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Kaliyattam
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Wikipedia article
'Kaliyattam' is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraaj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Manju Warrier, and Biju Menon. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play 'Othello', set against the backdrop of the Theyyam performance of Kerala. The film's screenplay is written by Balram Mattannur. Suresh Gopi plays Kannan Perumalayan, the equivalent to Othello. Lal plays Paniyan, the equivalent to Iago. Manju Warrier plays Thamara, the Desdemona version. And Biju Menon plays Kanthan, Cassio's role. Suresh Gopi's role as Kannan Perumalayan was critically acclaimed and it was considered one of his finest acting performances in his career.
In 1998, Suresh Gopi received the National Film Award for Best Actor and Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his critically acclaimed performance. Jayaraaj won the award for Best Director for his work on the film. The film was a critical and commercial success.
Plot
This is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, revolving around Kannan Perumalayan (Suresh Gopi), a Theyyam artist who corresponds to Othello, and Thamara (Manju Warrier), the beautiful daughter of the village head. While Unni Thampuran hates Kannan because he had a crush on Thamara, and Paniyan, (Lal) who plays a Komali, covets the role of Theechamundi which Perumalayan holds. Paniyan plants the seeds of doubt about Thamara's fidelity in Kannan's mind, making him suspect that Thamara and his assistant Kanthan (Biju Menon) are having an affair. Kannan spots a silk robe which he had presented to Thamara in Kanthan's hands.
Kannan, out of grief and anger, takes Thamara's life by suffocating her with a pillow. On the same night, Paniyan plans to get Kanthan killed by Unni Thampuran, but the plan goes awry and Thamburan is killed. Amidst these events, Kannan is told of his mistake by Paniyan's wife Cheerma, before Paniyan murders her. Kannan overpowers Paniyan, crushing his legs with a stone, and allows him to live the rest of his life crippled. Kannan Perumalayan gives the Theechamundi role to Kanthan and commits suicide in the Theyyam ritual fire.
Cast
* Suresh Gopi as Kannan Perumalayan (Othello)
* Lal as Paniyan (Iago)
* Manju Warrier as Thamara (Desdemona)
* Biju Menon as Kanthan (Cassio)
* Bindu Panicker as Cheerma (Emilia)
* Narendra Prasad as Thamburan (Brabantio)
* E. A. Rajendran as Unni Thampuran (Roderigo)
Awards
;National Film Awards 1997
* National Film Award for Best Director - Jayaraaj
* National Film Award for Best Actor - Suresh Gopi
;Filmfare Awards 1997
* Filmfare Award for Best Director - Malayalam - Jayaraj
* Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Malayalam - Kaithapram
;Kerala State Film Awards 1997
* Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor - Suresh Gopi
* Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value
* Best Music Director - Kaithapram
* Best Female Playback Singer -Bhavana Radhakrishnan
;Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 1997
*Best Actor - Suresh Gopi
*Best Supporting Actor - Lal
Soundtrack
The music and lyrics were composed and written by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.
References
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