Vellam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPrajesh Sen
Written byPrajesh Sen
Produced by
  • Josekutty Madathil
  • Yadu Krishna
  • Ranjith Manambarakkat
  • Biju Thoranathel (co-producer)
Starring
CinematographyRoby Varghese Raj
Edited byBijith Bala
Music byBijibal
Production
company
Friendly Productions LLP
Distributed byCentral Pictures
Release date
  • 22 January 2021 (2021-01-22)
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

Vellam (lit. 'Water') is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language biographical drama film written and directed by Prajesh Sen.[1] It features Jayasurya and Samyuktha Menon in lead roles with Siddique, Sreelakshmi, Santhosh Keezhattoor, Johny Antony in other supporting roles.

The film is based on the life of a Kerala-born businessman Murali Kunnumpurath who turned his life from a full time alcoholic to a successful businessman.[2] The film was released on 22 January 2021.[3][4][5] The music was composed by Bijibal.

Plot

Murali Nambiar is an alcoholic who becomes a burden for his family and the society around him. His family life comes under strain and his wife and parents watch helpless his decline. He even takes money and valuables from his home and his friends to buy alcohol, upsetting those close to him. He is even shown selling the furniture from his home once. After getting drunk, he often ends up sleeping on sidewalks and shop fronts. Once he is accused of stealing a golden ring at an engagement but this proves to be wrong. He makes a scene at his friend's funeral because of some misunderstanding. Although he is often seen as a drunkard by his family and neighbors, a few people still talk about his cool demeanor and hardworking nature.

One day he talks about his addiction with one of his friends who takes him to a de-addiction center where Dr. Subhramaniyam is the chief doctor. Dr. Subhramaniyam takes Murali under his wing, offering to treat his addiction. But Murali slacks off and continues to drink. The doctor contacts Murali's wife who has left him earlier because of his excessive drinking and tells her that Murali needs love and care as part of the treatment.

After the treatment he returns to his homeplace where his friends continue to treat him as before, a drunkard. Murali gets back to his home and finds that his parents have sold their house and moved on. Seeing that no one is concerned about him, he jumps into a well to kill himself. But he is rescued and rushed to hospital. When Dr. Subhramaniyam learns of this, he convinces Murali's family that he requires love and support.

Murali then slowly becomes a successful entrepreneur and launches a product called "Waterman" tiles and even starts exporting them. The movie ends with Murali bringing another drunkard to Dr. Subhramaniyam for treatment, convinced that he too can reform, just like he has.

Cast

Production

In February 2019, Jayasurya announced that he and Prajesh Sen are collaborating again after Captain (2018).[7][8] Announcing the title of the film, Jayasurya said that the character in Vellam is his toughest character in his career to date.[9][10] Vellam was produced by Friendly Productions.[11] Title carries the tagline "The Essential Drink".[12] Production of the film started in November 2019.

Music

All the music tracks were composed by Bijibal and lyrics are penned by B.K Harinarayanan and Nidheesh Nadery.

Vellam: The Essential Drink
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Pulariyilachante"Nidheesh NaderiAnanya 
2."Oru Kuri Kandu Naam"B K HarinarayananViswanathan 
3."Akashamayavale"Nidheesh NaderiShahabaz Aman 
4."Choka chokannoru Sooryan"Nidheesh NaderiBhadra Rajin 

Release

Vellam was going for a theatrical release but was postponed indefinitely due to closures of theatres. The producers were planning to go ahead for a direct-to-streaming release but held it. Then it was announced that the film would release on 22 January 2021. In April 2021 the film started streaming on Sun NXT.

Awards, nominations and recognitions

51st Kerala State film awards

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards

10th South Indian International Movie Awards

  • Best Music Director - Bijibal
  • Best Debut Producer - Friendly Productions

Prem Nazir Awards

Critical response

Upon release the film garnered mostly positive responses. Manorama News's reviewer rated the movie 3 out of 5 and said; "Jayasurya's stellar performance is Vellam's highlight, but the film portrays a lofty message.[17] The Times of India gave the film a 4 out of 5.[18] Ashutosh Mohan of Film Companion wrote, "What keeps it watchable, apart from Jayasurya, is the film’s take on alcoholism: it’s a problem but it’s not a vice. A character in the film even says that there’s nothing wrong with alcohol as long as it doesn’t run (and ruin) your life. "[19] Mathrubhumi praised Jayasurya's performance.[20][21] Sidique's dialogue to Jayasurya that "Insult aanu Murali ee lokathile ettavum valya investment, eth thottavaneyum jaippikkunna tuition. Insulted aayittullavane life-il rakshapettittullu" (transl. "Murali"... Insult is the biggest investment in this world, a tuition that wins over any loser. Those who are insulted in the life have successfully survived) became very popular among the youngsters and family audiences.

Box office

The movie was a box-office bomb as it could collect 2.85 crores on a budget of 6 Crores.

References

  1. ↑ "Deccan Chronicle News about Captain". deccanchronicle.com. 28 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "'വെള്ളം' ആരുടെ എസൻഷ്യൽ ഡ്രിംഗ്?". www.deepika.com. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "കൊവിഡിന് ശേഷം തിയേറ്ററിലെത്തുന്ന ആദ്യ മലയാളചിത്രമായി വെള്ളം; 22ന് റിലീസ്". Mathrubhumi. 13 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "ലോക്ഡൗണിനു ശേഷം റിലീസ് ചെയ്യുന്ന ആദ്യ മലയാള ചിത്രമാകാൻ വെള്ളം: ‌പ്രേക്ഷകരെ ക്ഷണിച്ച് ജയസൂര്യ". Manorama. 13 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "പുനഃർജന്മം കിട്ടിയ തീയേറ്ററുകളിൽ ആദ്യമെത്തുന്ന മലയാള ചിത്രം 'വെള്ളം'; റിലീസ് തീയ്യതി പുറത്ത് വിട്ടു!". Samayam. 13 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "'മാസ്റ്ററി'നു പിന്നാലെ മലയാളത്തില്‍നിന്ന് ആദ്യമെത്തുക ജയസൂര്യ; 'വെള്ളം' റിലീസ് തീയ്യതി". ASIANET NEWS. 13 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "'ക്യാപ്റ്റൻ' ടീം വീണ്ടുമൊന്നിക്കുന്നു". The Indian Express. 16 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "New movie by Prajesh Sen and Jayasurya". TOI. 12 December 2019.
  9. ↑ "'Vellam' is the most challenging role I've done: Jayasurya". The News Minute. 12 December 2019.
  10. ↑ "'ക്യാപ്റ്റന്' ശേഷം പ്രജേഷ് സെൻ- ജയസൂര്യ കൂട്ടുകെട്ട് വീണ്ടും; 'വെള്ളം' ഫസ്റ്റ് ലുക്ക് പോസ്റ്റർ". Samayam News. 12 December 2019.
  11. ↑ "Jayasurya goes for a makeover in 'Vellam'". Sify. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "Jayasurya's Next With 'Captain' Director Titled 'Vellam'". Silverscreen. 18 February 2019.
  13. 1 2 "51st Kerala State Film Awards: The full winners list". The Indian Express. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "Kerala Film Critics Awards: Prithviraj, Biju Menon share best actor award". English.mathrubhumi.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "Kerala Film Critics Awards 2021 : The Great Indian Kitchen മികച്ച ചിത്രം പൃഥ്വിരാജും ബിജു മേനോനും മികച്ച നടന്മാർ, ബാക്കി അവർഡുകൾ ഇവയാണ്". Zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  16. ↑ "Kerala Film Critics Awards announced". Cinema Express. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "Jayasurya's Vellam movie review: Lofty message, wobbly course". Manorama News. 22 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "Jayasurya's Vellam movie review: Lofty message, wobbly course". Times of India. 22 January 2021.
  19. ↑ Mohan, Ashutosh (13 April 2021). "Vellam, On SunNXT With Jayasurya, Is A Watered-Down Depiction Of Alcohol Withdrawal". Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  20. ↑ "പകർന്നാട്ടത്തിൽ വീണ്ടും പത്തരമാറ്റായി ജയസൂര്യ." Mathrubhmi. 22 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Vellam movie review, a testimony for the mesmerising talent of Jayasurya." PrimeTIme. 22 January 2021.
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