Adharvam (Malayalam: അഥര്വ്വം) is a 1989 Indian Malayalam-language drama film directed by Dennis Joseph and written by Shibu Chakravarthy, starring Mammootty, Ganesh Kumar, Charuhasan, Silk Smitha, Thilakan, and Parvathy. Mammootty played the role of Anantha Padmanabhan, an expert in mystic tantric rituals. The songs and background score of the movie were by Ilaiyaraaja. Plot Thevalli Namboodiri(Charuhasan) is a renowned astrologer. One day while helping the people of his village to find the root cause of some mishaps, Thevalli finds out that the problems are due to the black magic and other tantric kriyas performed by Mekkadan Namboodiri. On the request of the villagers, Thevalli goes to meet Mekkadan, who is also a childhood friend, but Mekkadan does not value the words of Thevalli and moreover tells him that his illicit son born out of a low caste woman Malu (Jayabharathi) will become his disciple and practice these dark arts. Thevalli becomes concerned. During the Upanayanam of his actual son, he sees his illicit son also. Thevalli decides to teach both of them the 3 Vedas in order to make both sons illustrious, taking the advice of his mentor Thirumeni (Jose Prakash). Anantha Padmanabhan (Mammootty), who is the illicit son of Thevalli, becomes a master of vedas and Tantric painting. He loves the daughter of Putthedan Namboodiri (Jagannatha Varma) who is an aristocratic bramhin and loathes Anantha Padmanabha. Vishnu, the second son, studies in the city where he loves a woman named Usha (Parvathy). One day while a Thevalli is doing a prashanam (astrological prediction) and asks Ananthan for an opinion in front of all the assembled nambodiris, Puthedan insults Ananthan based on his birth. Anathan leaves abruptly. He is followed by Mekkadan, who sympathises with him and welcomes him to study atharvaveda. Later Anathan and his lover are caught by the Putheddan, who drags his daughter away and beats up Ananthan and burns his house. Anathan's old mother is not able to escape and dies in the fire. This prompts Ananthan to seek vengeance and wreak havoc in his village. He seeks out Mekkadan, and offers to become his disciple; they move on to a remote location and practice dark magic. Later on Mekkadan dies, but Anathan continues his studies, which leads to severe calamities and deaths in his village. Anathan uses his power and magic to keep the tribals around his house happy and servile. The daughter of the