
About the Movie
## “Lal Americayil”: A Tale of Lost Identity and Comic Intrigue Across Continents
Lal Americayil, released in 1989, is a Malayalam-language comedy that interweaves suspense and emotion against the backdrop of cross-continental longing. Directed by Sathyan Anthikkad, with screenplay by Cochin Haneefa, the film follows the story of Ravi Varma, a wealthy businessman in America haunted by the loss of his son, Babu, who disappeared at age five. Overcome with grief, especially after the death of his blind wife on the same tragic day, Ravi Varma conspires with his close friend Unnithan and attorney Ravindran to fake his own death and place a public ad in search of his long-lost son.
The plot takes a comedic turn when three men respond to the ad, each convincingly claiming to be Babu. Portrayed by Mohanlal, Cochin Haneefa, and Jagathy Sreekumar, the imposters navigate a series of tests, baffling Ravi Varma and his aides as they struggle to identify the true Babu. The star-studded cast includes Mohanlal as Vinod, a CBI officer, Prem Nazir as Ravi Varma, Jagathy Sreekumar as Sathyan, Disco Santhi, Cochin Haneefa as Kanaran, Jose Prakash as Harindran, Sathaar as Anil, Oduvil Unnikrishnan as Govindan, Saritha, and Shanavas as Babu.
Produced by Muhammed Mannil, the film is acclaimed for its blend of comedy and intrigue, supported by a memorable musical score composed by Johnson. Over the years, “Lal Americayil” has maintained a place in Malayalam cinema for its engaging narrative and performances, especially for bringing together two of Malayalam cinema’s biggest stars—Prem Nazir and Mohanlal—in a unique comic-mystery setting.
Cast
Mohanlal
Vinod
Prem Nazir
Ravi Varma
Oduvil Unnikrishnan
Unnithan
Jagathy Sreekumar
Jose Prakash
Lal Americayil: Watch Full Movie