“A man like a peal of thunder afar,” that’s how P Padmarajan describes the character Jayakrishnan in his iconic novel Udakappola, recalls the legendary filmmaker-author’s son, Anantha Padmanabhan. Jayakrishnan, though strong and distinctive, is just one of the many characters in Udakappola and appears in the novel only occasionally. However, Padmarajan must have felt that he wasn’t someone who should be relegated to a few references and then forgotten, and that he had enough depth to be explored further. That must be why, when he penned the script for Thoovanathumbikal (1987), he placed Jayakrishnan as the protagonist. The creator’s instinct and the subsequent decision proved to be spot-on, as Jayakrishnan, played by Mohanlal, remains one of the most discussed and admired film characters in Malayalam cinema. Don’t Miss | Malayalam cinema’s Q1 2026 was disappointing and heartbreaking, until Aadu 3 saved it Thoovanathumbikal and Mannarathodi Jayakrishnan The most intriguing aspect of Jayakrishnan is that the character is based on a real-life person — Padmarajan’s friend, Karikkath Unni Menon. Not just the essence and soul of …