Nimishangal is a 1986 Malayalam drama film directed by Mohan. The movie stars popular actors Mohanlal, Shanker, Nalini, and Shantikrishna in lead roles. The plot of the film revolves around the lead characters' lives, their aspirations, and their relationships with each other. The movie starts with a beautiful title song depicting the village life, which sets the tone for the entire movie. The story is set in a small village in Kerala, where the main character, Prabhakaran (Mohanlal), works as a clerk in the local government office. He is a simple, hardworking, and honest man who lives with his mother and sister. Prabhakaran dreams of a better life and wants to become a rich man one day.
While at work, Prabhakaran meets Ammu (Shantikrishna), a beautiful and kind-hearted girl who works as a teacher in the local school. They fall in love with each other, but Ammu's father is against their marriage due to Prabhakaran's financial status. Prabhakaran then starts dreaming of becoming rich and successful to win Ammu's father's approval. He takes a loan from his friend and invests it in a business, which does not turn out to be profitable. He then starts working hard to pay off the loan and save his family from the financial crisis.
Meanwhile, Shanker (Shanker), a wealthy businessman from the city, visits the village and befriends Prabhakaran. Shanker is impressed by Prabhakaran's honesty and hard work and offers him a job in his company. Prabhakaran happily accepts the offer and moves to the city with his family. He becomes successful in his job, earns a lot of money, and fulfills his dream of becoming rich.
However, things become complicated when Shanker's wife, Neelima (Nalini), falls in love with Prabhakaran. Neelima is unhappy with her loveless marriage and is attracted to Prabhakaran's simple and honest nature. Prabhakaran is unaware of her feelings and treats her like a friend. Neelima starts feeling guilty about her feelings and decides to confess to her husband. Shanker is hurt and angry when he learns about Neelima's feelings and confronts Prabhakaran. Prabhakaran is shattered when he realizes that his friend's wife is in love with him, and he decides to leave the city and return to his village.
The final act of the movie deals with Prabhakaran's struggles to come to with his shattered dreams, broken friendship, and lost love. He tries to forget Neelima and Ammu and focus on his job and family. The climax of the movie is poignant, where Prabhakaran confesses his feelings for Ammu and asks for her hand in marriage. Ammu's father finally approves of their marriage, and they live happily ever after.
Nimishangal is a beautifully crafted movie that explores the themes of love, friendship, aspirations, and dreams. The performances of the lead actors are exceptional, especially Mohanlal, who effortlessly portrays Prabhakaran's emotions and struggles. The movie's music and cinematography also add to its overall appeal. The director's skillful handling of the story's complexities and emotions makes the movie a must-watch for all Malayalam movie lovers.