Lion

Lion

Year: 2006

Runtime: 154 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: Joshiy

Drama

The story centers on a prominent socio‑political family led by Education Minister Balagangadhara Menon. Living under his roof are his son B. Krishnakumar, known as Unni and also a politician, Unni’s wife Lakshmi, their three daughters, and the two sons‑in‑law married to the daughters. The film follows their intertwined personal and political lives.

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Timeline & Setting – Lion (2006)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Lion (2006). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Early 2000s

Set in contemporary India during the early 2000s, the film captures a period of political churn and reformist rhetoric. The narrative uses real-world structures—Chief Minister, Governor, and Home Minister—to illustrate a high-stakes power struggle. It revolves around student protests over college fee hikes and the clash between corrupt interests and public welfare. The atmosphere is charged with media attention and public activism.

Location

Kerala, India

Kerala, a southern Indian state with a rich political culture, provides the backdrop for Lion. The film centers on a powerful minister and his family as they maneuver education policy, protests, and elections. Public offices, mass movements, and the state assembly frame a landscape where power and money influence governance. The setting reflects a society grappling with accountability within a democratic framework.

🏛️ Kerala 🗳️ Politics 💼 Governance 🕊️ Reform

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:23

Main Characters – Lion (2006)

Meet the key characters of Lion (2006), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

B.Krishnakumar (Dileep)

Unni, Balagangadhara Menon's son, navigates a web of family power and political ambition. He champions integrity, fights back against corruption, and seeks to unite lovers and citizens through principled action. Though surrounded by a corrupt milieu, he becomes the film’s driving force for reform and accountability.

👤 Protagonist 🕊️ Integrity 🗳️ Politician

Sharika / Shari (Kavya Madhavan)

Shari is a former servant turned public teacher who rekindles a past romance with Unni. She drives the search for truth, brings evidence to light, and partners with Unni to challenge Menon's regime. Her courage under pressure positions her as a catalyst for political change.

👩 Heroine 🧭 Courage

Balagangadhara Menon (Kalasala Babu)

A powerful Education Minister with his own CM ambitions, Menon uses family ties and political leverage to shield wrongdoing. His flawed vision evolves from self-protection to reluctant readiness for reform as the plot unfolds. He embodies the moral complexity of power and responsibility.

🏛️ Minister ⚖️ Power

Lakshmi Menon (Shobha Mohan)

Wife of Menon, she is drawn into the political storm and faces the consequences of her family's actions. She embodies the personal cost of governance and the dilemma of loyalty versus public welfare.

👩 Wife 🌟 Support

Pavithran (Saikumar)

A ruthless figure in Menon's inner circle, Pavithran plots to eliminate Prasad and influence the political game. He catalyzes conflict and ultimately pays the price for his schemes when Krishnakumar confronts him.

🗡️ Antagonist 💼 Henchman

Prasad (Saiju Kurup)

A schoolteacher and Meenakshi's lover, Prasad becomes a target of political machinations. His pursuit of a loving relationship is entangled with the state's power struggles and threats to his life.

👨‍🏫 Teacher 💔 Lover

Meenakshi Harshan a.k.a. Meenootty (Karthika Mathew)

Meenakshi is in love with Prasad but is pressured into an arranged marriage to Harshan. She assists Unni by providing crucial information and supporting the push for justice.

👧 Lover 👩‍🎓 Student

CI Vijayan (Vijayaraghavan)

An important police figure who aids Krishnakumar by pursuing evidence, coordinating with the Collector, and assisting in the arrest of the corrupt. His role underscores law enforcement as a pillar of accountability.

👮 Police 🛡️ Authority

Thomman Chacko (Innocent)

A trusted ally who becomes Chief Minister, Thomman Chacko's leadership marks the transition from a corrupt regime to reform-minded governance. He guides the state toward accountability while balancing political realities.

👔 Senior Leader 🧭 Statesman

DGP (Jagannath Varma)

The top police official whose bureau battles crime while navigating political pressures during the reform process. He helps align law enforcement with anti-corruption goals.

👮‍♂️ Top Cop 🏛️ Bureaucracy

Vendor Chandy (Cochin Haneefa)

A money-connected vendor representing the flow of black money into political campaigns. He stands for the economic side of state corruption and its influence on policy.

🧰 Trader 💰 Influence

P. K. Abraham / Avarachan (P. Sreekumar)

The former Chief Minister who serves as a benchmark for honest leadership opposed by the anti-corruption faction. His stance highlights the contrast between integrity and opportunism in politics.

👔 Ex CM 🏛️ Politics

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:23

Major Themes – Lion (2006)

Explore the central themes of Lion (2006), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Corruption vs Integrity

Power and corruption dominate the state's landscape as Menon's circle shields illegal wealth and manipulates policy. Krishnakumar's rise tests his commitment to ethical action in the face of family and political pressure. The story argues that leadership is defined by actions that uphold public trust, not by titles alone. It ends with reforms intended to restore transparency in governance.

👪 Family Politics

The Menon clan leverages kinship to broker deals, influence policy, and control the political narrative. Loyalties within the household, in-laws, and political allies constantly shift as rivals threaten their dominance. The personal and political intertwine, showing how love, betrayal, and ambition shape governance.

🗳️ Accountability

Evidence gathered by Sharika and Krishnakumar exposes a corrupt network and triggers legal scrutiny. The police, CI Vijayan, and the judiciary become agents of reform, while public protests demand transparency. The dissolution of the state assembly and subsequent elections underscore that accountability requires decisive political will. The ending reinforces the need for incorruptible leadership that acts for the public good.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:23

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