Aalkkoottathil Thaniye

A successful professional whose family life remains unsettled, Rajan returns to his infirm father in their ancestral Kerala home. He is torn between his deep love for Ammukkutty and the expectations of his father and Nalini, balancing affection with duty. His choices throughout the film reveal a reluctant arranger of others’ futures, ultimately supporting Nalini’s opportunity while seeking stability for his own family.

A compassionate elementary school teacher who funds Rajan’s higher studies and cares for her ailing uncle Madhavan. She remains emotionally tied to Rajan, but chooses to put his happiness first when pressed by his wife’s opportunity and her own loneliness. Her selfless devotion underscores the tragedy of unfulfilled love.

Rajan’s wife who aspires for a Harvard fellowship and an international future for herself and her family. She is pragmatic but capable of growth, and her conflicts with Ammukkutty reveal the push-pull between ambition and loyalty. In the climax, she reconsiders her stance, choosing to pursue the U.S. opportunity with Rajan’s support.

A retired school teacher whose serious illness brings the family together. He embodies tradition and authority, pressing Rajan to arrange a suitable marriage for the sake of lineage. His health and decisions catalyze the family’s reassessment of priorities.

Rajan’s boss and Madhavan’s disciple who embodies pragmatic ambition. He wants Nalini to marry Rajan, illustrating the pressure of social and professional alliances on personal relationships. His influence triggers the central conflict between love and obligation.

A fellow student and contact Rajan meets at Cochin University, someone who helps frame Rajan’s educational ascent. He represents the wider world beyond the family circle and the professional networks that accompany higher studies.

Vishalam’s husband and a family elder who arrives to see his father. He contributes to the busy, sometimes distracted, family dynamic that competes for attention with Madhavan’s illness. His presence underscores the thread of communal obligation within the extended family.

Rajan and Nalini’s son, a child who experiences the strain and warmth of his parents’ choices. Babumon’s interactions with Ammukkutty and his parents highlight the personal cost of the adults’ conflicts and the longing for stability.