Chithram () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language screwball comedy film written and directed by Priyadarshan. The film was produced by P. K. R. Pillai under his production house Shirdi Sai Creations, and stars Mohanlal, Ranjini, Nedumudi Venu, Lizy, Poornam Viswanathan, Sreenivasan, M. G. Soman, Sukumari, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Shanavas, while Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair makes a cameo appearance. The songs were composed by Kannur Rajan and film score by Johnson. Mohanlal won the Kerala State Film Award - Special Jury Award for his performance in this film as Vishnu.
Chithram was released during the Christmas weekend on 23 December 1988. Made on a budget of 4.4 million, the film grossed around 40 million at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time.
- Ranjini as Kalyani, Vishnu's Love Interest
<br />Satyam Audios
| producer = P. K. R. Pillai
| prev_title = Onninu Purake Mattonnu
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Aayiram Chirakulla Moham
| next_year = 1989
The film's songs were composed by Kannur Rajan and lyrics penned by Shibu Chakravarthy. M. G. Sreekumar sang most of the songs in the film. Carnatic music singer Neyyattinkara Vasudevan was a guest singer. The classical Krithis like "Nagumomu" and "Swaminatha" featured in the film gained a mass popularity. Playback singer Sujatha Mohan also sang in the film, marking her return after years of sabbatical. Mohanlal sang two songs "Kaadumi Naadumellam" and "Aey Monnu". The songs were released by the label Ranjini Cassettes. Chithram was the last Malayalam film to release the song tracks in LP Record until 2022.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Title !! Singer(s) !! Notes
|-
| 1 || "Eeran Megham" || M. G. Sreekumar || Raga: Madhyamavati
|-
| 2 || "Paadam Pootha Kaalam" || M. G. Sreekumar ||
|-
| 3 || "Nagumomu" || Neyyattinkara Vasudevan, M. G. Sreekumar || Traditional keerthanam by Tyagaraja<br>Raga: Abheri
|-
| 4 || "Doore Kizhakkudhikkin" || M. G. Sreekumar, Sujatha ||
|-
| 5 || "Aey Moonnu" || Mohanlal || Traditional folk music
|-
| 6 || "Paadam Koyyum Munpe" || Sujatha ||
|-
| 7 || "Paadam Pootha Kaalam (Pathos)" || M. G. Sreekumar ||
|-
| 8 || "Swaminatha" || M. G. Sreekumar || Traditional Keerthanam by Muthuswami Dikshitar<br>Raga: Nattai
|-
| 9 || "Kaadumi Naadumellam" || Mohanlal, Sujatha, Chorus ||
|}
Reception
Chithram was released during a Christmas weekend on 23 December 1988. Upon release, it broke all existing records in Malayalam cinema until then. Released in 21 A class theatres, Chithram ran for 50 days in 16 release theatres, 100 days in 6 theatres, 150 days in 5 theatres, 200 days in 4 theatres, 225 days in 3 theatres and 300 days in 2 theatres. It had a theatrical run of more than 400 days in Little Shenoys (Ernakulam). It completed 366 days run with regular shows in two theatres—Little Shenoys (Ernakulam) and Ajanta (Trivandrum), and 200 days in four theatres—Little Shenoys (Ernakulam), Ajantha (Trivandrum), Asha (Kottayam), and Priya (Palakkad). Made on a budget of 0.44 crore, the film grossed around 4 crore at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film of its time. The film was a success in Tamil Nadu also.
Accolades
;Kerala Film Critics Association Awards
- Best Actor – Mohanlal
- Best Female Playback Singer – Sujatha Mohan
Remakes
The film was remade in Telugu as Alludugaru (1990), in Hindi as Pyar Hua Chori Chori (1991), in Kannada as Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege (1993), and in Tamil as Engirundho Vandhan (1995).