| Uttarayanam | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Malayalam | ഉത്തരായണം |
| Directed by | G. Aravindan |
| Written by | Thikkodiyan G. Aravindan |
| Produced by | Pattathuvila Karunakaran |
| Starring | Dr. Mohandas Kunju Balan K. Nair Adoor Bhasi Sukumaran Kunjandi |
| Cinematography | Mankada Ravi Varma |
| Edited by | A. Rameshan |
| Music by | K. Raghavan M. B. Sreenivasan |
Production company | Ganesh Movie Makers |
Release date |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Uttarayanam (English: Throne of Capricorn) is a 1975 Malayalam-language film directed by G. Aravindan and written by Thikkodiyan. Aravindan debuted with this film.[1] The film, which exposes opportunism and hypocrisy set against the backdrop of the Independence struggle, is inspired by Aravindan's own cartoon series, titled Cheriya Lokavum Valiya Manushyarum (Small World and Big People), which was published in Mathrubhumi for several years.[2][3]
The film is about Ravi, an unemployed young man, who has to face a series of encounters during his search for a job. Ravi reflects on the past struggles of the anti-British freedom fighters he has learned about from his paralyzed father. He eventually meets Gopalan Muthalaly, a leader of Quit India movement, but now a corrupt contractor. Mohandas plays the protagonist and Kunju, Balan K. Nair, Adoor Bhasi, Kunjandi and Sukumaran play other roles.[2] The film garnered wide critical praise and several awards, including five Kerala State Film Awards, upon release. It was a prophetic film that foresaw the dark era of national emergency that was to follow immediately. From Utharayanam’s idealist and political conflicts, Aravindan moved to the eternal dilemma relating to power and justice. An experimental film, it has influenced the parallel cinema movement in Kerala to a great extent.[4]
- ^ Bibekananda Ray and Naveen Joshi (2001). Conscience of the race: India's offbeat cinema. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 95. ISBN 81-230-1298-5.
- ^ a b Directorate of Film Festivals (1981). The New generation, 1960-1980. Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. p. 48.
- ^ Sashi Kumar (2 January 2010). "Aravindan's art". Frontline. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "G. Aravindan: Uttarayanam". Cinemafmalayalam.net. Retrieved 20 January 2011.