No language – nor any culture – is an island. Thus it should not come as too big a surprise that Resurrection’s male star comes from neighbouring Kerala. Mammootty is a multi-award-winning giant of Indian cinema, with more than 300 films to his name, most of them Malayalam-spoken, and with a sprinkling of works in other languages in the mix, including Tamil. It speaks volumes of Ram's daring that he cast transgenderl debutant Anjali Ameer opposite this South Indian acting axiom – extremes of experience meet.
It might be seen as a testament to the support truly great artists provide those who follow in their footsteps, that it’s Anjali Ameer who shines in this dark idyll set in a dazzling, sun-drenched landscape – an uneasy portrait of life on the edge that soon turns into a drama with political undertones.
Also see Tamil M.A. and Taramani.
Programme
A look at our world in crisis from a truly oblique angle: Tamil Nadu, India’s southernmost state, home to some of contemporary cinema’s most edgy work.
Read more about this programmePerhaps more than any other younger Tamil auteur, director/producer Karthik Subbaraj still honours his roots in shorts. In Aviyal, he unleashed his second omnibus project on Tamil audiences – a roller-coaster of moods and ideas with thrills and laughs, strange sex, a brawling film crew and family problems of a sensual nature.
118'
India
IFFR 2018
The latest generation of Tamil auteurs found its way into the film industry through short film competitions on TV. Cold Heart pays tribute to this weird world in the guise of a grimly gutsy gangster film; a dark comedy of manners whose jokes are so well-aimed they hurt. Woah!
171'
India
IFFR 2018
Das, a professional kidnapper (cum world-class bullshitter) takes on a bunch of young assistants. One of Das' main principles is: never kidnap someone involved in politics. So what do you do if you're tricked into doing just that? A wild and crazy mix of crime flick and sharp social satire!
135'
India
IFFR 2018