Nellu (1974 film)

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{{Infobox film
| name = Nellu
| image = Nellu (1974).jpg
| caption =
| director = [[Ramu Kariat]]
| producer = N. P. Ali
| story = [[P. Valsala]]
| screenplay = Ramu Kariat [[K. G. George]] Dialogue: [[S. L. Puram Sadanandan]]
| based_on = {{based on|''Nellu''|P. Valsala}}
| starring = [[Prem Nazir]] [[Jayabharathi]] Mohan
| music = [[Salil Chowdhury]]
| cinematography = [[Balu Mahendra]]
| editing = [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]] Appu
| studio = Jammu Films International
| distributor = Jammu Pictures Circuit Release
| released = {{Film date|1974|8|23|df=y}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Malayalam
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Nellu''''' ({{translation|[[Paddy (unmilled rice)|Paddy]]}}) is a 1974 [[Malayalam]] film directed by [[Ramu Kariat]] based on the award-winning novel of the same name by [[P. Valsala]]. The film is about the tribal people of the [[Wayanad]] hills in the deep Kerala forests. It stars [[Prem Nazir]] and [[Jayabharathi]] in the lead roles. The film is noted for its aesthetic quality and is regarded as a landmark in the history of [[Malayalam cinema]].

The film marks the debut of cinematographer [[Balu Mahendra]] although not his first release. He won the [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Photography]] (Colour). [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]] and Appu won the award for [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Editor|Kerala State Film Award for Best Editing]].<ref>[http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm "Kerala State Film Awards 1969 - 2008"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232254/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/stateawares.htm |date=3 March 2016 }}. Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Kerala. Retrieved May 3, 2011.</ref>

==Plot==
The film portrays the life of the "Adiyar" community, a tribe whose ways of life belongs to centuries ago. They live in the [[Wayanad]] hills in the deep Kerala forests. The film envelopes the passions, superstitions, religious practices, customs, and the servility and exploitation the tribal people endure. The film is narrated through the observations of an outsider.

==Cast==

* [[Prem Nazir]] as Raghavan Nair
* [[Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair]] as Perumal
* [[Sankaradi]] as Damoradara Varrier
* [[Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair]] as Chundeli
* [[Mohan Sharma]] as Mallan
* [[Adoor Bhasi]] as Thapaal Nanu
* [[Bahadoor]] as Saidu
* [[K. P. Ummer]] as "Vedikkaran" Ouseph
* [[Kedamangalam Ali]] as Baddamaran
* Shihab as Ezhuthappottan
* [[S. P. Pillai]] as Vaattuvelu (guest appearance)
* [[Prem Nawas]] as Unnikrishnan
* [[J. A. R. Anand]] as Chathan
* [[Jayabharathi]] as Mara
* [[Kaviyoor Ponnamma]] as Savithri Varassyar
* [[Kanakadurga]] as Kurumatti
* [[Adoor Bhavani]] as Pembi
* [[Rani Chandra]] as Javani
* [[K. V. Shanthi]]
* [[Sumithra (actress)|Sumithra]] as Safiya
* Chelavoor Krishnankutty
* [[Innocent (actor)|Innocent]]
* [[Shanthi Williams]]

==Production==
P. Valsala wrote the novel after a rejuvenating experience in [[Wayanad]]. It was published in 1972 by Sahithya Pravarthaka Cooperative Society. It went on to become a bestseller and won the Kumkumam Award for Best Novel in 1973. Kariat approached Valsala for permission to adapt the novel, and when she agreed, he asked [[K. G. George]], [[S. L. Puram Sadanandan]] and Valsala to write separate scripts based on the novel and in the end, took certain portions from all the three and made the film.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/05/09/stories/2008050950130300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523063103/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/05/09/stories/2008050950130300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 May 2008|author=P.K. Ajith Kumar|title=Telling her story|date=9 May 2008|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=27 May 2011}}</ref>

Noted South Indian actress [[Sharada (actress)|Sharada]] was originally chosen for the role of Mara. She turned down the offer when Kariat insisted that she dress like the tribal women of Wayanad. Later, Kariat fixed Jayabharathi, another leading actress of the time, for that role.<ref name=Mohan>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article3580841.ece|title=Frames of memory |first=K|last=Pradeep|date=June 26, 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=[[Kochi]]|accessdate=June 29, 2012}}</ref> ''Nellu'' marked the debut of actor Mohan Sharma who went on to act in about 100 films in Malayalam.<ref name=Mohan/>

The film's production occurred at various villages near [[Thirunelli]] in [[Wayanad]]. It was produced by N. P. Ali under the banner of Jammu Films International.

== Soundtrack ==

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Artist(s)

| headline = Track listing <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salilda.com/filmsongs/malayalam/nellu.asp|title=Nellu (1974)|publisher=salilda.com|accessdate=3 May 2011}}</ref>
| all_lyrics = [[Vayalar Ramavarma]]
| all_music = [[Salil Chowdhury]]

| title1 = Chemba Chemba
| extra1 = [[Manna Dey]], [[P. Jayachandran]], [[Choir]]

| title2 = Kadali Chenkadali
| extra2 = [[Lata Mangeshkar]]

| title3 = Neela Ponmane
| extra3 = [[K. J. Yesudas]], [[P. Madhuri]]

| title4 = Kaadu Kuliranu
| extra4 = [[P. Susheela]]

}}

The song " Kadali Chenkadali" was sung by Lata Mangeshkar and is her only song in Malayalam to date.

==Awards==
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Film - Malayalam]] won by N.P. Ali (1974)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xU3jAAAAMAAJ&q=Nellu|title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who|last1=Reed|first1=Sir Stanley|year=1984}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0214985|Nellu}}
* [http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/m.php?121 ''Nellu''] at Malayalam Movie Database

==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine|url=http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/arfazph/?action=view&current=Nellu-TheIllustratedWeekly.png|title=Nellu has a tribal life for backdrop|magazine=[[The Illustrated Weekly of India]]|date=July 28, 1974|accessdate=May 3, 2011}}
* {{cite news|url=http://s1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/arfazph/?action=view&current=Nellu-TheHindustanTimes.png|title=A Miracle of a film|newspaper=[[The Hindustan Times]]|date=July 25, 1974|accessdate=May 3, 2011}}

[[Category:1970s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films based on Indian novels]]
[[Category:Indigenous films]]
[[Category:1974 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Salil Chowdhury]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ramu Kariat]]
[[Category:1974 films]]

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Nellu (1974 film)