1921: Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare
 | This article has an unclear citation style. (April 2023) |
| 1921: Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ramasimhan |
| Written by | Ramasimhan |
| Produced by | Ali Akbar |
| Starring | Thalaivasal Vijay R. L. V. Ramakrishnan |
| Cinematography | Binu S. Nair Sunil Kannur Prajeesh Kannur |
| Edited by | Ramasimhan |
| Music by | Hari Venugopal Jagathlal Chandrasekhar |
Production company | Mamadharma Productions |
| Distributed by | Mamadharma Release |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 190 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Budget | 2.5 Crore[1] |
1921: Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare (transl. 1921: From River To River) is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language period film written, produced, edited, and directed by Ramasimhan. It is based on the 1921 Malabar riots. The film depicts the religious persecution of Hindus spearheaded by Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji.[2][3] The film stars Thalaivasal Vijay, R. L. V. Ramakrishnan, Joy Mathew, Dinesh Panicker, Vijay Menon, Santhosh K. Nayar, Kozhikode Narayanan Nair, Agna Suresh, and Kenas Mathew George.
Produced on a limited budget, capital for the film was sourced through crowdfunding. 1921: Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare was premiered at Delhi on 13 August 2022. The film was theatrically released in India on 3 March 2023.
Plot
[edit] | This article needs a plot summary. (May 2023) |
Cast
[edit]- Thalaivasal Vijay as Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji
- R. L. V. Ramakrishnan as Chathan
- Joy Mathew
- Krishnapriya as Naani (Thozhi)
- Santhosh T Nair as Driver
- Dinesh Panicker as Collector
- Vijay Menon as Aamu
- Santhosh K. Nayar as Abdullakutty
- Kozhikode Narayanan Nair as Chekutty Sahib
- Agna Suresh as Savithri
- Kenas Mathew George as Hitchcock
- Shobi Thilakan as Lavankutty
- Shibu Thilakan as Kunjalavi
- Sreejith Kaiveli as Mammad
- Santhosh Saras as Madhavan Nair
- Mohammed Eravattoor as Ali Musliyar
- J. P. Athavanad as Moideen Haji
- Krishna Prasad
- Vinodh Kavil as Vishnu Namboothiri
- Madhulal as Noonan
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]In 2020, a film on Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji was announced by Ali Akbar (later rechristened as Ramasimhan) in the centenary year of Malabar rebellion of 1921. Capital for the film was sourced through crowdfunding from public. Ramahimhan said he based the incidents in the screenplay from books about Malabar riots by K. Madhavan Nair, Appu Nedungadi,[4] and also from The Mopla Rebellion, 1921 by C. Gopalan Nair, the then Deputy Collector of Malabar.[5] He was prompted to do the film after director Aashiq Abu and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran announced a film about Variyankunnath Kunjahammad Haji depicting him as a heroic figure.[6]
Filming
[edit]Principal photography began on 20 February 2021 in Wayanad.[3] Beside, the film was shot in Palakkad, interior scenes shot in Kozhikode, Nilambur, and kovilakam scenes in Manjeri.[7] In September 2021, Ramasimhan said that they have raised ₹1.5 crore through crowdfunding and the film's budget is ₹3 crore and 60 percent of the filming has bee completed by then. Shooting was then postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. By that time, Abu and Prithviraj had already backed out from their project.[8]
Soundtrack
[edit]The film's music was composed by Hari Venugopal and Jagathlal Chandrasekhar, with lyrics by Ramasimhan.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Idanenjil Kortha Novin" | 5:47 |
Release
[edit]1921: Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare was premiered on 13 August 2022 at Delhi.[9] The film was theatrically released in India on 3 March 2023.[3]
Censoring issues
[edit]The film was submitted for certification at the regional office of Central Board of Film Certification in Kerala in May 2022. Three of its examination committee members recommended denial of certificate citing it contains "visuals as well as dialogues which are likely to endanger public order", while two other members recommended issuing UA certificate ("unrestricted public exhibition" with parental guidance for children below 12 years). The chairman denied certification and sent it to a revising committee in Mumbai. The revising committee, by majority decision, recommended issuing an adults-only A certificate with seven cuts. This committee also had a historian from the Indian Council of Historical Research. Nevertheless, the chairman send the film to a second revising committee which unanimously agreed on issuing an A certificate, but with 12 cuts. This prompted Ramasimhan to approach the Kerala High Court challenging the chairman's decision to send the film to a second revising committee which is against the scope of his powers and law. In December 2022, the court ruled in favour of Ramasimhan, noting that the chairman's decision was illegal and goes against the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 1983. The film was granted certificate as per the first revising committee's report.[10][11] Ramasimhan said that "when a historical riot is depicted, there will be bloodshed. It cannot be avoided. That is why the film got A certificate".[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "1921: Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare Huge Success and Will be Dubbed into Other Languages". 17 March 2023.
- ^ Lalu, M. R. (11 April 2022). "The Kashmir Files & 1921 Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare - Two Movies On Agony And Horror". The Hills Times. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ a b c Entertainment Bureau (25 February 2023). "Puzha Muthal Puzhavare To Hit The Silver Screen On March 3 This Year". CNN-News18. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ B. S., Shibu (26 October 2020). "Ali Akbar's take on 1921 rebellion to go on floors in February". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- ^ Satisan, T. (6 September 2022). "Here's how Kerala censor board killed Ramasimhan's film based on Malabar Hindu Genocide". Organiser. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Samayam Desk (30 December 2021). "അലി അക്ബർ സംസാരിക്കുന്നു; 'ഞാനെങ്ങനെ രാമസിംഹനായി'". Samayam Malayalam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "മലബാറിലെ ഹിന്ദു വംശഹത്യയുടെ നാൾവഴികൾ | Interview with Ali Akbar by T G Mohandas | Episode: 3". YouTube (in Malayalam). Patrika. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Express News Service (1 September 2021). "Prithviraj, Aashiq Abu pullout from Malabar Rebellion-based 'Vaariyamkunnan'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Indus Scrolls Bureau (13 August 2022). "Film on Hindu Genocide in Malabar premiered in Delhi". Indus Scrolls. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Shaji, Ashish (29 December 2022). "Kerala HC Strikes Down CBFC's Direction To Delete Many Scenes From Movie About 1921 Malabar Riots". Verdictum.in. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ G., Ananthakrishnan (9 January 2023). "CBFC chief order on Malayalam film re-review illegal: HC". The Indian Express. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Kerala Kaumudi (20 August 2022). "Ramasimhan's '1921 Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare' gets 'A' certificate; movie to be released after Onam, says director". Kerala Kaumudi. Retrieved 8 March 2023.