It is AD 1695 and a voice tells you there is only one spectacle that if you see once, you will never forget. The official teaser of the Mammootty starrer Mamangam begins with a grand introduction. What you see on the screen are grand visuals, thousands of people gathering for a festival at a place entirely lit up in flames. The man who explains the scene says it is the Mamanga Mahamagam. It is a medieval trade festival for warriors.
A good part of the one-and-a-half minute teaser shows Unni Mukundan, dressed as a warrior, fighting battles. Only in the end do you see Mammootty.
The period film is inspired by truth and stories, the teaser says, and shows the end of a 280-year-old war. "We don't die as slaves. We die as fighters," says a man mentoring Unni Mukundan and a 12-year-old, who is described as someone who changed history. Before Mammootty enters the screen, a child's voice talks of a great uncle - the hero who did the impossible. There was no fighter as great as him.
The film is directed by M Padmakumar and produced by Venu Kunnappilly. Shankar Ramakrishnan has written the adapted screenplay and dialogues. The earlier script was written by director Sajeev Pillai, who was later replaced following differences with the producer. M Jayachandran has composed the music, and the cinematography is by Manoj Pillai. Editing is done by Raja Mohammed.
Mamangam is a historical drama that revolves around the life of the warriors known as Chaaverukal, who plotted against the Zamorin ruler to overthrow him. The film is based on the Mamangam festival celebrated during the 17th century, in which warriors from different parts of the country would arrive on the banks of the Bharathapuzha to fight against each other to prove their superiority.
The film is being made in Malayalam and will be released in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages.
Apart from Mammootty and Unni Mukundan, the cast includes Prachi Tehlan, Siddique, Achuthan, Anu Sithara, Iniya, Kaniha and Sudev Nair, among others.
The graphic teaser of the film was released a few days ago. The film is expected to release later this year.
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