilderness and captures a goat is classic and will remain etched in the minds of fans forever. Thilakan is another great actor cast in a typical role. That of the father. His style is exceptional and does an impressive role as that of a harsh schoolmaster with mixed feelings of fondness and hatred for his son and his behaviour. The film does feature comedy and this is the movie with the classic scenes where Mohanlal beats up a police officer and finally removes his 'mundu' and tries to choke him. The fight scenes are typical though and the role of the witty and smart rowdy is done impeccably well by Mohanlal. Overall the film is exemplary of Lal at his violent best. Though not his best piece of work, it doesn't fails to draw applause. And as Rasikan goes, 'Spadikathe thomachane kandavano marakuvilla'.
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10/10
Tough one
raycas7 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Mohanlal dons the role of an extremely tough guy in this movie. Especially the fight scenes are pretty raw... you really see him jumping around on rocks and falling on benches and stuff like that. sometimes it really looks real (which is pretty much for Indian movies)... the father-son relationship is of course the crucial point of the whole movie, thats why i wouldn't decrease mohanlal's character to just a rowdy. even though the characters are build up typically (in a typecasting way, means father is really shown as a "bad" man completely disrespecting his son's talents in the childhood, whereas everyone else is appreciating it) and not subtly, its the exceptional dialogues that make this movie unique. they are all full with intelligent sayings... so they come with a certain punch. Mohanlal's larger-than-life characters started actually with "devasuram" and continued here, but these ones are masterpieces, whereas the ones which mainly came after "aaram thampuran" are unfortunately not worth watching...

raycas
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8/10
An out an out Mass Blockbuster with Classy, Heartful Storyline. A stellar face off between two Legends Mohanlal and Thilakan is Unmissable.
SAMTHEBESTEST2 June 2021
Spadikam (1995) : Brief Review -

An out an out Mass Blockbuster with Classy, Heartful Storyline. A stellar face off between two Legends Mohanlal and Thilakan is Unmissable. 90s was a decade when South cinema was running riot with gangster and criminal background films and many of them have became iconic films. The list starts from Nayakan then we had Thalapathi and then we had Spadikam which has more soul than those two films. The timing of the other two films helped them to gain much praise and ofcourse the cast and direction too, but as we move forward with the time period we realise how old these films have became and that's why those films are special. However, for Spadikam this timing thing doesn't help much because it wasn't the first instant classic in this crime drama genre like Nayakan was. Spadikam actually has its own legacy, its own identity and its own supremacy. A small-town criminal constantly clashes with his strict school headmaster father at the expense of their family lives. The betterment we see in this crime genre is, Spadikam has a baddie character as protagonist but it provides him a concrete backdrop that makes his character very sensible. Even Nayakan has the same thing to shine bright but Thalapathi lacked it. The exceptional use of emotional quotient makes Spadikam even better. Mohanlal as Aadu Thoma is truly iconic, his attitude, his rowdyism, his reckless and tit fir tat nature everything is Top notch. On the other side, another legend who constantly clashes him is none other than Thilakan and he is freaking amazing in his fantastically written character. Even the supporting cast is highly impressive. Bhadran delivers a sensible mass film in crime genre and believe me this is very rare especially when you don't apply intellectual theories. Overall, A Cult Classic, don't miss.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.
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Brilliant script, brilliant direction, brilliant acting and brilliant execution
arun_mr2 January 2018
Sphadikam is an acclaimed film directed by Mohanlal. Mohanlal is playing the role of the king of the movie, but the role of the movie is also made by Sphadikam. Mohanlal fans are still trying to bring the character in digital form into the Big Screen.

Thomas Chacko was a pedophilist, but with a lot of features and abilities. Thomas Chacko was a go-getaway for Chacko Maash, who believed that the glue of the globe was considered. Thomas Chacko later became a stumbling blocker of the Thett Thomas, but had a beautiful heart in him.

Spatakikam is a film that shows the value of livelihood of Chacko Masch who has traded the tradition of Thomas Chacko. Mohanlal also says that his favorite movie is Swadhakali.

Mohanlal admits to the stereotype of the story
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10/10
Classic
aknair-3595313 September 2018
This is the movie, the reason for which I gave Manichithrathazhu rating 9. Well, it's not all entertainer like Manichithrazhu, but the movie's Story, Screenplay, Direction, Cast, Editing, everything is in a perfect Balance, like absolute perfection.

There is a theme to this movie throughout, it is not like what you see in some movies like a dark theme like sin city or watchmen, or like themes which you see a movie showing an old era like those we see in a war movies, or like magical movies where everything in neat and clean, magical, shiny, sparkling... well what I'm trying to say is we can see the theme of movie in editing making it comical like The Hulk, you do get my point, right ? It's not that kind of theme that we get in editing, that theme of the movie is seen as a result of mutual understanding of the story, script, screenplay, direction and editing, this movie is not a result of computers but Brilliant minds who understood the story which is the backbone of the movie Spadikam

Like the director of this movie Mattel Bhadran said "There is only one Spadikam and it has already happened. Dont dare touch it", when a rumour was spread that there is going to be a remake

Well Actors too are marvelous they too understood the soul of the movie, the cast is so perfect that we could not imagine someone else in their place, Thilakan, Mohanlal, Urvashi, Rajan P Dev, Karamana Janardhanan... Everyone else awesome

"There is only one Spadikam and it has already happened. Don't dare touch it"
  • Mattel Bhadran, director of Spadikam
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8/10
Good one
anvaranshad3 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A good one from mohanlal-bhadran.good one from the 90's I watched the movie on 3April 2021 Still its a class movie.
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10/10
NEW YORK times
ameenulinfan25 March 2019
Awesome work with searching for something that make tear on everyone who watches
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10/10
An era defining movie
siddharthn-2869829 July 2022
There are movies that makes you think and there are movies that changes your way of watching movies & your life. Spadikam is one such movie. I was 10 yrs old when I saw spadikam with my dad. I have never been exposed to a drama till then. But my god this was a life changing experience. Never during any moment I was bored. I was instantly hooked. Maybe the central theme of a father son conflict was the reason and i was kind of going through a similar phase with my dad.

There are few instances where the supporting actor overshadow the lead. Thilakan is one such actor of that leagues along with Marlon Brando, heath ledger,etc.

I think the reason mohanlal gave a tremendous performance because he must have been intimidated by Thilakan's performance.

This is the movie where you can understand the importance of director. Bhadran just knocked it out of the park.

The songs are classic along with the background score.

The screenplay is clear.

I have watched this movie multiple times and never been able to find a technical flaw.

Spadikam will always be in my top 10 movies of all time.

PS. Silk Smitha was a bomb in this movie.
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10/10
Best movie
vishalbitvv18 January 2024
This is the movie, the reason for which I gave Manichithrathazhu rating 9. Well, it's not all entertainer like Manichithrazhu, but the movie's Story, Screenplay, Direction, Cast, Editing, everything is in a perfect Balance, like absolute perfection.

There is a theme to this movie throughout, it is not like what you see in some movies like a dark theme like sin city or watchmen, or like themes which you see a movie showing an old era like those we see in a war movies, or like magical movies where everything in neat and clean, magical, shiny, sparkling... well what I'm trying to say is we can see the theme of movie in editing making it comical like The Hulk, you do get my point, right ? It's not that kind of theme that we get in editing, that theme of the movie is seen as a result of mutual understanding of the story, script, screenplay, direction and editing, this movie is not a result of computers but Brilliant minds who understood the story which is the backbone of the movie Spadikam

Like the director of this movie Mattel Bhadran said "There is only one Spadikam and it has already happened. Dont dare touch it", when a rumour was spread that there is going to be a remake

Well Actors too are marvelous they too understood the soul of the movie, the cast is so perfect that we could not imagine someone else in their place, Thilakan, Mohanlal, Urvashi, Rajan P Dev, Karamana Janardhanan... Everyone else awesome.
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9/10
Sphadikam a touching story
pratapsarma15 December 2023
One of the best movies I have seen from mohanlal. Mohanlal acted very well alongside thilakan who himself is a maestro. Very touch family movie. The typical clash between father and son and the generation gap is portrayed very well in this movie. The typical Kerala thug with a good heart is portrayed well by mohanlal and fight sequences played by lal is just too good and realistic. The scenes where the father reminds him that his hands were cut by his son shows the sentiments involved in an estranged father son relationship. The I don't care attitude showed by mohanlal towards police also invoked claps from audience.
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10/10
The best
DUDE617818 January 2023
Yes! It is the best film from the Malayalam cinema industry. Always old is gold. Now I'm waiting for it's 4k release. Goddamn man. Only Mohanlal can deliver this movie with emotions, power packed dialogues, action scenes and finally great acting along with Thilakan Sir! One of the master class movies in Malayalam. Thank you Bhadran the director for this masterpiece. Ofcourse i miss the old mohanlal. IF A CINEMA IS TIMELESS THEN IT'S A MASTERPIECE. SPADIKAM IS SIMPLY A PERFECT FILM, THE MOST BRILLIANT QUALITY OF THIS IS IT'S CHARECTERISATION. Highly recommended for new watchers of Malayalam film.
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