Kaliyattam


Kaliyattam is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal, Biju Menon and Manju Warrier. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Othello, set against the backdrop of the Theyyam performance of Kerala. The 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.
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. Jayaraj won the Best Director Award for Kaliyattam. The film was a critical and commercial success.

Plot

This is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, revolving around Kannan Perumalayan, a Theyyam artist who corresponds to Othello, and Thamara, the beautiful daughter of the village head. While Unni Thampuran hates Kannan because he had a crush on Thamara, and Paniyan, 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, 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 leaving him to live the rest of his life crippled. Kannan Perumalayan gives the Perumalayan role to Kanthan and commits suicide in the Theyyam ritual fire.

Cast

Awards

National Film Awards 1997">45th National Film Awards">National Film Awards 1997

Filmfare Awards 1997">Filmfare Awards South">Filmfare Awards 1997

Kerala State Film Awards 1997">Kerala State Film Awards">Kerala State Film Awards 1997

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 1997

Soundtrack

The music and lyrics were composed and written by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.
TrackSongPlaybackRaga
1"Vannathi Puzhayude"K. J. YesudasMadhyamavathi
2"Velikku Veluppaankaalam"K. J. YesudasMohanam
3"Ezhimalayolam"Kaithapram
4"Sapamapa Magari"Choir
5"Kathivanoor Veerane"Kallara GopanYamunakalyani
6"Ennodenthinee Pinakkam"Bhavana RadhakrishnanShahana
7"Kathivanoor Veerane"SreejaYamunakalyani
8"Ennodenthinee Pinakkam"K. J. YesudasShahana