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Salt Mango Tree
Salt Mango Tree
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Rajesh Mohanan
Screenplay by	Vinod & Vinod
Produced by	Abeesh V. P.; Roshan Chittoor; Shajoon Kariyal;
Starring	Biju Menon; Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli; Suhasini Maniratnam; Paris Laxmi; Indrans; Sarayu; Sudheer Karamana; Hareesh Perumanna;
Cinematography	Vishnu Sarma
Edited by	E. S. Sooraj
Music by	Songs:; Hesham Abdul Wahab; Score:; Bijibal;
Production; company	1000 Lights Entertainments
Distributed by	Kalasangham Films; Kas & Right Release
Release date	6 November 2015;
Running time	125 minutes
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Salt Mango Tree is a 2015 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Rajesh Mohanan, starring Biju Menon, Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli and Suhasini Maniratnam.^[1] The film is a remake of the 2014 Bengali film Ramdhanu ^[2] and the title is taken from the Mohanlal starrer Doore Doore Oru Koodu Koottam (1986).^[3]

The film was released on 6 November 2015 and received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Aravindan (Biju Menon) and Priya (Lakshmi Priyaa) are the parents who are battling the educational system to get a spot for their son Manu (Kristin Varkachaan). Aravindan owns a medical shop, while Priya works as a senior accountant at a private firm and they live in a flat. Priya wants Manu to join an English-speaking school. They hire an English tutor to help Manu prepare for his school interview. After so many attempts to get an admission, they finally get an appointment for an interview at Holy Saints English medium school with the help of Kumaran (Sunil Sukadha), who runs a tailoring unit and arranges the admissions after collecting money from parents. However, the interviewers at school interrogate Aravindan and tease him due to his lack of English proficiency. Manu is denied from getting an admission. The family departs the school with broken hearts.

They learn about a carrier guidance center that will coach the children along with their parents. Deepika (Suhasini), who is the head of the English orientation program, comes as a helping hand for the family, and Manu finally succeeds in learning English. Manu gets an interview at St. Antony's School afterwards, but Manu fails to speak English at the interview. They leave the school out of concern that Manu will not enroll at school. They soon reach Deepika and ask her why their son was unable to pass the interview like the other children. Deepika guides them that parents should let their children be who they want them to be and not place too much emphasis on their children's careers. She imparts lessons on family and educational values.

Back at home Aravindan and Priya discover Manu missing from their flat. They look for him everywhere, only to find him on terrace. Aravindan informs Priya that Manu has been admitted to St. Antony's School.

Cast

Biju Menon as Aravind
Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli as Priya Aravind
Kristin Varkachaan as Manu
Hareesh Perumanna as Shafeeque
Suhasini Maniratnam as Deepika
Saiju Kurup as Praveen
Raghavan as Swami
Paris Laxmi as Angela Praveen
Indrans as Pavithran
Babu Swamy as Menon
Jayaprakash Kuloor as Appooppan
Sarayu as Meenakshi Mohan Kumar
Manju Satheesh as Treesa Chacko
Sudheer Karamana as Mohan Kumar
Elizabath as Ammoomma
Sunil Sukhada as Kumar
Vijay Menon as Vice Principal
Pradeep Kottayam as Sameer
Kottayam Purushan as Biju
Saiju Panikkar as Chacko
Lakshmi Menon as Teena
Bindhu Ramakrishnan
Giri Shankar as Alwin
Binoy as Satheesan
Sreedharan Bhattdhari as Peter
Baiju Ezhupunna as Charlie
Manjith
Praveen Shankaranaryanan as Medical Rep
Ramji
Umeshan
Manjushaa as Manjusha
Noora as Sreevidhya
Jeni as Swapana
Milu as Meghana
Parvathy Menon as Teacher
Jennifer as Interviewer
Ambika Mohan as Principal
Doly as Riya
Lisy as Raji
Pushpa as Varsha Abhay
Darshan D Nair as Abhi, Meenakshi's and Mohan Kumar's Son

Soundtrack

Music was composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab, which marked his debut as a music director in Malayalam Cinema.^[4] The background score is by Bijibal.


#	Song	Singer	Lyrics
1	"Kaathilaaro"	Sithara Krishnakumar	Rafeeq Ahamed
2	"Kaattummel Anchaaru"	Hesham Abdul Wahab	Aslam
3	"Kanavil Kanavil"	Hesham Abdul Wahab	Madhu Vasudevan

Reception

Critical reception was mostly positive.^[5]^[6]

The Times of India gave the movie 2.5 stars, claiming its script and writing lacks a usual happy ending or something that can deftly hold it all together. However, the review stay back with film's good humour quotient.^[7] Indiaglitz rated the film 3 out of 5 and wrote, "'Salt Mango Tree' is a watchable entertainment. The movie is made delectable with the kind of humour that only Biju Menon is capable. This is a small movie, yet a delightful one."^[8] Saumesh Thimbath of The Hindu wrote, " Biju Menon continues the streak of good performances and Lakshmi Rajamouli looks convincing in her role. Kanaran Harish as Aravind’s assistant has some of the best comic lines in the movie and delivers an excellent performance."^[9].