Sarvakalasala

Sarvakalasala

Year: 1987

Runtime: 142 mins

Language: Malayalam

Director: Venu Nagavalli

Drama

Lal (Mohanlal), an orphan raised in a home funded by his unknown father's money, enrolls in college and pursues three master’s degrees, refusing to leave the campus. The film follows his life in the college hostel and the various incidents and relationships that unfold within the campus community.

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Sarvakalasala (1987) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Sarvakalasala (1987), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Lal is an orphan college student who is pursuing his third master’s degree, choosing to stay on at the same college to stave off loneliness. He lives in a house near the campus and makes do with leftover money he legally earned as a child. He is a warm, affable presence for everyone around him, and he carries the quiet authority of someone who has watched peers grow into teachers. His role among the students feels almost like that of an elder brother, and his steady presence keeps the college community grounded even as new voices arrive.

Chakkara and his cohort form the energetic, all‑rounder team that animates campus life, constantly moving between classes, clubs, and the annual events that bind students together. Into this milieu steps Jeevan Jeevan, an orphan from Lal’s world, who arrives with his sister Jyothimol Jyothimol and quickly becomes part of Lal’s makeshift family. Lal’s circle also includes Siddhan, a bohemian poet who drinks and roams with him, offering a glimpse into the more unruly, creative currents that flow through the college.

The administration hinges on a trio of figures—the Principal Achen, Charachira Achan, and Fr. Kuttanad—who together steer the day‑to‑day life of the campus, shaping discipline, rituals, and the sense of order that holds the institution together. Siddhan’s sudden departure for a journey turns dark when news arrives that he has been murdered, a shock that ripples through Lal’s circle and unsettles the fragile balance of trust and camaraderie.

In the midst of these pressures, Jeevan, who is slipping mentally, asks Lal to admit him to a psychiatric hospital and to look after his sister for a spell. The drama unfolds against the backdrop of a looming Arts festival, a moment when Lal’s tenderness clashes with the harsher judgments of college life. Lal reconnects with his old flame Gayathri, who has returned as an English teacher at the college, adding a complicated layer to the emotional currents running through the campus.

As Jyothimol trains for a dance at the festival, Lal’s protective instinct shines. After her performance, a sudden blackout strikes the auditorium, and Jyothimol is assaulted. The ensuing chaos sees suspicions pivot toward Lal, and the college and its management move quickly to press charges, casting a shadow over his years of loyalty and kindness. The arrest marks a turning point, testing Lal’s faith in the community he has supported for so long.

Yet the truth is closer than anyone thinks. Before Lal is handed over to the police, the students uncover the real culprit, and the collective voice of the campus—students and staff alike—rallies to secure Lal’s release. The moment of vindication comes with a long-awaited reunion: Lal sees Jyothimol and Jeevan, and the relief and relief-filled embrace between them underscores the resilience of the family the college helped him build.

Throughout the turmoil, the film speaks to a larger message about education, belonging, and the value of goodness. Principal Achen articulates a central idea with a poetic touch, describing the goodness inside a student as something akin to standing under the golden canopy of thine evening sky, where eager eyes turn toward knowledge and values. The closing sentiment remains hopeful: goodness always wins, even in the face of misjudgment and fear.

standing under the golden canopy of thine evening sky and they lift their eager eyes to knowledge and values. Goodness always wins.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:26

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