Oka Oori Katha

Oka Oori Katha (English title: The Marginal Ones; Telugu: ఒక ఊరి కథ) is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by Mrinal Sen. The Pan-Indian film is based on the 1936 Munshi Premchand story Kafan (The Burial Shroud).

The Marginal Ones was one of the Indian entries at the 4th Hong Kong International Film Festival. It was featured in the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Carthage Film Festival, and the Indian Panorama section of the 7th IFFI.

It won the "Special Jury Prize (Karlovy Vary IFF)"; and the Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 25th National Film Awards, "for successfully transforming Premchand's story "Kafan" into a scathing commentary on rural destitution and social injustice; for projecting through powerful performances of its leading characters, the degradation and brutalisation of human beings, for its sincere commitment to the cause of the downtrodden; for its fervent impassioned appeal to the conscience of humanity" as cited by the Jury.

Plot
Venkaiah (Vasudeva Rao) and his son Kistaiah (Narayana Rao) live in a village. Venkaiah lives in a queer world of his own. They have learnt to conquer hunger and are mentally strong. They consider that the poor farmers are fools to work for the rich and suffer. Kistaiah wants to marry Nilamma (Mamata Shankar). The father does not like the marriage. Kistaiah refuses and marries Nilamma.

Nilamma tries to control the family. Venkaiah does not change. Kistaiah stands between them. There is bitterness in the family. In course of time, Nilamma conceives. One day, they find Nilamma in acute pain. The father refuses to call a midwife and Nilamma dies. They decide to conduct funeral rites for Nilamma. They go begging around the village and gather some money and decide to spend it on drinks.

Cast

 * A. R. Krishna
 * Pradeep Kumar
 * G. V. Narayana Rao as Kistaiah
 * M. V. Vasudeva Rao as Venkaiah
 * Mamata Shankar as Nilamma
 * Chintapally Bhadra Reddy as Zamindar

Awards

 * National Film Awards
 * National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu - Mrinal Sen and A. Parandhama Reddy


 * Nandi Awards
 * Third Best Feature Film - Bronze - A. Parandhama Reddy


 * International Honors
 * Karlovy Vary International Film Festival - Special Jury Award
 * Carthage Film Festival - Special Award