Aparaadhini is a 1968 Indian Malayalam film, directed by P. Bhaskaran and produced by BS Ranga. The film stars Sathyan, Sharada, Ambika and Padmini in lead roles. The film had musical score by MB Sreenivasan.
The film is set against the backdrop of a circus company. Chandran is a circus performer. Thankam, a beautiful 17-year-old girl, is his childhood sweetheart. But, Thankam's mother Kalyani Amma forbids her to prolong her affair with Chandran. She wants Thankam to marry Gopi, a well known bully from the town. Thankam's father Paithal Nair, however rejects this proposal. But as the circus shifts to another village, everything goes wrong. The circus people owed some money to Paithal Nair which they were unable to pay. Despite the circus manager's assurances Kalyani Amma and Nair decide to hold the circus animals hostage until the circus manager repays his debt. Managing the animals soon becomes a nightmare and Paithal and family realize they have invited trouble (pulival pidikkuka - an expression in Malayalam for trouble, mess etc. It literally means catch a leopard by its tail). Paithal Nair is in financial stress and has no other way than to accept the marriage proposal from Gopi for his daughter. What will happen to Chandran and Thankam's romance? How does Paithal Nair overcome his problems? Answers to these questions form the rest of the story.
Qais is son of an ordinary Arab merchant Amir Ameeri. He falls in love with the beautiful Laila, daughter of the immensely rich and powerful landlord Sarvari. Though Laila reciprocates his love in equal measure, her father opposes this match. All the attempts of Sarvari to separate the lovers fail. Sarvari shifts his residence to another city on the ouskirts of the holy town of Mecca secretly. Heartbroken at this separation, Qais loses his mental faculties and wanders aimlessly in the deserts like a lunatic. Laila meets Qais in the loneliness of the desert. Qais is beaten severely by Sarvari's men. Amir Ameeri finds his son in a very pathetic condition and he takes him to Sarvari's palace. Amir Ameeri falls at the feet of Sarvari and begs for his mercy and requests for the marriage of Laila with Qais. Sarvari's heart melts and he agrees for the marriage.