Niram

Niram marks the fourth and final collaboration of the leading pair, Kunchacko and Shalini of the late 90s. It was also Shalini’s last Malayalam film, before retiring from the industry. The film revolves around the relationship of two teenagers – Aby (Kunchacko Boban) and Sona (Shalini), who are best friends since childhood and they often hangout together. The film’s music was composed by Vidyasagar. Niram was a blockbuster at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of the year, grossing over ₹5 crore. The film was remade in Telugu as Nuvve Kavali (2000), Tamil as Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001) with Director Kamal, and actresses Shalini, Jomol and Kovai Sarala reprising their roles, in Kannada as Ninagagi (2002), and in Hindi as Tujhe Meri Kasam (2003). The film was rereleased on 16 September 1999.

They share a special friendship and romance is nowhere in their plan. They are a pair of pranksters, fun-loving and always up to do some tricks. Their families find their friendship special, and their friends call them the Siamese twins (having never seen them away from each other).

The story takes a turn when Sona goes to Bangalore to participate in a youth festival. Aby misses her so much that he realizes that what he feels for her is more than friendship. He is all set to confess his love when he realizes that he doesn’t know how she feels about him, and he feels that he should not take undue advantage of the freedom their parents have given them. When Sona returns, she tells Aby about Prakash Mathew, who proposed to her when they were in Bangalore.

Sona, who is confused about her feelings for Prakash, confides in Aby, who encourages her to confess her feelings to Prakash. Sona and Prakash become a couple but this brings an unexpected strain into Aby’s and Sona’s friendship. Prakash’s reactions to Aby’s closeness to Sona makes Aby realize that things will never be the same again. Aby, realizing that Sona is hurt by Prakash’s actions towards him, starts showing interest towards Varsha, who has always been in love with Aby. Aby starts avoiding Sona and starts spending more time with Varsha. This infuriates Sona.

Meanwhile, Prakash and Sona’s marriage is fixed. Varsha asks Aby to meet her father, but he does not turn up for the meeting, giving excuses. Varsha later tells him that she realizes that he loves Sona and as long as that is the case, he would never reciprocate her feelings and it is best to tell Sona the truth.

Arrangements start for Sona’s marriage to Prakash. After a dinner where the families of Aby, Sona and Aby discuss marriage, Sona realizes that she will be moving to the US, away from her parents and Aby . She gets emotional and asks him why he never loved her, then everything would have been perfect! Aby gets overwhelmed by emotions and hugs her. He apologizes and leaves immediately. Sona is shocked at the extent of his feelings. She goes to his house and finds a card in which he has written SUK-RI-YA (which in the movie means “I love you”) near her name. Sona is hurt and gets angry at Aby for having hidden so many things from her. She finally tells him that she loves him too. Aby tries to pacify her and make her understand that it would be inappropriate to tell their parents at this stage.

Sona gets engaged to Prakash and Aby decides to leave before the wedding. Their parents are baffled at his sudden decision to leave and try to dissuade him. Aby is adamant and Sona goes to leave him to the railway station. Their parents find out that they are in love and come in search of them, to find the pair sitting on the stairs of the station, Aby not having left. Their parents happily suggest that the duo get married because they also have wished for them to forever stay together.