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Manichitrathazhu is a 1993 Indian Malayalam-language epic psychological horror thriller film directed by Fazil, written by Madhu Muttam and produced by Swargachitra Appachan. The film stars Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi and Shobana. It also features Thilakan, Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, Vinaya Prasad, K. P. A. C. Lalitha, Sridhar, K.B. Ganesh Kumar, Sudheesh. The story is inspired by a real life tragedy that happened in the Alummoottil tharavad located at Muttom, belonging to central Travancore. The inheritor of the Alummoottil property and his domestic worker girl were murdered by the son-in-law after he had been written-off from the marumakkathayam system of inheritance prevalent in Kerala at the time. The murder gave rise to many local legends which serve as the basis for the film. Muttam, the writer of the film, confirmed film to be inspired from real life events as he is a member of the Alummoottil tharavad through his maternal family. Plot of traumatic woman being schizophrenic after finding portrait is taken from The Bird with the Crystal Plumage by Dario Argento.