Purushothaman, an avid film buff was stunned. When he first saw the film Harikrishnans, released in early September, at a Thiruvananthapuram theatre, its ending went like this: the heroine Meera (Juhi Chawla) tosses a tulsi leaf in the air to choose between the two men (played by Mammooty and Mohanlal) who love her - she calls one Hari and the other Krishnan.

The leaf drops on the name Hari. A week later when Purushothaman saw the film at a theatre in neighbouring Kollam district he rubbed his eyes in disbelief. This time round the tulsi leaf fell on the name Krishnan!

The use of different endings in two versions of the same film was an unprecedented device employed in the hilarious Malayalam film produced by actor Mohanlal's wife Suchitra and directed by the hit-maker Fazil. The double ending was obviously an attempt to make a killing at the box office by pleasing the fans loyal to both the reigning stars - Mammooty and Mohanlal.

In the film, writer-director Fazil combines comedy and mystery in a tale of two advocate friends - both named Harikrishan - who set out to crack a murder case. During their investigation they come across Meera and both fall in love with her. She too is in a dilemma because she likes both of them.

Mammooty (top) loses out to Mohanlal, who wins Juhi's hand in the final version.



The masterly marketing trick appears to have worked as the Rs 2.5 crore film (a big budget by Malayalam film industry standards) recovered costs within two weeks of its release. But the ploy has landed its producer and director in a soup.

The film has run into rough weather with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) because it seems one of the versions was not certified by the board. In a notice served to the producer, CBFC Regional Director P.M. Raju warned that the board would take legal action against her for screening uncertified parts of the film unless they were withdrawn.

Sensing trouble, Suchitra was quick to assure the CBFC that the uncertified parts of the film had been withdrawn. In her explanation to the board, she said this had happened due to a "mix-up" while editing the film's climax.

That's a bit hard to swallow, but the end result is a victory for the fans of Mohanlal. The final version of the film that most people are likely to see in the future is the one in which Mohanlal is the lucky suitor. Bad news for Mammooty's fans.

However, the film had set off a debate even before the CBFC warning, with some filmmakers even dubbing the dual ending "an unethical commercial trick".

"This sort of gimmick is unthinkable for someone who considers cinema an artistic creation," said Director Shaji N. Karun, Chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Akademi. There were others who made more serious charges, saying the two versions of the film have been distributed keeping the religious affiliations of the fans in mind.

Mammooty, a Muslim, is believed to be more popular in the Muslim-dominated northern districts of the state, while Mohanlal, a Hindu, is the favourite in the southern districts where Hindus are in a majority.

There are charges that in the prints shown in northern districts Mammooty got Juhi and Mohanlal won her in the prints screened in southern districts. The director Fazil strongly refutes such charges. "This is a baseless allegation. I have tried this out across the state irrespective of the communal configuration."

Ace director Priyadarshan is critical of the whole fracas and says the double ending was a masterly marketing strategy. "The ending pleased all and the film's success pumped much-needed oxygen into the sick industry. Why should anyone rake up an unseemly controversy over it?"

There's something in what he says. The Malayalam film industry has been badly hit, with the number of annual productions likely to touch an all-time low of around 50 films, compared to the 180 a decade ago.

Last year, 57 of the 80 films produced - including those of superstars like Mammooty and Mohanlal - bombed at the box office. The double ending was a successful ploy - the fans were happy, the film raked in millions and revived the industry. Too bad the CBFC and its rules played spoil sport.