Kattumaram (film)
| Kattumaram | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Swarnavel Eswaran |
| Written by | Swarnavel Eswaran |
| Produced by | Swarnavel Eswaran |
| Starring | Mysskin Preeti Karan Anusha Prabhu |
| Cinematography | Karthik Muthukumar |
| Edited by | Arun Kumar |
| Music by | P. Bharani Dharan |
Release date |
|
Running time | 73 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Kattumaram (transl. Kattumaram; also known as Catamaran), is a 2019 Indian Tamil language drama film written, directed, and produced by Swarnavel Eswaran. Set in Tamil Nadu, it tells the story of a conservative uncle grappling with his niece's romantic relationship with another woman. The film stars Mysskin, Preeti Karan, and Anusha Prabhu.
Kattumaram premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival on 10 May 2019.[2][3]
Plot
[edit]Set in a coastal village in Tamil Nadu, Kattumaram follows Singaram, a traditional fisherman who becomes the guardian of his niece, Anandhi, a teacher at the local school, after the tragic loss of their family to a tsunami. As Singaram endeavors to find a suitable husband for Anandhi, he discovers her romantic same-sex relationship with Kavita, a photography instructor at the school. The revelation challenges Singaram's beliefs, leading him on a journey of understanding and acceptance.
Cast
[edit]- Mysskin as Singaram
- Preeti Karan as Anandhi
- Anusha Prabhu as Kavita
- Selvam as Alankaram
- Giri Prasad as Iqbal
Production
[edit]Mysskin accepted the film since director Swarnavel Eswaran was his friend.[4] The film is one of the few Tamil films that deal with lesbianism.[5]
Release and reception
[edit]Kattumaram premiered at the 2019 New York Indian Film Festival.[2] It was screened at the 2020 Bangalore Queer Film Festival.[6]
The Frameline Film Festival described the film as "a heartfelt look at the strength of community in rural India, showcasing the importance of tradition along with the need for evolution" and "a beautiful and genuine experience".[1] Racha Raj Kaur of Now Toronto wrote, "The dialogue is minimal, with expressive gestures and stunning cinematography of the jungles, seashore and ruined homes of Akkampetai imparting the story’s emotional weight. With an ending that’s heartbreaking but also perfect and realistic, this is the best film I’ve seen about inherent queerness in South Asia, ever".[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Kattumaram". Frameline Film Festival. 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Screening Schedule". New York Indian Film Festival. 2019. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019.
- ^ "The 19th Annual New York Indian Film Festival Announces Full Lineup May 7 – May 12". Urban Asian. 26 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 March 2020.
- ^ Lakshmi, V (21 January 2018). "Irrespective of what it does to the viewer, art affects its creator: Ram". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ Nadia, Nadika (26 June 2022). "Trans-formation on the big screen: Queer themes in Indian cinema". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ "Queer films from 25 countries come to town". The New Indian Express. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ Kaur, Racha Raj (22 May 2019). "Inside Out review: Catamaran (Kattumaram)". Now Toronto. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
External links
[edit]- Kattumaram at IMDb