Mumbai, Maharashtra -- (SBWire) -- 06/07/2010 -- Reliance Big Pictures is all set to release the Malayalam film Kutty Srank on July 23rd, 2010. This is Mammootty's first film with Shaji who began his career as a cinematographer and later turned to direction with "Piravi" in 1988. Shaji N. Karun’s directorial debut won him the prestigious Camera d'Or - Mention d'honneur at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989. Kutty Srank has already been screened at Pusan International Film Festival- Oct ’09, Montreal World Film Festival- Sept ’09, Mumbai Film Festival – Oct ’09 and the International Film Festival of India- Nov ’09.
Commenting on the release, director Shaji N. Karun says, “Kutty Srank is a movie layered with several emotions and shades which could only be brought to life by an actor par excellence such as Mammootty. It has been a creative and self innovating journey and hopefully be appreciated and understood by movie lovers all over the globe.”
Sanjeev Lamba, CEO Reliance BIG Pictures adds, “Reliance BIG Pictures is always proud to be associated with meaningful cinema. We expect that the beauty of Kutty Srank’s storytelling and Mammootty’s compelling performance will captivate the hearts of all viewers.”
Kutty Srank scripted by Shaji, P.F. Mathews & Hari Krishnan (screenplay) has noted actor & 3 time National Award winner Mammootty playing the male lead. The film also stars popular actresses Padmapriya, Kamalini, Meena Kumari in female leads. The film’s music has been composed by Isaac Thomas.
This is also the very first Malayalam film to be shot by a female cinematographer Anjuli Shukla who has previously worked on films like Tahaan and Prarambh as First Camera Assistant. She was also assistant to the award winning and highly acclaimed Santosh Sivan for several years.
Kutty Srank (Sailor of Hearts) -
The police find an unidentified body on the beach, and three women turn up, each claiming it as 'her' Kutty Srank. One is a wealthy woman who wants to become a Buddhist nun. The second is a woman who acts in a traditional Christian play with Kutty Srank and is later accused of murder. The third is a gentle, mute woman who, it appears, is carrying Kutty Srank's baby. This richly shot film, with multiple skeins and powerful imagery, teases and hesitates to reveal the real Kutty Srank.
Shaji N. Karun
A graduate in cinematography from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune, Shaji N Karun started his career with notable directors in Kerala (India). His camerawork for films of G Arvindan from ‘Kanchana Sita’ to ‘Chidrambaram’ virtually defined the look of Kerala’s New Wave Cinema. Shaji directorial debut film ‘Piravi’ (1988), the story of a father’s grief over a son’s loss won the prestigious ‘Camera d’Or” special mention at the Cannes Film Festival. Shaji’s second film ‘Swaham’ (My Own) (1994) which also continued the theme of grief was selected in the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival. ‘Vaanaprastham’ (the last dance) (1999) which dealt with the identity crises faced by an actor, was nominated in the Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section. Shaji has won six National Awards from the President of India and 26 International awards for his directorial and cinematography work. Shaji is also the first Indian to win the Kodak Award for Excellence. He was honoured by the French Government with the Chevalier Dans L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his international contribution to cinema. He has served as a juror on numerous international films festivals abroad and in India.
Mammootty
Mammootty (born Muhammad Kutty) is a 3 times National award winning Indian actor who works mainly in Malayalam Cinema, however has shown his presence in Tamil and Telugu Film industries as well. During a career spanning more than quarter of a century, he has acted in more than 300 films as lead actor and has been successful in both mainstream and parallel cinema. Malayam film Kutty Srank is his first film with the acclaimed director Shaji N Karun, wherein he plays the title role. Mammootty received many major awards for his performance. Apart from the three National awards, he has also won four State awards and eight Filmfare Awards in the best actor category. In 1998, the Government of India honoured him with Padma Shri for his outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. Mammootty is also the Chairman of Malayalam Communications, which runs Malayalam TV channels like Kairali TV, People TV and WE TV. Mammootty has promoted humanitarian causes throughout Kerala, and is the goodwill ambassador of the Akshaya project.
About Reliance Big Entertainment
Reliance BIG Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL) is the flagship media and entertainment arm of India's Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, with a significant presence in film entertainment (film production, distribution, and exhibition), broadcasting and new media ventures.
RBEL's motion picture brand, Reliance BIG Pictures (www.reliancebigpictures.com) has built a impressive film production slate in Hindi, English & other Indian languages, which it markets and distributes worldwide. Following Reliance BIG Pictures’ association with IM Global, the company now benefits from an international sales team with an excellent reputation and global presence dedicated to selling its Bollywood and regional language slate.
In Hollywood, Reliance BIG Pictures has partnered with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider on the formation of DreamWorks Studios and has development deals with Nicolas Cage's Saturn Films, Jim Carrey's JC 23 Entertainment, George Clooney's
Smokehouse Productions, Chris Columbus' 1492 Pictures, Tom Hanks’ Playtone Productions, Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment, Jay Roach's Everyman Pictures, Brett Ratner’s Rat Entertainment, Julia Roberts’ Red Om Films and Brian Gazer and Ron Howards' Imagine Entertainment.
RBEL’s group company, Reliance MediaWorks Limited (http://www.reliancemediaworks.com) is India's largest film processing, exhibition and entertainment services company. It operates BIG Cinemas, India's premier cinema chain with over 515 screens, including over 200 screens in the United States and an exhibition presence in Malaysia and Netherlands. Furthermore, through Reliance MediaWorks’ Los Angeles-based subsidiary Lowry Digital and its Japan-based subsidiary Imagica the company has a comprehensive presence in Film Services including motion picture processing and DI; visual effects; film restoration and image enhancement; 2D to 3D conversion; digital mastering: studios and equipment rentals.
The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (http://www.relianceada.com) is amongst India's top 3 business houses and has interests in telecommunications, energy, financial services, infrastructure and media and entertainment.
Media Query –
Reliance BIG Pictures –
Riya Mitra – 09320192126/9833323465, riya.mitra@relianceada.com
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Vivek–09447136247, vivekcatalyst@gmail.com
Reliance Big Pictures All Set to Release Shaji N. Karun’s Mammootty Starrer “Kutty Srank” on July 23rd, 2010