Photographer (film)
Photographer is a 2006 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Ranjan Pramod. Starring Mohanlal, Mani, Neethu, and Biju Menon. The film is loosely based on the Muthanga incident of 2003, in which a policeman and a tribal were killed. Mohanlal plays dual roles as a wildlife photographer and a farmer. The soundtrack was composed by Johnson.[1][2]
| Photographer | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) | |
| Directed by | Ranjan Pramod |
| Produced by | Houli Pottoor |
| Written by | Ranjan Pramod |
| Starring | Mohanlal Neethu Mani Biju Menon |
| Music by | Johnson |
| Cinematography | Alagappan N. |
| Edited by | Jyothy |
Production company | Dream Team Productions |
| Distributed by | Dream Team Release |
Release date |
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Running time | 147 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
The film marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Pramod and the debut of Kannada actress Neethu in Malayalam cinema, as well as the comeback of composer Johnson after a sabbatical. Photographer was released on 24 October 2006. Mani, who played the role of a tribal boy won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist. Johnson won the Mathrubhumi Film Award for Best Music Director for the soundtrack and Mullasserry Raju Music Award for the song "Enthe Kannanu".
Plot
Dijo John (Mohanlal) is a nature and wildlife photographer. He has a wife and a young son. In a flashback scene, we see Dijo eloping with Brahmin girl Sathyavathy (Nithyashree).
He keeps taking trips to the forests and taking pictures for magazines like National Geographic and also on his website which he uses to sell his images online. On one such trip to the forests, he happens to save an adivasi boy, Thammi, from the hands of a notorious police officer and his crew and becomes the spokesperson on their behalf.
He even makes a photograph of the police officer aiming at the harmless boy and tries to bring the issue to the public. But his friend who is also the state forest minister assures protection to the boy and advises him from making these incidents more public. Thammi who is lodged in a juvenile home, happens to be there for a while but toward the middle of the film goes missing. Then our wild life activist is again on the run towards the interiors of the forest to trace the child. And amidst the new mission, the photographer is also missing.
Dijo's younger brother Joy (also Mohanlal) is a happy-go-lucky rich planter and a pulp writer who has a publication. He try to investigate the situation but with little success. Later, Dijo is found walking around the forest in a dazed condition as he realizes that his fight for the rights of adivasi is a futile exercise and all including his friend, the forest minister and the bureaucracy is nowhere to help the men of the forest.
Cast
- Mohanlal as Dijo John / Joy John
- Bharathi Vishnuvardhan as Dijo's mother
- Neethu as Sathyavathi
- Mani as Thammi
- Biju Menon
- Sougandh Pramod as Sharan
- Saranya Bhagyaraj
- Venu Nagavalli
- Manoj K. Jayan
- Mammukoya
- K. B. Ganesh Kumar
- Murali as Viplavam Balan
- Ambika Mohan as Balan's wife
- Daniel Balaji as Inspector
- Janaki Sabesh as John's sister-in-law
Production
The film is loosely based on the Muthanga incident of 2003, in which a policeman and a tribal were killed. The film marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Ranjan Pramod. Filming began in July 2006.[3][4] The film was also the debut of Kannada actress Neethu in Malayalam cinema, as well as the comeback of composer Johnson after a sabbatical. Mani, a real tribal boy played a tribal in the film.
Soundtrack
The original songs featured in the film was composed by Johnson, with lyrics by Kaithapram Damodaran. Soundtrack album was released by the label Satyam Audios.[5]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Enthe Kannanu" (Version 1) | K. J. Yesudas | 4:45 |
| 2. | "Pulchadi" | Vaisali | 3:44 |
| 3. | "Chandrika Raavil" | Vijeesh Goplal, Gayatri Asokan | 4:47 |
| 4. | "Vasantharaavil" | Sujatha Mohan | 4:55 |
| 5. | "Poopuzhayil" | Vijay Yesudas | 4:30 |
| 6. | "Kadlolam" | K. S. Chithra | 4:56 |
| 7. | "Enthe Kannanu" (Version 2) | Manjari | 4:45 |
Awards
Mani won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist.[7] Johnson won the Mathrubhumi Film Award for Best Music Director for the soundtrack[8] and the Mullasserry Raju Music Award for the song "Enthe Kannanu".[9]
References
- "Photographer - Photographer into realities". Indiaglitz. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- "Photographer Synopisis". Nowrunning.com. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- Kumar, P. K. Ajith (7 July 2006). "Images of a scenarist". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- Pillai, Sreedhar (20 October 2006). "Clash of the Titans". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- "Photographer - Johnson". Saavn. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
- "Photographer hits tomorrow". Indiaglitz. 23 October 2006. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- "Kerala State Film Awards 2006" Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. Retrieved 2011-01-31
- "Mammootty, Padmapriya bags Mathrubhumi awards". Indiaglitz. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- Ajithkumar, P. K. (21 September 2007). "A treat for music lovers". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
External links
- Photographer at IMDb