Chemman Chaalai (The Gravel Road) is a 2005 Malaysian family drama film directed by Indian-Malaysian director Deepak Kumaran Menon.[1][2][3] This film is notable as being one of the first Malaysian feature films to be made almost entirely in Tamil.[4]
| Chemman Chaalai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Deepak Kumaran Menon |
| Written by | Sooria Kumari |
| Produced by | Tan Chui Mui |
| Starring | Saratha Maran Gandhi Nathan THR Shangkara Kalyani Santhia Marathamuthu Tharoni Mottian Dhaarshini Sankran Bala Sundram Dinesh Ganesan |
| Cinematography | Albert Hue |
| Music by | Hardesh Singh |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | 152,000 ringgits ($40,000) |
Plot
editSet in the late 1960s, the film is about Shantha, an impoverished Malaysian Tamil girl, and her family. They all live together on a family estate, in an area where higher education for women is almost impossible. Shantha, a girl of many aspirations, wants to leave the estate and further her studies, however the financial hardships that will result make her dreams nearly impossible to achieve.
Production
editThe story is inspired by real events, related to the director's mother.[citation needed]
The film is director Deepak Kumaran Menon's first feature-length film.[1] It was funded entirely by his father, Shanker Menon, the film's executive producer, and shot in digital video.
Reception
editThe film "struck a deep chord with the ethnic Indian community" in Malaysia. To see the film, "they came by bus, they took the train, but they all wanted to tell their stories."[1]
The film has met with a strong reception since its release, and has been shown at a number of film festivals across the world including the 2005 International Film Festival Rotterdam, the 2005 San Francisco International Film Festival, the 2005 Pusan International Film Festival, Korea; the Barcelona Asian Film Festival, Spain; the Nantes Festival 3 Continents, France and the Fukuoka International Film Festival, Japan among others.[5] In February 2006, it was selected as an official entry to the Bangkok International Film Festival.
Awards
editBest Alternative Film, Anugerah Skrin TV3[6]
Special Jury Award, Nantes Festival 3 Continents (2005), France[6]
Opening Film, Asian Film Symposium, Singapore[6]
In Competition, Bangkok Int. Film Festival[6]
References
edit- ^ a b c Min, Lim Li (5 April 2005). "A lens on the Malaysian margins". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Deepak Kumaran talks about the success of Chemman Chaalai - News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ Guillen, Michael (10 March 2006). "The Evening Class: MALAYSIAN CINEMAS— Chemman Chaalai (The Gravel Road)". The Evening Class. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ Khorana, Sukhmani (23 October 2013). Crossover Cinema: Cross-Cultural Film from Production to Reception. Routledge. p. 162. ISBN 978-1-136-22176-7.
- ^ "Cinema Rises in the East | Forbes India".
- ^ a b c d "Deepak Menon: Chemman Chaalai". Deepak Menon. Retrieved 10 March 2018.