A Dog's Day

Pattiyude Divasam

India

2001

74 Min

Color

1.37:1

Malayalam

Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
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SCR Murali Nair, Bharathan Njavakal

CAST K. Krishna Kaimal, Thomas, Lakshmi Raman, Sudhas Thayat

MUSIC Kavalam Narayana Panikkar

SOUND Madhu Apsara

Cannes (Un Certain Regard), Toronto (Contemporary World Cinema)

Synopsis

Once in a colourful rural province, the ruling Lord granted democracy to his faithful citizens. They celebrated with joyous song. As a token of his good will, the Lord gave the royal dog Apu to his former obedient servant, Koran. Koran and his wife proudly cared for the small dog, admired by all the village …
One day Apu bit a duck, then later a boy. Rumor spread that the Lord knowingly sent Apu amongst the people because the dog had rabies. The peaceful democratic atmosphere of the village was disrupted. The new leader and the disheartened villagers turned against the Lord they once loved and respected.
The province was divided, its future uncertain. —flyingelephant.co.uk

Director

Murali Nair

Murali Nair was born in a little village in the centre of Kerala, the most southern and politically active state in India. He has a passion for politics and makes several journeys through rural India after finishing his university studies in geology. After a brief course at Institut Xavier de Communication in Bombay, he becomes part of the Bombay film industry as assistant director. He develops his experience there before directing his first short film Tragedy of an Indian Farmer in 1993 which won a national prize in India. He then shoots two other short films: Coronations in 1995 and A long Journey in 1996 which is selected for Cannes in the category short films in competition. In 1997, he moves to London and sets up the Flying Elephant Films production company. He starts to make programmes (principally about youth of the world) for British television, with his wife Preeya. His first feature, Marana Simhasanam (Throne of Death) wins the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 1999, and the second… read more

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Kai White

3Jan12

Maybe the editing could be tighter, but it's really hard not to like this. What seems like a wonderfully simple set-up, the burden of a caring for a dog given as a gift, goes in a direction that touches on politics and class division. This is a great idea that is solidly executed.

Sudipto Basu

18Mar11

I like any film that devotes time to observing lines on the faces of men and women. Light jokes aside, wonderfully observant beauty. Calm on the surface even though there are tensions brimming just underneath.