Kammatipaadam

Krishnan (Dulquer), who works in a security firm in Mumbai, receives a call from his childhood friend Ganga (Vinayakan). The call indicates that Ganga is in danger and need Krishnan's help. Later, Krishnan travels to Kerala to find Ganga. During his journey Krishnan recalls all the problems that he had to face in his hometown Kammattippaadam.

In the early 1980s, Krishnan who is a primary school student befriends Gangadharan/Ganga, a kid who belongs to a Dalit family. Ganga's brother Balan/Balan Chettan (Manikandan) is a thug and is involved in smuggling spirit. Both Krishnan and Ganga are introduced to violence at a very young age. Krishnan is in love with Anitha (Shaun Romy), a relative of Ganga (Anitha is Ganga's bride as per custom).

Later, Krishnan, Ganga, Balan Chettan, Venu (Vinay Forrt) and others form a gang working for a local businessman,Surendran Aashaan (Anil Nedumangad). After the gang is involved in a fight, Krishnan kills a police officer while trying to save Ganga. He then goes to jail and returns to Kammattippaadam only to discover that the gang is now more advanced and are smuggling spirit under the leadership of Surendran/Aashaan. The gang creates a lot of enemies which includes Johnny (Shine). Krishnan discovers that Ganga is also in love with Anitha and is planning to get married soon. The gang destroying the homes of the locals leaves Ganga's grandfather devastated. He dies of shock when he discovers that his grandchildren have no love for him.

Balan who is now a changed man after his grandfather's death wants to stop everything. One night Balan's wife demands to go to medical shop to get some supplies. They are accompanied by both Ganga and Krishnan. Balan Chettan says that he wants to stop his criminal activity and simply wants to live happily with his family in Kammattippaadam by starting a travel agency. During their conversation about Anitha, Balan mentions his wish to see Krishnan marry her and this causes Ganga and Balan to end up in a fight. Ganga gets out of the car. Later, Balan, Krishnan and Balan's wife Rosamma (Amalda Liz) reach the nearby medical shop. Rosamma and Krishnan get out of the car and walk towards the medical shop. Balan, too intoxicated stays in the car which moments later gets hit by a truck, explodes and leaves Balan Chettan dead. Ganga blames Krishnan for his brother's death and both their friendship is torn apart.

Later, Krishnan starts a travel agency and Ganga still remains a thug. The gang later learns from a friend Sumesh (Suraj Venjaramood) that Johnny was the one who planned Balan's murder. An enraged Krishnan and Ganga stab Johnny, landing them in trouble, chased by the police. Krishnan gets arrested saving Ganga. Meanwhile, Ganga marries Anitha and then Krishnan relocates to Mumbai.

In the present, Krishnan learns about the mishaps created by Ganga and tries to find him with the help of Rosamma. Rosamma reveals that it could be Johnny who is behind Ganga's problems and Krishnan sets on a journey to find Johnny. Johnny who is paralysed after Ganga stabbing him says that he is not aware of Ganga's whereabouts. Krishnan beats down all of Johnny's gang members but the fight ends with Krishnan getting stabbed by Johnny's brother Sunny (Shane Nigam).

Later, Krishnan is left heartbroken when he hears that Ganga's dead body has been found. He later seeks the help of Aashaan who is now a big business entrepreneur to find the real killer only to discover that he is the one who murdered Ganga. Aashaan reveals that he killed Ganga due to his constant disturbance and demands for money. Aashaan is killed by Krishnan kicking him out the window of his high storey apartment built on the swamps on Kammattippaadam. In the aftermath, Krishnan says that it is people like Aashaan who corrupt the city spilling blood for more lands and profit and that he acted for the sake of his hometown, Kammattippaadam.[7]

Ernakulam was a small town during the early 1950s, and during the first communist government of EMS Namboodiripad in 1957, small tracts of farm land were given to all landless community, mainly to the Dalit community, under the Land Reforms Ordinance Act. But following the Economic Liberalisation of 1991, Kochi boomed into a metro city, and real estate skyrocketed. The then government set up Greater Cochin Development Authority, which helped the real estate boom, all the while paddy fields were converted to housing boards, luxury villas and apartments. Kammatipadam shows how the Dalits were forced to sell out their lands to the real estate mafia.[14][15] Rajeev Ravi wrote in an article in Deshabhimani few days after the release of the movie that the word ‘Pulayan’ was not allowed to be used even once in the movie by the Censor Board.

The film started production in September 2015 in Mumbai.[16][17] The title Kammattipaadam was announced in February 2016.[18] The filming was completed on 10 March 2016 and the release was scheduled for May 2016.[9] A one-minute twenty five second long trailer of film was released on 16 May in YouTube.[19]

The soundtrack features songs composed by three composers, namely K, John P.Varkey and Vinayakan. The background score was composed by K.[1]

Kammatipaadam released in theatres on May 20, 2016. The DVDs and VCDs of the film were released on 10 August 2016.[20]

Kerala State Film Awards (2016)[30]

• Best Actor – Vinayakan
• Best Character Actor – Manikandan R. Achari
• Best Film Editor – B. Ajithkumar
• Best Art Director – Gokuldas N. V., S. Nagaraj

Filmfare Awards South (2017)[31][32]

• Won, Critics Award for Best Actor – Dulquer Salmaan
• Won, Best Supporting Actor – Vinayakan
  • Nominated, Best Film – Kammatipaadam
  • Nominated, Best Director – Rajeev Ravi
  • Nominated, Best Lyricist – Anwar Ali for "Para Para"

South Indian International Movie Awards (2016)[33]

• Won, Best Film – Kammatipaadam
  • Nominated, Best Director – Rajeev Ravi
  • Nominated, Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Vinayakan
  • Nominated, Best Debut Actor – Manikandan R. Achari
  • Nominated, Best Lyricist – Anwar Ali for "Puzhu Pulikal"

IIFA Utsavam (2017)[34][35]

• Won, Best Performance In A Supporting Role - Male – Vinayakan
  • Nominated, Best Picture – Kammatipaadam
  • Nominated, Best Direction – Rajeev Ravi
  • Nominated, Best Story – Rajeev Ravi
  • Nominated, Best Performance In A Negative Role – Anil Nedumangad
  • Nominated, Best Music Direction – John P. Varkey
  • Nominated, Best Lyrics – Anwar Ali for "Para Para"

• Kammatti Paadam at IMDb