Vaasthavam is (2006) film directed by M. Padmakumar. With Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role. Vaasthavam is the story of a youth who rose to power from a background immersed in family chaos and economic crisis. For his role as Balachandra Adiga in this film, Prithviraj Sukumaran won the Kerala State Film Award for best actor.
Raghavan Master (Sreeraman), a scion of a high Namboothiri family and an ardent communist is now in crisis as his Tharavadu is devoid of the fame and fortune it once had. Balachandran Adiga is his only son who has the burden of looking after his family and his four nubile daughters. He knows the difficulties involved in bringing the family back from the brink of nothingness and in marrying off his sisters. Balachandran's eldest sister Shobha does some tailoring and manges a low earning with which the family is kept out of hunger. Balachandran is engaged to Sumithra, his cousin and childhood pal. But in the turn of events, One Thripran Namboodhiri (Salim kumar) comes with an offer to marry his niece to Balachandran, thereby agreeing to make him a secretariat staff and there by save their sinking family. Sumithra forces Balchandran to risk their dreams for the sake of his family. He is forced to forget his murappennu and childhood playmate Sumitra and is compelled to marry Surabhi a girl from a rich family, to tackle the serious economic adversities that his family faces. Not withstanding the family chaos Balachandran's younger sister Shubha walks out with Adivasi leader Sreedharan, in the day of the Balachandran’s marriage, causing irreparable damage to the family reputation, following which his mother dies. Sumithra finally marries a cruel and corrupt police officer who is always doubtful on the character of his wife.
At this juncture Balachandran joins the job at the Secretariat. He lives with seventy year old Unnithan Asan who acts as his guide all through the corruption filled secretariate. His financial needs also tends him to become another corrupt officer who is always in the lookout for money and power. He deliberately pretends himself as a bachelor which gives space for Vimala, a divorcee to make a try in his life. He haves sex with her & manages the situation well, and with the help of Vimala, who happens to be the relative of revenue minister Pattam Raveendran, climbs the ladder of bureaucracy in a rather speedy way