Oridathoru Phayalvaan is a 1981 Malayalam film written, edited and directed by P. Padmarajan. The film is a folk parable about the success and failure in the life of a wrestler. Having an unusual and different plot, the movie was critically acclaimed. It stars Rashid, Nedumudi Venu and Jayanthi in the lead roles. It won the award for Best Script at the Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival, and a Gold Medal at the Asian Film Festival.

The film presents the story of Narayanankutty, popularly known as Vakkaalaththu Narayanankutty, an active social worker who can bear anything but breach of justice. When he sees law being broken anywhere, he reacts promptly. He doesn’t even care as to who is pitted against him and just goes on fighting. This leads to all sorts of problems in his life and the film follows that.

Nandini is an illegitimate child who comes to Ooty in search of her father. She meets Joji, a tourist guide, and pretends to be mentally unstable in order to get shelter in his house.

Apputtan, a rich man, gives Ambili, a young woman, the financial help she needs to become a doctor. However, he soon finds himself falling in love with her.

Ramesan takes shelter in a brothel run by Devumma and falls for Sivani, a young woman who lives there. However, complications arise when Ramesan learns some dark secrets about Devumma.