Kakkakuyil 2001

An unemployed man named Sivaraman [Mohanlal] travels to Mumbai in search of work, only to lose all his certificates and his money in the process. He reconnects with an old Kerala friend, Govindan Kutty [Suniel Shetty], who is also wandering the city without a job. The two hatch a plan to secure a visa through a travel agency, but the demand for a huge visa fee proves insurmountable. Desperate, Govindan Kutty convinces Sivaraman to team up for a bank robbery led by the cunning and ruthless Thomas Mathews [Cochin Haneefa], along with his stammering brother Tyootty [Jagathy Sreekumar] and a manipulative lover, Elina [Sucheta Khanna].

They throw themselves into the caper, but the heist goes awry when they accidentally target the home of Pothuval [Innocent], a former servant who knows the blind elderly couple at the center of the next plan. Elina secretly tips off the police that the robbery was staged by Thomas to seize the entire stash for himself. Before the police can close in, Thomas hides the money, and the location is kept secret—known only to his lawyer, Nambeeshan [Jagathy Sreekumar]. Elina pretends to be in love with Nambeeshan to coax out the hidden cash.

To maintain a plausible cover, Sivaraman and Govindan Kutty decide to impersonate Kunjunni, the missing grandson of a wealthy, elderly pair, Thampuran [Nedumudi Venu] and Sethu Lakshmi Bhai [Kaviyoor Ponnamma]. The couple has not seen their grandson since his childhood, as he has been living overseas in the United States, and they are estranged from relatives who do not reside with them. The two men swap roles—Govindan Kutty’s body with Sivaraman’s voice—to pass themselves off as Kunjunni in front of the elderly couple.

As the ruse unfolds, Pothuval makes several attempts to reveal the truth, but his efforts are thwarted, much to Sivaraman’s relief. Enter Radhika Menon / Revathy [Arzoo Govitrikar], who appears disguised as Kunjunni’s lover and summons the extended family for a dramatic gathering. In the absence of Sivaraman, Govindan Kutty pretends to faint and is rushed to a hospital. Sivaraman steps in as Dr. Gopalakrishnan, a friend from the United States, to maintain the facade and protect the plan.

The troupe experiences a string of comic escapades as they navigate the fragile web they’ve woven. A separate objective emerges: Govindan Kutty attempts to steal the Lord Krishna statue to secure a fortune, wagering on a plan that involves placing a teapoy on a staircase to trap the house’s elderly resident and keep others out for a while. A tense fight erupts when Sivaraman confronts Govindan Kutty over the stolen statue. Thampuran’s harsh accusation toward his relatives underscores the family’s greed, but the truth behind the siblings’ wealth and the relatives’ motives remains murky.

Gradually, the couple’s backstory comes into focus: decades earlier, a car accident left Thampuran and Sethu Lakshmi Bhai blind, and their son and daughter-in-law (Kunjunni’s parents) died in the tragedy. This revelation heightens the sense of urgency for the visa money, which turns out to be counterfeit. Radhika reveals a deeper motive: she is actually Kunjunni’s lover Revathy, who had come to reveal the truth but elected to join the ruse to keep Thampuran and Sethu happy for a time.

Overwhelmed by the mounting emotional stakes, Sivaraman returns to confess everything to Thampuran, who asks him to continue the staged world in front of Sethu to spare her from a devastating shock. Sethu calls for Kunjunni, but no reply comes. Govindan Kutty gradually returns in remorse, and Thampuran ultimately forgives Sivaraman and Govindan Kutty with a warm embrace. As they part, Radhika promises Thampuran that she will return.

In the closing scenes, the robbers’ schemes ripple outward: Thomas and Tyootty embark on a new hustle, Nambeeshan returns to his homeland and takes up farming, and Pothuval champions an anti-alcohol society. Elina’s fate remains uncertain, leaving the door open to what the future may hold.

This tale blends farce with heartfelt moments, weaving a tapestry of deception and redemption set against a vividly drawn Mumbai-and-Kerala crossroads, anchored by a strong ensemble cast that brings humor, warmth, and a sense of communal belonging to a story about greed, love, and second chances.