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By turns a social-conscience drama, a romantic comedy and an action film, Lal Jose's Bollywood outing Mulla transports audiences to the Karakadu Colony, a settlement of sex traders, pimps, thieves and goondahs (or Hindi thugs), where orphans and children from broken families run rampant and crime is everpresent. One such orphan, Mulla (Dileep), grew up as the son of a "silent" prostitute, known for her generous smile and the intoxicating scent of jasmine in her hair. The mother, however, committed suicide during Mulla's youth, leaving him rudderless and devoid of any serious ambition. Almost by default, the adult Mulla falls into place as the "right-hand man" of head goondah Thampi Annan, a godfather-like character entrenched in a life as a career criminal. Mulla eventually finds redemption and an escape from this sordid realm, first in the form of an abandoned child whom he discovers on a train, then in a nascent, blossoming romance with a local baker girl, Lalchi, on whom he initially attempts to foist off the infant.