Lal Salam 1990

Set in the early days of the Communist movement in Kerala, the narrative follows three driven comrades — Netturan Mohanlal, D.K. Antony Murali, and Sethulakshmi Geetha — as they tirelessly work to uplift daily-wage laborers and other proletarians in their village, striving to end the stranglehold of feudal landlords at a time when practicing Communism was illegal.

As the movement gains momentum, personal loyalties and romantic entanglements intertwine with politics. Sethulakshmi and D.K. Antony share a deep bond, while Netturan is drawn to Annamma Urvashi, the daughter of Medayil Ittichan, the landlord whose press Netturan runs as his day job. The trio faces escalating dangers as their activism threatens entrenched power, and the atmosphere grows tense with police surveillance and state pressure.

During a farmers’ uprising a landlord is killed, and the blame lands squarely on the three leaders of the party. The trio must go into hiding as the State Police intensifies its crackdown, committing a wave of atrocities in an attempt to root them out. Sethulakshmi is arrested, and gravely affected by the unfolding events, Netturan and D.K. Antony choose to surrender. The three are convicted and sent to prison, their imprisonment marking a turning point as the party expands its influence and becomes a formidable political force.

Upon their release, Sethulakshmi, D.K. Antony and Netturan are welcomed back as heroes by the party cadre. The party’s reach has grown, and with the State Legislative Assembly elections imminent, Sethulakshmi and D.K. Antony are unanimously selected as party candidates, backed by Netturan and other members. The party secures a landslide victory, placing Sethulakshmi in the Home Minister role and D.K. Antony in the Finance Minister position, signaling a new political era.

Meanwhile, a pregnant Annamma faces a medical crisis. Netturan’s finances and commitments to the party leave him unable to secure the necessary medications, prompting him to turn to Father Felix for help. Father Felix lends him ₹50, a gesture that underscores the cash-strapped reality even as ideology and duty pull at Netturan’s conscience. Troubled by his inability to support his family while staying true to his principles, Netturan seeks guidance from his friend Unnithan Jagathy Sreekumar. Unnithan advises him to step back from the party for a time and pursue a new path. Taking the suggestion to heart, Netturan takes five years off from party duties and resigns from the state committee, venturing into a new livelihood.

He starts a contract works business, channeling his energy and discipline into building a successful enterprise. Through relentless effort, he accumulates wealth and a new sense of independence, a stark contrast to the ideals that once defined him. The continuing political saga of the party unfolds with D.K. Antony and Sethulakshmi still in office, while personal turmoil shadows their marriage when D.K.’s illicit relationship with Stella comes to light. Stella Rekha becomes a focal point of conflict, testing loyalties and ideals within the leadership.

The film closes on a somber note as D.K. Antony dies, and Netturan salutes his grave from a place of both respect and reflection. The final moments juxtapose the enduring power of political transformation with the personal costs borne by those who carry the banner of a movement, leaving viewers to ponder the balance between conviction, family, and the price of leadership.