Ottaal

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Ottaal
Ottaal ver4 xlg.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed by Jayaraj
Screenplay by Joshy Mangalath
Story by Joshy Mangalath
Based onVanka
by Anton Chekhov
Produced by
  • K. Mohan (Seven Arts Mohan)
  • Vinod Vijayan
Starring
  • Ashanth K. Sha
  • Kumarakom Vasudevan
  • Shine Tom Chacko
  • Sabitha Jayaraj
  • Thomas J. Kannampuzha
Cinematography M. J. Radhakrishnan
Edited by B. Ajithkumar
Music by Kavalam Narayana Panicker, Sreevalsan J. Menon (Background music)
Production
company
Director Cutz Film Company Ltd
Distributed byQube India
Reelmonk
Release date
  • 6 November 2015 (2015-11-06)(India)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesMalayalam
English

Ottaal (English: The Trap) is a 2015 Indian Malayalam film directed by Jayaraj, an adaptation of the short story "Vanka" by Russian author Anton Chekhov. [1] This film stars Ashanth K Sha and Kumarakom Vasudevan, as well as actors Shine Tom Chacko, Sabitha Jayaraj and Thomas G. Kannampuzha. [2]

Contents

It became the first movie in India to be released online on the same day as its theatrical release. [3] The film made history, becoming the first ever Malayalam movie to have swept all the top awards in the 20-year history of the International Film Festival of Kerala. [4] The film was one of four Malayalam films selected to be a part of the Indian Panorama at the International Film Festival of India in Goa in November 2015. [5]

Plot

This film tells the story of a young boy (Ashanth K Sha) and his relationship with his grandfather (Kumarakom Vasudevan), his only living relative in the world. Actor Kumarakom Vasudevan is a fisherman in real life, whom Director Jayaraj found during his hunt for actors to play the role. Shine Tom Chacko’s character, Mesthri, also has a pivotal role in the story. [6] Ottaal is an adaptation of one of Anton Chekhov’s timeless works, Vanka. A story of the 18th century, but one that has travelled the time and space to be retold in the present day at a small village in the South of India.

Cast

Soundtrack

The film has one song, "Aa Manathilirrunnu", [7] composed by Padma Bhushan Kavalam Narayana Panicker. [8] The background score composed by Sreevalsan J. Menon was praised by the jury when the film won the Crystal Bear at the Berlinale 2016. [9]

Release and reception

The film was released in theaters in Kerala on 6 November 2015 and online on the same day through Reelmonk, making it the first Indian film to be released simultaneously in theaters and on the internet. [10] [11] [12] [13]

Accolades

Award / Film FestivalCategoryRecipient(s)Result
National Film Awards [14] Best Screenplay Writer (Adapted) Joshy Mangalath Won
Best Film on Environment Conservation/PreservationOttaalWon
Kerala State Film Awards [15] Best Film Jayaraj Won
Mumbai Film Festival [16] Golden Gateway of India AwardOttaalWon
Film for Social Impact AwardOttaalWon
International Film Festival of Kerala [17] Suvarna Chakoram (Best Film)OttaalWon
Best Film - International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) juryOttaalWon
Best Malayalam film - Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) juryOttaalWon
Rajatha Chakoram - Audience PrizeOttaalWon
Berlin Film Festival [18] Crystal Bear OttaalWon

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References

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  13. "'Ottaal' First Indian Film to be Released Online in Real-time". 6 November 2015. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
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