Spadikam (1995)

This multi-layered family drama delves into the powerful influence a father has on the self-esteem and healthy growth of a youngster, especially in childhood, and the extent of the negative impact it can have when the child is abuse it and made to feel unloved. Chacko Master (Thilakan) is a high-school headmaster who is a president's medal winner in Mathematics. He is a very strict teacher and emphasizes memorization and discipline at the expense of analysis and creativity in school. He punishes his students ruthlessly and gives no special treatment to his son Thomas, who is also a student in his class. Chacko always assumes that his son is behind every mischief in class, and punishes him until the actual culprit gives himself in. Unlike his father, Thomas isn't good in math (he cannot memorize the binomial theorem) but he is very creative and productive in designing mechanical and electronic gadgetry like a mechanical school bell which his father destroys later. For instance, he impresses his mother and sister by developing an AM radio receiver inside a soap-case at a time when phonographs were more prevalent in his village. When his father finds out about the receiver he throws it into flames and destroys it; he forces his son to focus on his studies instead of being an inventor. Thomas works hard, and he does well in his language paper, but his dad asks his language teacher (Ravunni Master-Nedumudi Venu) to grade his paper with no leniency and fail him; his father believes that only low grades will provoke Thomas to study harder with a competitive spirit. His language teacher does as asked, but regrets it later on! When Thomas finds out that even his most beloved language teacher was biased against him he becomes outraged. He runs away from home. Fourteen years later, he returns to his village. Thomas, by now, had changed into a totally different person. He is no longer interested in clockwork and gadgetry. Instead, he is the owner of a stone quarry and become a well known rowdy wanted by the authorities as a prime suspect in many unsolved crimes. His father still hates him and continues to reject him as a family member. Toma and Ravunni master's daughter Thulasi Urvashi also his childhood friend grow closer. With time, there is a transformation in the relationship between father and son, with both of them regretting their past actions. Just as they reunite and begin to build a healthy relationship, Thoma's dark past come back to haunt him. Will father and son have a second chance at building a bond based on love and trust?