Ayyappanum Koshiyum (), also known as AK Ayyappanum Koshiyum, is a 2020 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film written and directed by Sachy. Produced by Ranjith and P. M. Sasidharan, the film stars Biju Menon and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Ayyappanum Koshiyum was released on 7 February 2020, and was one of the highest grossing Malayalam films of 2020, earning ₹52 crore worldwide. It won 4 awards at the 68th National Film Awards, including the National Awards for Best Direction for Sachy, Best Supporting Actor for Biju Menon, Best Female Playback Singer for Nanjiyamma, and Best Stunt Choreography for Mafia Sasi, Supreme Sundar, and Rajasekhar.
A Telugu remake, Bheemla Nayak starring Pawan Kalyan and Rana Daggubati was released on 25 February 2022.
Plot
Koshy Kurien, an ex-Havildar in Indian Army is on the way to Ooty from Kattappana, with his driver Kumaran. Koshy is drunk and nearly passed out in the car's backseat with a case full of alcohol, bought from the military canteen. Instead of the common route via Coimbatore, they have opted to take the Attappadi hill route, which they did not know was an alcohol prohibited region. The car is stopped on a monthly traffic check, which is a combined police, forest and excise department work. On finding the alcohol in the car the excise officials manhandle Koshy. Koshy, irritated by this assaults the excise officer Faizal. On seeing this, SI Ayyapan Nair steps in and restrains Koshy. Koshy is taken to the local police station and FIR is filed on him in the online records system. Within minutes, the officers are startled to see the names of well-known political and media personalities on the contact list of Koshy's mobile phone. Koshy reveals himself as an ex-army officer living in Kattappana and also the son of an influential and ruthless political leader named Kurain John, who is known for his rude and straight forward behaviour.
Fussing over this and over consultation with his CI Satheesh Kumar, Ayyapan decides to go easy and reveals himself as a native of the area, and that he has only 3 years to retire. Koshy asks Ayyappan to let him return home for 5 days to spend Christmas and promises to return for any prison sentence, but Ayyappan refuses, stating that he has been booked under non-bailable sections and may not go home. Soon, Koshy fakes a meltdown and asks for some alcohol as he is an addict. Against his better instincts, Ayyappan pours him some from the confiscated stock with help of a lady constable Jessy. Koshy secretly records this on his phone. Koshy is remanded to 12 days in Palakkad sub-jail, where he is visited by his family. After 12 days, Koshy gets bail on the condition that he has to sign once every Monday and Thursday at Attapadi station. Upon his release, he uses the video footage to get Ayyappan and Jessy suspended for breaking prohibition. Ayyappan is arrested, and his police medals are revoked. The next day he is brought out on bail by Satheesh, who makes a compromise with Koshy's friend MLA George, that Koshy can sign for all future bail conditions at the same time, and end this melee, in return for not providing original video evidence at the enquiry against Ayyappan.
After signing at the station, Koshy goes back on his word, and his lawyer submits the video proof at the enquiry. Ayyappan has no answers to the enquiry done by the DSP Cheriyan George and despite saving Jessy's job, he is sure that his job is lost. Koshy meets him outside the DSP office and boards the bus to Attapadi, seemingly to apologise to him, but due to ego, they both challenge one another and Koshy leaves in his car. Furious at this blatant act of pride, Ayyappan savagely beats a small-time crook Kuttamani (who was aiding Koshy), in front of Koshy and demolishes Mani's illegal building. Visibly horrified at Ayyappan raining down fury on Mani, Satheesh reveals to Koshy that 25 years ago, Ayyappan was a brutal communist leader, who had killed 13 men, as they were commissioned by the landlords to get rid of union workers during Kummatti festival at Mundoor. He was caught by MLA Master Chathan and made to join the police force, He had also turned very mild. He finds out that Ayyappan had a nickname during those days of crime Mundoor Maadan. Frustrated, Koshy goes to drink in Anaikatti. While returning to Attapadi, Kumaran is arrested and his car is impounded. Left without phone, purse and other options, Koshy starts to walk to Attapadi.