Ayal Katha Ezhuthukayanu () is a 1998 Indian Malayalam-language comedy-drama film directed by Kamal and written by Sreenivasan based on a story by Siddique. The plot follows the travails of an eccentric and wasted pulp fiction writer, Sagar Kottapuram (Mohanlal), and his friend Ramakrishnan (Sreenivasan), who are dragged into a lawsuit by a vengeful Tahsildar, S. Priyadarshini (Nandini). The film features songs composed by Raveendran and background score by C. Rajamani. Plot Ramakrishnan, a newly appointed Tahsildar in the city, comes to take charge but is blocked by the incumbent Tahsildar, S. Priyadarshini. Priyadarshini is a strict and rude officer and is much hated by the staff and associates in the Taluk Office. So they readily offer to help Ramakrishnan and arrange a house next to Priyadarshini's house for him to stay in the interim. Meanwhile, Sagar Kottapuram, a friend of Ramakrishnan and a novelist, comes to stay with him. But he mistakenly enters Priyadarshini's house, completely drunk, and sleeps in her bed. When Priyadarshini comes home, she mistakes him to be a thief and calls the police, who arrest him. But the local Sub Inspector of Police, being a fan of Sagar's novels, lets him off his charges. That night, Sagar gets into a fight with Priyadarshini and vows to get her off her Tahsildar post within 24 hours. The next day Ramakrishnan himself assumes charge as Tahsildar according to Sagar's instruction. When Priyadarshini comes and sees this, she locks him inside the office room. Sagar finds out about this when he calls Ramakrishnan. He informs the press about the Tahsildar being locked inside the room by the former Tahsildar. The press rushes to the scene; the district collector also arrives and suspends Priyadarshini. Ramakrishnan and Sagar celebrate their victory. The next day Priyadarshini comes to their house and apologizes. She also invites them for breakfast. During breakfast, Priyadarshini becomes hysterical and tries to kill herself using the table knife. Sagar and Ramakrishnan try to hold her back, but her maid Thresiamma mistaking them to be molesting Priyadarshini, screams and runs out of the house. They get arrested for rape attempt. Mammachen, the owner of the magazine "Manchadi" gets them out on bail.Sagar wants to take revenge but is calmed down by Mammachen and Ramakrishnan. He decides to write a novel called "Oru Gazetted Yekshi" portraying the life of a corrupt and seditious Municipal Commissioner with an appearance matching