Discription
Adam Joan (2017)
Summary:
Adam Joan Pothen, a wealthy planter from Kerala, finds his carefree life shattered when his beloved wife dies in childbirth, leaving him with a daughter he initially abandons. Seven years later, a family tragedy forces him to Scotland where his daughter is kidnapped by a satanic cult. Fueled by guilt and vengeance, Adam embarks on a relentless and brutal mission to rescue his daughter, delving deep into the dark world of black magic with the help of his loyal friend, Syriac.
Detailed Plot (Movie Story):
The film introduces Adam Joan Pothen (Prithviraj Sukumaran), a seemingly carefree and affluent planter from Mundakkayam, a scenic village in Kerala. Adam is portrayed as a man who pursued his education abroad but returned to his roots, deeply connected to his family and his land. His life takes a beautiful turn when he encounters Amy (Mishti Chakravarty), a charming Jewish girl known for her melodious voice in a choir. Their connection is instant and profound, blossoming into a passionate romance that culminates in their marriage. Their love story is initially depicted as idyllic, filled with happiness and the promise of a bright future.
Adam and Amy later travel to Scotland to visit Adam's elder brother, Alan Pothen (Rahul Madhav), Alan's wife, Swetha (Bhavana), and their mother, Nirmala (Jaya Menon), who are all settled there. During their stay, a joyous discovery is made: Amy is pregnant. However, due to unforeseen circumstances or a medical recommendation, Amy is advised to stay in Scotland for the remainder of her pregnancy. Adam, tied to his plantation business in Kerala, reluctantly returns home, leaving Amy with his family in Scotland.
Tragedy strikes while Adam is away. Amy dies due to complications during childbirth, leaving behind a newborn daughter named Ila. Adam is utterly overwhelmed and shattered by the loss of his wife. In his grief, he develops a profound and irrational resentment towards his infant daughter, believing she is the cause of Amy's death. Unable to face Ila, he makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her in Scotland with his brother Alan and sister-in-law Swetha, who, being childless, willingly take on the responsibility of raising her as their own. Adam retreats into a shell, abandoning his daughter and never visiting her for seven long years, consumed by guilt and the unresolved trauma of Amy's death.
Seven years later, a devastating event forces Adam to confront his past and return to Scotland. His mother, Nirmala, is tragically killed under mysterious circumstances, and simultaneously, his daughter Ila is kidnapped by unknown individuals. The dual tragedies jolt Adam out of his self-imposed emotional exile. Overwhelmed by guilt and a burning desire for retribution, Adam transforms from the romantic, carefree planter into a determined and relentless man on a mission. He vows to avenge his mother's death and rescue his daughter, embarking on a dark and perilous investigation.
Adam is joined in his quest by his childhood friend, Syriac (Narain), who resides in Scotland and proves to be an invaluable ally. Syriac's local knowledge and unwavering loyalty become crucial as they begin to unravel the mystery behind the kidnappings. Their initial leads are scarce, but they soon receive alarming information about a series of children being kidnapped from Edinburgh.
Their investigation takes a sinister turn when they learn about the existence of Satan worshipers in the region, particularly a cult that allegedly sacrifices young Jewish girls or Christian missionaries during specific religious periods, such as Good Friday and Easter, when Satan is believed to be weak. This revelation immediately raises suspicions about Ila's kidnapping, as she is half-Jewish from her maternal side (Amy's heritage).
Syriac notices a suspicious detail: Daisy (Lena), Swetha's close friend and colleague, was seen messaging someone unusually frequently on the day Ila was kidnapped. Furthermore, Daisy hails from a family in Kerala known for secretly practicing a form of dark magic called "Karuthachan Ootu." This connection leads Adam and Syriac to deduce that Daisy might be involved in Ila's disappearance. They confront and kidnap Daisy, subjecting her to intense interrogation.
Under duress, Daisy confesses her involvement. She reveals that she is a part of a widespread satanic cult operating across the Scottish mainland. She also divulges a shocking secret: she had introduced Swetha to the cult's church, where Swetha, desperate for a child, had prayed for a baby and was declared pregnant after five months. The cult's high priest, Edward Williams (Mark Strange), who is also Daisy and Swetha's professor, had demanded that Swetha either dedicate her unborn child to Satan or surrender Ila for a satanic ritual. Swetha had refused both demands, fiercely protecting her niece. However, the cult's real target was always Ila, and Daisy, inadvertently or intentionally, provided Edward with information about Ila's identity and whereabouts. Swetha was aware of the kidnappers but had believed that Ila would be returned unharmed after the ritual, expressing deep remorse to Adam.
Armed with this crucial information, Adam and Syriac raid Edward Williams' house, searching for further clues. They discover a photograph depicting twelve satanic priests, providing a vital lead to the entire network. Adam then abducts Edward and subjects him to brutal torture in an attempt to extract Ila's location. Edward, however, remains defiantly silent. Adam, in a fit of rage, takes Edward back to his house, eliminates all evidence of his presence, and murders him by throwing him off a staircase after force-feeding him alcohol, staging it as an accidental death.
Still desperate for Ila's location, Adam attends Edward's funeral. At the grave, he observes the other priests from the photograph performing rituals. He recognizes one of them, Nathan (Prithviraj Sukumaran in a double role), a Sri Lankan Tamilian satanic priest whom he had previously seen with Ila but failed to apprehend. Adam relentlessly tracks Nathan, eventually kidnapping Nathan's daughter to force him to reveal Ila's whereabouts.
Adam, having arranged for Syriac to safely return Nathan's daughter, is finally taken by Nathan to the ceremonial venue where Ila is to be sacrificed. Nathan warns Adam about the new high priest, Dr. Steve (Mark Strange), a ruthless and brilliant man who can sense any form of danger. Adam infiltrates the ritual, introducing himself as George Augustine, an Indian satanic priest. As the prayers for Ila's sacrifice begin, Dr. Steve senses Adam's deception and blows his cover. However, the ritual is disrupted by Nathan, who, unaware that his daughter is safe, passionately appeals to Dr. Steve, declaring that his daughter's life is in Adam's hands.
Adam is momentarily knocked unconscious. An enraged Nathan, no longer willing to wait for the ritual to begin, charges towards Dr. Steve but is nearly killed by the other priests. Waking up to save his daughter, Adam unleashes his full fury, engaging in a violent battle with the cult members. He kills all the priests but is stabbed by Dr. Steve. Despite his injury, Adam overpowers and ultimately kills Steve. Nathan, mortally wounded, dies. Adam, severely injured, manages to rescue Ila. He carries her away from the horrific scene, but his wounds are too severe. He dies en route and is later buried in Scotland, beside the graves of Nathan, Amy, and his mother.
The film concludes with Syriac, who now cares for Ila, asking her about Adam. Ila, a child saved from darkness, responds simply that Adam was her father's brother, unaware of the immense sacrifice and the journey into the abyss that Adam undertook to save her.
Cast:
- Prithviraj Sukumaran as Adam Joan Pothen / Nathan (double role)
- Mishti Chakravarty as Amy Adam Joan (Adam's wife)
- Narain as Syriac (Adam's friend)
- Rahul Madhav as Alan Pothen (Adam's brother)
- Bhavana as Swetha (Alan's wife)
- Lena as Daisy
- Jaya Menon as Nirmala (Adam's mother)
- Maniyanpilla Raju as Andrew
- Siddique as Dr. Abraham
- Madhusudhan Rao as Bishop
- Sidhartha Siva as Ajai
- Mark Strange as Dr. Steve / Edward Williams
- Megha Mathew as Niya
- Lintu Rony as Church attender
- Angel Shijoy as Mishti (voice for Amy)
- K.P.A.C. Lalitha as Adam's aunt (cameo)
- Shaun R. Williams as Satanic Priest
Crew:
- Director: Jinu Abraham
- Writer: Jinu Abraham
- Producers: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Josemon Simon, Brijeesh Mohamed, Nihal Abdul Kader (under Stardust Global Films and Renji Panicker Entertainment)
- Music Director: Deepak Dev
- Cinematography: Jithu Damodar
- Editor: Manoj
- Sound Designer: Vishnu Govind, Sree Sankar
- Production Designer: Jobin Johnson
- Costume Designer: Saritha Jayasurya
- Stunt Choreography: Joshua, James Sutherland
