| Ottaal | |
| Director: | Jayaraj |
| Screenplay: | Joshy Mangalath |
| Story: | Joshy Mangalath |
| Music: | Kavalam Narayana Panicker, Sreevalsan J. Menon (Background music) |
| Cinematography: | M. J. Radhakrishnan |
| Editing: | B. Ajithkumar |
| Studio: | Director Cutz Film Company Ltd |
| Distributor: | Qube India Reelmonk |
| Runtime: | 81 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Malayalam 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]
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]
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.
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]
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]
| Award / Film Festival | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Film Awards[14] | Best Screenplay Writer (Adapted) | Joshy Mangalath | ||
| Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation | Ottaal | |||
| Kerala State Film Awards[15] | Best Film | Jayaraj | ||
| Mumbai Film Festival[16] | Golden Gateway of India Award | Ottaal | ||
| Film for Social Impact Award | Ottaal | |||
| International Film Festival of Kerala[17] | Suvarna Chakoram (Best Film) | Ottaal | ||
| Best Film - International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) jury | Ottaal | |||
| Best Malayalam film - Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) jury | Ottaal | |||
| Rajatha Chakoram - Audience Prize | Ottaal | |||
| Berlin Film Festival[18] | Crystal Bear | Ottaal |