Achuthan Mangattachan is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Francisco De Gama) of the 2021 Mollywood period epic movie Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea.
Achuthan is a corrupt royal of the ancient South Indian kingdom of Kozhikode, located in Malabar. He is the younger son of veteran warrior general Mangattachan and commander of the kingdom's navy. In addition to being extremely jealous of his overachieving brother Anandan, he also abuses his status and looks down on his subjects, and later develops a rivalry with the main character Kunjali Marakkar after he's demoted.
He was portrayed by Ashok Selvan.
Biography[]
At some point during the mid 16th century, Achuthan was born as the second son to Mangattachan after Anandan. He grew up spoiled with power and trained in combat under his father. However, Anandan became a superior warrior leading to their father favoring him and becoming disappointed in Achuthan, a likely contribution to his corrupt demeanor. When the brothers are young adults they meet Muhammad Ali, who had taken refuge in Kozhikode after previously being framed for murder in Kochi, a rival kingdom now being aided by the empire of Portugal. Muhammad works as a blacksmith and sharpens Achuthan's weapon, but they have an argument when Achuthan refuses to put the money in his subject's hand. Despite getting offended by this, their father compliments Muhammad for standing up for himself. Achuthan's hatred for Muhammad starts here. Later on Muhammad recruits a gang of bandits to help him rob the nobleman Namatha Kurup, one of many whose land was annexed to Kozhikode. This is in retaliation for Kurup attacking Muhammad's uncle Pattu. They establish themselves as vigilantes which leads to their reputation as criminals to the king, Samoothiri, and in addition to robbing Kurup they also engage in guerilla warfare to drive the Portuguese out, since their infrantry commander Alphonso de Norono had killed Muhammad's wife and mother.
Years later, Muhammad becomes known as Kunjali Marakkar, and Achuthan becomes determined to capture him in an effort to prove himself to his father. He pays one of Marakkar's teammates, Mayinkutty, to kill him as Marakkar had accidentally killed his brother Aimutty. This fails when Marakkar's new deputy Chiang (known as Chinnali) saves him, and Mangattachan is informed. Since using a pawn to kill the enemy violates the Kshatriya code, Achuthan is dishonored in the court. Despite this he helps Samoothiri and Mangattachan plan defense against the Portuguese armada who have declared war on the kingdom for refusing submission. Anandan considers recruiting Marakkar, which becomes controversial quickly, but he is recognized by name since Pattu, his father Poker, and grandfather Kuttyali have served in the Kozhikode military before resigning years prior. Much to Achuthan's fury, as well as many court members, Samoothiri replaces him with Marakkar as naval commander. This allows Marakkar and Anandan to fight the Portuguese the next day and kill Alphonso, which gives him praise from the court. Achuthan is still angered but this goes away when he starts trying to seduce Aarcha, a childhood crush he now lusts for.
Marakkar eventually renovates his family fort during which Chinnali and Aarcha fall for each other. Achuthan decides to use his status to demand Aarcha's hand in marriage, and frame Chinnali for abducting her. Marakkar finds out this isn't so and tries to negotiate future action with Samoothiri when Aarcha becomes pregnant from Chinnali. This further angers Achuthan, so when he and Anandan are sent to escort Aarcha respectfully, he instead drags her. This causes Chinnali to fight back, and he nearly kills Achuthan before Anandan interferes. Anandan defeats Chinnali and shows him mercy, but Achuthan hurls his dagger at Chinnali, killing him and making him fall on Anandan's blade. He flees the scene as Marakkar arrives, and Marakkar believes Anandan had killed his close friend. Anandan and Marakkar fight each other and Marakkar ends up killing his second friend. Aarcha also commits suicide.
As a result of the fight, Marakkar is portrayed as a traitor, and Achuthan beats up a court minister and forces him to tell the king that Marakkar hurt him. Samoothiri ends up demoted and replaced with Nambyathiri, his nephew, who submits to Portuguese rule and allows De Gama to build his factories and churches in Malabar. De Gama also proposes that they declare war on Marakkar's fort, and Achuthan wholeheartedly agrees. He, military commander Andre Furtado De Medonca, and De Gama assault Marakkar's fort the next day and outnumber his army. Achuthan personally fights Marakkar, and despite being bested Marakkar spares him in debt for killing his brother. They win when the ministers of the Kolathunadu faction sell Marakkar out and open the gates. Marakkar loses his home but continues to run and resist. Achuthan conspires with Aimutty's wife Subaida to set a trap for Marakkar, effectively leading to De Gama executing Marakkar with a guillotine. Achuthan's whereabouts afterward are not known, but it can be presumed that he is still a force of darkness to the people of Kozhikode and that Marakkar's friends are still in conflict with him.
Powers and Abilities[]
Achuthan is a skilled sword combatant and is trained heavily in martial arts as he is leader of Kozhikode navy. He is also slightly acrobatic, but not as much as Anandan.
Personality[]
Achuthan can be described as spoiled, arrogant, entitled, and corrupt. He firmly believes he is the center of the world and that everyone, including his own brother and father are inferior to him. He does however perform his duties as the naval commander but solely because of his insecurities, and his acts of villainy go unpunished by his status.