Panchamirtham Full Story Explained (2008)
Imagine a demon from the Ramayana turning into a rock, then waking up in modern times to protect a girl named Seetha. That is exactly what happens in 'Panchamirtham', a 2008 Tamil fantasy comedy. The film stars Jayaram as Mareesan, Prakash Raj as Ravanan, and director Raju Eswaran as Idumban. It also features Nassar in a double role, along with Aravind Akash, Saranya Mohan, and a bunch of talented comedians. Released on Christmas Day 2008, this movie blends ancient mythology with a modern-day property feud. It is a laugh riot with a sweet love story and a magical twist. The film was produced by Abirami Ramanathan and has music by Sundar C Babu. If you enjoy silly humour mixed with epic legends, this one is a fun ride.
A demon becomes a deer
Ravanan orders his uncle Mareesan to turn into a golden deer. Mareesan argues, but Ravanan threatens to kill Mareesan's lover Mandahini. Mareesan has no choice. He transforms into a deer to trick Seetha.
Full Plot
The film begins in the time of the Ramayana. Ravanan, the demon king, wants to kidnap Seetha, the wife of Lord Rama. He orders his uncle Mareesan to transform into a golden deer. Mareesan does not want to do it because he knows it is wrong. But Ravanan threatens to kill Mareesan's lover Mandahini. Mareesan has no choice. He becomes a deer and lures Seetha away from Rama. Rama shoots an arrow and hits Mareesan. Before dying, Mareesan turns Ravanan's servant Idumban into an anklet and wears it on his leg. Then Mareesan turns into a rock and stays like that for thousands of years.
In modern times, a rich man named Rajaram owns a large tea estate. He hires Sriram as his cook and Seetha as his dietitian. Sriram and Seetha fall in love with each other. Rajaram's relatives, Thirupathi and Mayilsamy, are greedy. They want to take Rajaram's property for themselves. They plan to kill Seetha by pushing her off a mountain. They succeed in pushing her. Seetha falls directly onto the rock that is Mareesan. The impact breaks the curse. Mareesan wakes up in his human form. His anklet falls off and a fish eats it.
A fisherman named Manickam catches that fish. When he cuts it open, Idumban comes out in human form. Idumban learns that Manickam is actually Rajaram's half-brother. Idumban decides to help Manickam get his share of the property. Meanwhile, Mareesan feels guilty for what he did to Seetha in the Ramayana. He vows to protect her in this new life. The two demons meet again and their old enmity returns.
Mareesan uses his powers to protect Seetha and Sriram from the greedy relatives. Idumban tries to help Manickam take the property. There is a lot of confusion and comedy. In the end, the greedy relatives are caught and punished. Idumban realizes that fighting is useless. Sriram and Seetha get married. Rajaram gives his property to the young couple. Manickam also gets his fair share. Mareesan and Idumban make peace and return to their demon world. The film ends with everyone happy.
Characters
Mareesan
Mareesan is a demon from the Ramayana. He is Ravanan's uncle and loves Mandahini. He is forced to become a deer and gets killed by Rama. He turns into a rock for thousands of years. In modern times, he wakes up and protects Seetha to make up for his past mistake.
Idumban
Idumban is Ravanan's loyal servant. He helps Ravanan threaten Mareesan. Mareesan turns him into an anklet before dying. In modern times, a fish eats the anklet and Idumban comes back. He helps Manickam try to get Rajaram's property.
Ravanan
Ravanan is the demon king of Lanka. He wants revenge on Rama and orders Mareesan to become a deer. He threatens to kill Mandahini to force Mareesan to obey. He appears only in the Ramayana part of the film.
Sriram
Sriram is a cook who works for Rajaram. He falls in love with Seetha, the dietitian. He is kind and honest. He marries Seetha at the end and gets Rajaram's property.
Seetha
Seetha is a dietitian who works for Rajaram. She falls in love with Sriram. The greedy relatives push her off a mountain. She survives because she falls on Mareesan's rock. She marries Sriram at the end.
Rajaram / Manickam
Nassar plays a double role. Rajaram is a rich tea estate owner. His relatives are greedy and want his property. Manickam is a fisherman who is Rajaram's half-brother. Idumban helps Manickam try to get his share.
Themes
Good vs Evil
The film shows the battle between good and evil across two time periods. In the Ramayana, Mareesan is forced to do evil. In modern times, he chooses to do good by protecting Seetha. The greedy relatives represent evil, but they are defeated in the end.
Love and Sacrifice
Mareesan agrees to become a deer because Ravanan threatens to kill his lover Mandahini. That is a sacrifice born of love. In modern times, Sriram and Seetha's love is pure and simple. Their love wins against all obstacles.
Redemption and Second Chances
Mareesan gets a second chance at life after being a rock for thousands of years. He uses this chance to protect Seetha and make up for his past mistake. Idumban also gets a second chance, but he initially uses it for greed. In the end, he too chooses peace.
Greed and Its Consequences
Rajaram's relatives are greedy for his property. They try to kill Seetha and cause chaos. Their greed leads to their downfall. Manickam also wants the property, but he is not evil. The film shows that greed only brings trouble.
Ending Explained
The ending of Panchamirtham is happy and satisfying. The greedy relatives, Thirupathi and Mayilsamy, are exposed for trying to kill Seetha. They are punished and lose any chance of getting Rajaram's property. Rajaram realizes that Sriram and Seetha are good people. He gives his tea estate to them. Manickam, the fisherman, also gets his fair share of the property because he is Rajaram's half-brother. Idumban understands that fighting with Mareesan is pointless. He makes peace with him. Mareesan feels relieved that he has protected Seetha and made up for his past sin. Sriram and Seetha get married and start a new life together. Mareesan and Idumban return to their demon world, leaving the humans in peace. The film ends with a warm message: love and goodness always win in the end. The director leaves the audience with a smile, showing that even ancient demons can change and do the right thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Panchamirtham is an original story written by director Raju Eswaran. It blends characters from the Ramayana with a modern-day comedy plot. There is no official remake of this film.
Nassar plays a double role in the film. He plays Rajaram, the rich tea estate owner, and Manickam, the fisherman who is Rajaram's half-brother. Both characters are very different from each other.
Panchamirtham is a Tamil word that means 'five nectars'. It is a traditional sweet offering made in Hindu temples. The title suggests that the film is a sweet and enjoyable mixture of different elements like comedy, fantasy, and romance.
Yes, the film is a fantasy comedy aimed at family audiences. It has no violence or adult content. Critics noted that children are the target audience. It is a clean, fun film that the whole family can watch together.
The film was shot in various locations in Tamil Nadu. A song featuring Saranya Mohan was filmed in Ooty, a popular hill station. The tea estate scenes were likely filmed in the Nilgiris region. The exact list of locations is not fully known.