Kaliyattam

Kaliyattam (The Play of God) is a 1997 Indian Malayalam-language tragedy film directed by Jayaraj. It stars Suresh Gopi, Lal (in his acting debut), Biju Menon and Manju Warrier. The film is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Othello, set against the backdrop of the Theyyam performance of Kerala. The film's screenplay is written by Balram Mattannur. Suresh Gopi plays Kannan Perumalayan, the equivalent to Othello, Lal plays Paniyan, the equivalent to Iago, Manju Warrier plays Thamara, the Desdemona version, and Biju Menon plays Kanthan, Cassio's role. Suresh Gopi's role as Kannan Perumalayan was critically acclaimed and was considered one of the finest acting performances in his career.

In 1998, Suresh Gopi received the National Film Award for Best Actor and Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his critically acclaimed performance. Jayaraj won the award for Best Director for his work on the film. The film was a critical and commercial success.

Plot
This is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, revolving around Kannan Perumalayan, a Theyyam artist who corresponds to Othello, and Thamara, the beautiful daughter of the village head. While Unni Thampuran hates Kannan because he had a crush on Thamara, and Paniyan, who plays a Komali, covets the role of Theechamundi which Perumalayan holds. Paniyan plants the seeds of doubt about Thamara's fidelity in Kannan's mind, making him suspect that Thamara and his assistant, Kanthan, are having an affair. Kannan spots a silk robe which he had presented to Thamara in Kanthan's hands.

Kannan, out of grief and anger, takes Thamara 's life by suffocating her with a pillow. On the same night, Paniyan plans to get Kanthan killed by Unni Thampuran. But the plan goes awry, and Thamburan is killed. Amidst these events, Kannan is told of his mistake by Paniyan's wife, Cheerma, before Paniyan murders her. Kannan overpowers Paniyan, crushing his legs with a stone, and leaving him to live the rest of his life crippled. Kannan Perumalayan gives the  Perumalayan   role to Kanthan and commits suicide in the Theyyam ritual fire.

Cast

 * Suresh Gopi as Kannan Perumalayan (Othello)
 * Lal as Paniyan (Iago)
 * Biju Menon as Kanthan (Cassio)
 * Manju Warrier as Thamara (Desdemona)
 * Bindu Panicker as Cheerma (Emilia)
 * Narendra Prasad as Thamburan (Brabantio)
 * E. A. Rajendran as Unni Thampuran (Roderigo)

National Film Awards 1997

 * National Film Award for Best Director – Jayaraj
 * National Film Award for Best Actor – Suresh Gopi

Filmfare Awards 1997

 * Filmfare Award for Best Director – Malayalam – Jayaraj
 * Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Malayalam – Kaithapram

Kerala State Film Awards 1997

 * Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor – Suresh Gopi
 * Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value
 * Best Music Director – Kaithapram
 * Best Female Playback Singer – Bhavana Radhakrishnan

Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 1997

 * Best Actor – Suresh Gopi
 * Best Supporting Actor – Lal

Soundtrack
The music and lyrics were composed and written by Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri.