Director Ranjith and superstar Mammootty unite in "Kaiyoppu" - a finely told story of a struggling writer who is going through a writer's block.

Novelist Balachandran's uneventful life gets a jolt when a known literary figure (Nedumudi Venu) praises his unfinished novel as the new voice of Malayalam literature at a public gathering. Sivadasan (Mukesh), a small-time publisher, keeps motivating him to complete the book, hoping that he will get the rights to publish it.

An additional motivation to write is provided by the return of his one-time sweetheart Padma (Khushboo), just separated from her husband. All these circumstances give Balachandran enough vigour to finish his novel.

The seemingly simple narrative is peppered with events and incidents that make the film engrossing. And surprisingly, the peripheral characters take centre-stage in phases in unexpected ways.

Babu (Jaffer), caretaker and manager of a lodge, represents the mundane world, which does not understand or appreciate Balachandran's intellectual pursuits, but receives his empathy and support in times of need. The relationship between the author and the publisher, and the publisher being the link between the author and the outside world, is also subtly portrayed.

Padma never meets Balachandran after she resurfaces - they only communicate through telephonic conversations and their only physical link is Sivadasan.

Balachandran's relationship with Fathima, a terminally ill girl whom he is helping financially for treatment, is similar. He came to know about her plight through a newspaper report and the two have never met. They talk to each other through Sivadasan's cell phone for the first time.

Ranjith gives a universal dimension to the story in the film's second half.

Mammootty looks the part of an introverted, struggling author, who had revolutionary ideals and whom fellow students admired for his for his literary skills in his younger days. He brings out the character - a spent force transformed into a resurgent genius.

Mukesh complements Mammootty's character well and does so with an enthusiasm and exuberance that never goes overboard.