Albert Samson (Mohanlal), a middle-aged architect, has clawed his way to prominence. However, his single-minded focus on his job has hardened him and stalled a meaningful life with his wife Alice (Swetha Menon).

Samson’s ambition to reach the top also cost dearly his assistant, Abraham Thomas (Bharat Gopi), who was Samson’s former employer. Thomas, now dying, wants his son Alex (Manoj K Jayan) to have more independence in the firm. But Samson refuses to let Alex design original houses or to leave the firm and strike out on his own. Either of this, he fears, will lead to his eclipse.

Into this tension comes Hilda Vargehese (Nithya), a vivacious young woman who has idolized Samson since the early stages of his career. He had built a large church in her hometown and during its dedication ceremony, climbed up to its tower and promised Hilda, then a girl of twelve, “a kingdom.” Now Hilda has come “to collect” her kingdom.

As Samson struggles with the destructive consequences of his manic pursuit and his growing fear that he has lost his creative powers, the mysterious Hilda helps him gain a glimpse of his former robust self.

Known for his deep commitment to female empowerment, K P Kumaran paints an intriguing portrait of one man’s consuming desire for success.

Director’s Statement

What attracted me to Master Builder were the intriguing psychological insights into human nature as well as the experiences of the characters in situations of conflict. These lift the play from the level of the
mundane.

Malayalam literature and Malayalis have a special relation with Ibsen. The pioneers of Malayalam prose drama such as N Krishna Pillai, who revolutionised the stage with his plays Bhagna Bhavanam and Kanyaka (Young Girl), were inspired by Ibsen. In 1936 A Balakrishna Pillai translated Ghosts into
Malayalam.

Adapting Master Builder is the greatest centenary tribute I can pay to the playwright who has always inspired me.
K P KUMARAN
An outspoken critic of the entrenched social biases, Kumaran made his mark with his fiery plays on social evils as part of the organized literary movement of Kerala in 1960s. He co-authored the script of Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Swayamvaram.

Kumaran's first directorial venture, Athithi (1974), was followed by the National award winning Rugmini (1988) and Thotram, which captured the lyricism of a primordial dialect
in narrating an ancient tribal drama in contemporary idiom.

Kumaran has been at the vanguard of the parallel cinema movement with films reflecting his deep commitment to female empowerment.
Filmography
2001: Thotram 1988: Rugmini 1986: Neram Pularumbol 1982: Kattile Pattu
1979: Adipapam 1979: Thanthulli 1976: Lakshmi Vijayam 1974: Athithi
Cast & Credits
Producer : Manu S Kumaran
Director : K P Kumaran
Screenplay : K P Kumaran
Camera : Santosh Thundiyil
Editing : Ajith Kumar
Music : Nigel Holland
Cast : Mohanlal, Nithya, Bharat Gopi#