Watch Changaathem

Changatham is a 1983 Malayalam film that features a star-studded cast led by the legendary actors Mammootty and Mohanlal. Directed by Bhavani Shankar, the film explores the concept of friendship and how far one can go to help their friends. The plot revolves around four friends- Gopu (Mammootty), Paul (Jagathy Sreekumar), Balu (Mohanlal), and Rajan (Ashokan), who meet each other while studying in college. They get along well and share a deep bond of friendship that lasts even after college.

Gopu is an aspiring politician who dreams of serving his people. Paul is a very wealthy person who leads a luxurious life while Balu and Rajan are working hard to make ends meet. Despite their differences in social status, they remain close friends, constantly supporting one another.

Trouble brews when Balu gets into a serious accident that leaves him paralyzed. This incident drives a wedge between the four friends as they begin to drift apart, even as Balu slips into depression.

While the other friends move on with their lives, Gopu realizes he needs to help Balu get back on his feet. He decides to raise funds for Balu's treatment, but his political ambitions require a large sum of money to be realized. Gopu then gets involved in shady deals and rises to power as a corrupt politician.

However, it's not just Gopu and Balu's story that makes up the film. There is also the parallel storyline of Paul and Rajan - Rajan falls for Paul's sister, who is crucial to the plot. It's a subplot that is treated with finesse and doesn't hog too much of the spotlight from the friendship bond.

The film takes the audience through the ups and downs of friendship, love and sacrifice. Mohanlal, Mammootty and Jagathy Sreekumar all deliver terrific performances, making the characters come alive. The chemistry between the four friends feels genuine and is definitely one of the highlights of the film.

The director's expertise is apparent in the way he handles the subject matter, encapsulating the nuances of the relationships between the characters with an extraordinary attention to detail. Especially when it comes to Gopu and Balu, one can see how Bhavani Shankar has shown the gradual changes in their friendship in a very mature way.

The music for the film is something that deserves special mention. The music, composed by Shyam, delivers some of the most memorable songs in Malayalam cinema, such as "Nilaave Maayumo," which went on to become a chartbuster.

Overall, Changatham is a film that is well worth watching, even today. It is a story that is still relevant and a testament to the depths of the human spirit. Above all, it's a film that captures the true essence of friendship and how crucial it is to have true friends you can rely on in times of need.

Changaathem is a 1983 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 26 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8.