Nayattu (2021 film)

Nayattu is a 2021 Indian political survival thriller film directed and co-produced by Martin Prakkat and written by Shahi Kabir. It stars Kunchako Boban, Joju George, and Nimisha Sajayan in the lead roles and features Jaffar Idukki, Anil Nedumangad, and Hakkim Shajahan in supporting roles. Mahesh Narayanan and Rajesh Rajenndran edited the film while Shyju Khalid handled the cinematography. Vishnu Vijay composed the original music and background score. Director Ranjith and P. M. Sasidharan produced the film under Gold Coin Motion Picture Company in association with Martin Prakkat Films.

The film was released on 8 April 2021 to widespread critical acclaim for its direction and the cast's performances. In October, it was shortlisted for India's selection for the Best International film at 94th Academy Awards. The film was remade in Telugu as Kota Bommali PS (2023).

Plot
Praveen Michael rejoins the police force in a new station as a CPO. A local political goon named Biju, who is related to police officer CPO Sunitha, is summoned for being a constant troublemaker. Praveen and his senior officer ASI Maniyan get into a scuffle with the goon and lock him up in the cell, but is later released without charges due to the political influence of his Dalit party. After a wedding party, Maniyan and Praveen are drunk, joined by Sunitha who accepts a lift. With Maniyan's nephew Rahul as the driver, they get into a collision with a motorbike. They move to assist after realizing that the bike rider Jayan is a friend of Biju.

Rahul flees from the scene immediately after which the trio gets spotted by civilians. They attempt to rescue Jayan, who is announced dead on arrival, sending Biju’s mob into a rage and forcing the trio to flee to their station. At the station, Maniyan realizes that they will be accused of murder and arrested soon, resulting in the trio fleeing and on the run. With political pressure mounting on the police to frame them, they retreat to Munnar to seek asylum with an old acquaintance of Maniyan. The CM gets involved in the matter due to an impending election where the support of the Dalit organization is crucial for victory. The investigation is handed over to the Crime Branch. A squad of senior police officers, led by SP Anuradha, is sent in pursuit of the fugitives.

Anuradha and her squad manage to locate the runaways but cannot launch an assault due to the strategic location of their hiding place. In the city, the police decide to stage a drama with the allowance of the CM. They announce that all three police officers are arrested and parade dummies with faces covered to the media. When the squad finally makes the move, Praveen and Sunitha run, only to find Maniyan hanging dead in a building with a suicide video note in his mobile phone as a dying declaration. Due to the previous dummy arrest, the squad is in trouble. The CM threatens to place the blame on the police department, ordering them to clean up the mess.

Praveen tries to escape to safeguard the suicide video but is captured and is arrested along with Sunitha and brought to the police club along with Maniyan’s body. The police officers stage Maniyan's suicide in police custody and compel the other two to give corroborating statements, which makes Maniyan responsible for the death of the Dalit youth and thus making them free of the crime. Praveen and Sunitha both refuse, and they are given time to change their mind till they reach the court. They are later placed in custody and transported to court in a police van as the voting for the by-elections takes place.

Production
Principal photography of the film began before the COVID-19 pandemic in India and stopped during lockdown period. The filming resumed by the end of September and was completed in October 2020.

Music
The music was composed by Vishnu Vijay.

Release
The movie was released on 8 April 2021.