Kalikkalam

Kalikkalam

Year: 1990

Runtime: 128 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: Sathyan Anthikad

Drama

Mammootty portrays a burglar who adopts multiple aliases across towns. Though a thief, he is compassionate, secretly using his loot to aid the poor and orphans. During a heist he witnesses a murder that leads to police officer Shekharan being wrongfully blamed. He then works to clear Shekharan’s name and prove his innocence.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Kalikkalam (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Kalikkalam (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Kerala, India

Kerala provides the backdrop for a web of crime, charity, and political intrigue, with tight-knit communities and urban centers shaping the plot. The story unfolds through police stations, finance offices, and local neighborhoods where trust and suspicion mingle. The setting highlights a society grappling with corruption, justice, and mercy.

🎭 Crime 🕌 Kerala setting

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:27

Main Characters – Kalikkalam (1990)

Meet the key characters of Kalikkalam (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Burglar (Shankar / Antony / Tony Louis / Gauthaman / Pappan / Vasudevan / Ramakrishnan)

The film's central anti-hero, a charming thief who channels stolen money to help the poor and orphans. He lives a double life, assuming many identities to pull off audacious schemes while maintaining a soft heart for those in need. His clever disguises—such as posing as an Income Tax officer—drive the plot and blur the line between crime and charity.

🎭 Protagonist 🕊️ Altruism

Jamal

A poor young man who befriends the burglar and benefits from his generosity. Jamal's trust and gratitude provide an emotional anchor for the burglar's risky escapades. Their friendship highlights themes of loyalty, hope, and social inequality.

🤝 Friendship 💖 Gratitude

S. I. Shekharan (Circle Inspector)

A determined police officer who relentlessly pursues the burglar, using various traps to trap him. His investigations create friction with the media and political figures, and his career faces jeopardy after a conflict with Ambalakkadan. His arc includes a suspension and a high-stakes pursuit of truth.

🎯 Law 🕵️ Investigation

Ambalakkadan Krishnan

An influential Abkari contractor and newspaper publisher whose sensational reporting influences public opinion. He provokes conflict with the police and the burglar by publishing false news, triggering investigations and escalations. His arrogance heightens the stakes and complicates the pursuit of justice.

📰 Media 💰 Corruption

Annie

A woman drawn into a romance with the burglar, complicating his double life. Her trust and eventual disillusion add emotional stakes to the drama as the truth about his identity surfaces. Her relationship underscores the personal costs of deception.

💘 Romance 🤐 Deception

Devassy

Owner of a finance institution (Gopuram) that houses illicit funds, including money deposited by a minister. The burglar targets this institution, making it a focal point of crime and power. Devassy embodies the intersection of finance and corruption within the plot.

🏦 Finance 💰 Corruption

Velayil Chandy

A minister whose illegal money is deposited in Devassy's institution, highlighting the political dimension of the crime. His funds link corrupt schemes to the police investigation and the burglar's activities. The character illustrates how high-level corruption permeates everyday crime.

🏛️ Politics 💰 Corruption

Ramani

A member of the social circle around the case, connected through family ties and community relations. Ramani's presence helps illustrate the broader social impact of the burglar's actions and the investigation surrounding him.

👥 Social 🔎 Investigation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:27

Major Themes – Kalikkalam (1990)

Explore the central themes of Kalikkalam (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Altruism

The burglar uses illicit gains to help the poor and orphans, painting crime with a compassionate motive. The film juxtaposes generosity with illegality, inviting the audience to question moral boundaries. This theme explores whether善 ends justify criminal means and how one person’s mercy can coexist with deception.

🔎 Deception

Identity is fluid as the protagonist assumes multiple personas and fakes official roles. The pursuit is fueled by disguises, misdirections, and media manipulation, revealing how information can be weaponized. The narrative keeps the audience guessing who the real 'villain' or 'hero' truly is.

⚖️ Justice

Law, order, and corruption collide as the inspector relentlessly pursues the burglar. The plot includes suspensions, false accusations, and confrontations with powerful figures, underscoring the fragility of justice in a corrupt system. The climax probes whether truth will prevail over manipulation.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:27

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with a Charitable Anti-Hero like Kalikkalam

Stories of outlaws with a hidden heart of gold, helping those in need.If you enjoyed the moral complexity of Mammootty's thief in Kalikkalam, explore other films featuring compassionate criminals. These movies like Kalikkalam blend crime drama with heartfelt acts of generosity, focusing on anti-heroes who challenge conventional notions of good and evil through their secret benevolence.

morally complexcharity-drivenhopefulsuspensefulgenerousredemptiveanti-hero

Narrative Summary

This thread groups stories where a character's criminal identity masks a generous spirit. The narrative typically follows their secret charitable acts, often putting them at odds with the law or their own criminal associates, leading to conflicts that test their dual nature.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on the central theme of the charitable anti-hero. They share a hopeful tone amidst criminal premises, a steady pacing that balances action with character-driven moments, and a focus on the moral ambiguity of using wrong methods for right reasons.

Redemptive Stories About Clearing a Name like Kalikkalam

A character's journey to fix a wrongful accusation, often at a personal cost.For viewers who liked the plot of Kalikkalam where a thief works to clear an officer's name, this section features similar movies about wrongfully accused characters. Discover drama and crime films where the central goal is proving innocence, culminating in bittersweet victories and moral redemption.

false accusationredemptioncat-and-mousebittersweetjusticesuspensefulconfession

Narrative Summary

The core pattern involves a false accusation that sets the plot in motion. The journey focuses on gathering evidence and navigating danger to expose the truth. The resolution is typically bittersweet, as achieving justice for another often requires the protagonist to confront their own sins or sacrifice their freedom.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by the specific plot arc of rectifying a wrongful blame. They share a steady, suspenseful pacing driven by investigation, a medium emotional weight balancing crime with hope, and a bittersweet ending feel where redemption is achieved but not without personal loss.

Unlock the Full Story of Kalikkalam

Don't stop at just watching — explore Kalikkalam in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Kalikkalam is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Kalikkalam Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Kalikkalam, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Kalikkalam Summary

Kalikkalam Timeline

Track the full timeline of Kalikkalam with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Kalikkalam Timeline

Kalikkalam Spoiler-Free Summary

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Kalikkalam Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Kalikkalam

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More About Kalikkalam

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