The film is about a Malayali youth, Sethumadhavan (Mohanlal), whose hopes and aspirations are shattered by a combination of fate and human falling. It explores how society type-casts individuals and forces them to act that part whether they like it or not. It is one of the greatest movie released in Indian film industry.Mohanlal won the National Film Award – Special Mention "for portraying young man's agony and pain marvelously and in unique style". Lohithadas won the Kerala Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay.