Dhinarathrangal, directed by Joshi, is a Malayalam action vigilante film from 1988. It features Mammootty, Sumalatha, Mukesh and Parvathy. The film follows Aravindan, a former factory worker who becomes a fugitive after taking a stand against a corrupt landlord. As truths unfold, a doctor torn between justice and emotion must decide his fate, leading to a powerful and tragic ending.
Aravindan, a former factory foreman, is laid off and relocates to an impoverished, rural village. In the process, he comes into contact with the local farmers, who are oppressed by the heartless landlord, Sankarath Madhava Menon. With Aravindan’s help, they unite to create an early production cooperative, giving them the collective power to challenge Menon’s awful tyranny. When Menon and his men respond with further violence, Aravindan and his friends Fight Back, resulting in the death of Menon and his goons. Dr. Savithri Menon, Menon's daughter and a surgeon at the local medical college, watches helplessly as her father is murdered by Aravindan’s band.
She initially refuses to treat Aravindan, but as she learns the truth, she realises he had strong reasons for his actions. Savithri tries to help Aravindan escape from the police, but the police insist on serving justice for Aravindan's sake. The night before his court appearance, Aravindan attempts to run away, but the police shoot him to stop his escape. Severely wounded, Aravindan is rushed back to the hospital, where Savithri and her assistant perform surgery to save him. Heartbroken, Savithri stops the blood transfusion, and Aravindan dies on the spot. The film ultimately takes a tragic turn that raises questions of justice and sacrifice, and examines the complexity of feelings associated with the concepts of right and wrong.
Dhinarathrangal is a deeply felt emotional melodrama that wrestles, sometimes overtly, with these moral ambiguities, compelling audiences to examine the precariousness of our common humanity. The film combines emotional intensity with political consciousness, driving ever closer to a searing narrative and a shattering climax.