Agnisakshi (1999 film)
| Agnisakshi (With Fire As Witness) | |
|---|---|
.jpg) CD Cover | |
| Directed by | Shyamaprasad |
| Screenplay by | Shyamaprasad |
| Produced by | V. V. Babu |
| Starring | Rajit Kapur Sobhana Srividya Praveena Madhupal Madambu Kunhukuttan |
| Cinematography | Azhagappan |
| Edited by | Beena Paul |
| Music by | Kaithapram |
Production company | Srishti Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | Template:Film India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Agnisakshi (With Fire As Witness) is a 1999 Malayalam film directed by Shyamaprasad based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Lalithambika Antharjanam. The film premiered at the Soorya Festival on 14 September 1998. It stars Rajit Kapur, Sobhana, Srividya, Praveena, Madhupal and Madambu Kunhukuttan. The film received numerous accolades, which lead to many controversies as the film glorifies spiritualism and Hindutva.
Plot
Unni accepts Devaki as his wife and brings her into the fold of his Namboothiri illam. Bound by the plethora of traditional beliefs, customs and rituals that constitute life within four walls of the joint family, Unni is unable to be the husband that he would have liked to be. Yet, they understand and love each other immensely. Guarded by the fortress of tradition, the family remains oblivious to the winds of change sweeping through society. Though Unni is aware, he shuts the door to everything that his family will never be able to comprehend or accept. But Devaki, who is essentially of a different mould, longs to step out into the world—and is finally forced to do so.
Set in early 1930"s , the story develops within four walls of a Namboothiri Illam, in the South Indian State of Kerala, against the backdrop of the struggle for freedom from the British rule. The film opens in Haridwar, a holy city, where Thankam, Unni's younger half sister (Of same father but different mothers. Unni's mother was Nampoothiri and Thankam's mother was Nair) who , has come to immerse Unni's ashes in the Ganga and trace Devaki, who now is an ascetic. The story is revealed through the reminiscences of Thankam, a mute spectator who is caught between these characters and the complexities of their relationship - complexities that can never be relegated to the realms of right and wrong.
Cast
Awards
- Best Film
- Best Director - Shyamaprasad
- Best Actor - Rajit Kapur
- Second Best Actress - Praveena
- Best Cinematographer - Azhagappan
- Best Sound Recordist - Krishnanunni, Hussain
- Best Makeup Artist - P. Mani, Vikram Gaekwad
- Best Dubbing Artist - Murali Menon , Vennmani Vishnu
- Best Processing Lab - Gemini Lab
- Kerala State Critics Awards
- Best Film
- Best Director - Shyamaprasad
- Best Lyrics - Kaithaprom
- Best Actress - Sobhana
- Best Cinematographer - Azhagappan
- Best Art Director - Premachandran
- Others
- Filmfare Award for Best Feature Film (Malayalam)
- Aravindan Puraskar for Best Director - Shyamaprasad
- Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Award for Best Director - Shyamaprasad
Further reading
- Mohammed Salim Mohammed. "Agnisakshi, a dream come true for Shyamaprasad". The Peninsula. 8 May 1999.
- "Agnishakshi Film is loyal to novel". The Indian Express. 14 September 1998.
- K. Santhosh. "Document of a disturbing era". The Hindu. 6 August 1999.
- Gautaman Bhaskaran. "A Literary Masterpiece On Celluloid". The Hindu. 20 November 1998.
- "Agnisakshi, a Spiritual Film". The Indian Express. 15 January 1999.
- Vinu Abraham. "A Trail by Fire". The Week. 18 October 1998.
- M. G. Radhakrishnan. "Film under Fire". India Today. 12 April 1999.
- "No Hindutva in my film - Shyamaprasad". The Hindu. 21 March 1999.
External links
- With Fire As Witness at IMDb
- Agnisakshi at the Malayalam Movie Database