Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha is a 1989 epic Malayalam film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, and starring Mammootty, Balan K. Nair, Suresh Gopi, Madhavi, Geetha and Captain Raju. The film won four National Film Awards including Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Production Design and Best Costume Design and six Kerala State Film Awards. In a 2013 IBN poll it was voted the third best Indian film of all time. The film is based on a legend about the Chekavar warriors of present day north Malabar. The film portrays the legend in a different light. According to the legend, Aromal Chekavar, a well-known warrior, lost his life after a duel in which his sword broke off at the hilt during the fight. The metal rivets holding the blade to the hilt had been replaced with wooden ones by his trusted ally and cousin Chandu. Chandu is said to have betrayed his cousin because he was jealous of Aaromal's popularity and abilities. The story was filmed numerous times in the early black-and-white era.