{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox film | name = Melvilasom | image = Melvilasom_4.jpg | caption = Theatrical poster | director = Madhav Ramadasan | producer = Mohammed Salim<br> M. Rajendran | screenplay = Soorya Krishna Moorthy | based_on = {{based on|''Melvilasom''|Soorya Krishna Moorthy}}, based on ''Court Martial'', a play by Swadesh Deepak<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manmadhan |first1=Prema |title=A movie with a definite 'Melvilasam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/a-movie-with-a-definite-melvilasam/article2096349.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=12 June 2011 |accessdate=2 November 2020 |ref=published on JUNE 12, 2011}}</ref> | starring = Suresh Gopi<br/>Parthiban<br/>Ashokan<br/>Thalaivasal Vijay<br/>Nizhalgal Ravi<br/>Krishnakumar | music = Samson Kottoor | cinematography = Anand Balakrishnan | editing = K Srinivas | studio = Mark Movies | distributor = Chithralaya Films Release | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2011|4|29}} | runtime = 105 minutes | country = India | language = Malayalam | budget = | gross = }} '''''Melvilasom''''' ({{Translation|The Address}}) is a 2011 Indian courtroom drama film directed by Madhav Ramadasan and written by Soorya Krishna Moorthy. It stars Suresh Gopi and Parthiban in the lead roles, and features Ashokan, Thalaivasal Vijay, Nizhalgal Ravi, Krishnakumar and Sanjay in other pivotal roles. An adaptation of Moorthy's stage play of the same name, which itself was based on the Hindi play ''Court Martial'' (1991) by Swadesh Deepak, the film reached theatres on 29 April 2011.<ref>[http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/8291/malayalam/melvilasom/index.htm "''Melvilasom'' Malayalam Movie"]</ref> It received wide critical acclaim upon release and got a dubbed release in Tamil as ''Ulvilaasam''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/183294/|title=സൂര്യയുടെ മേല്വിലാസം വെള്ളിത്തിരയിലേക്ക്|language=Malayalam|newspaper=Mathrubhumi|date=28 April 2011|accessdate=29 April 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502012940/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/183294|archivedate=2 May 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>Rema Sundar. (24 December 2010). [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2010122451330400.htm&date=2010/12/24/&prd=fr& "Versatility, his forte"]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 29 April 2011.</ref>
The film does not feature any female characters, except the adopted daughter of Sawar Ramachandran, or songs.<ref name="features">[http://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/melvilasam-to-neither-have-songs-nor-a-heroine/36901/story.htm "''Melvilasom'' to neither have songs nor a heroine"]. Nowrunning.com. Retrieved 29 April 2011.</ref> The entire film was shot inside a room and filming was completed in just nine days.<ref name="features"/><ref name="The Hindu">Manu Remakant. (29 April 2011). [http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1806300.ece "Addressing reality"]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 29 April 2011.</ref> Sticking close to the Aristotelian unities, the screen time of an hour and half dovetails perfectly with real time.<ref name="The Hindu"/> It is widely regarded as one of the defining movies of the Malayalam New Wave.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nagarajan|first=Saraswathy|date=2019-12-19|title=The 25 best Malayalam films of the decade: 'Premam', 'Maheshinte Prathikaram', 'Kumbalangi Nights' and more|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/the-25-best-malayalam-films-of-the-decade-premam-maheshinte-prathikaram-kumbalangi-nights-and-more/article30349548.ece|access-date=2021-07-11|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
==Cast== {{Cast listing| * Suresh Gopi as Captain Vikas Roy * Parthiban as Sawar Ramachandran * Krishna Kumar as Captain Bhikhari Das Kapoor * Ashokan as Captain Dr. Gupta * Nizhalgal Ravi as Major Ajay Puri * Thalaivasal Vijay as Colonel Surat Singh * Gauthami as Ammu, Sawar Ramachandran's daughter * Sanjay as Lieutenant Colonel Brajrendra Rawat * V. K. Baiju as Army officer * Naveen Arakkal as Army officer }}
==Production==
===Play=== The film is based on the play of the same name that marked the theatre debut of Soorya Krishna Moorthy. It was staged for the first time at Gorky Bhavan in 2005.<ref>G. Jayakumar. (20 January 2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20121109062106/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/20/stories/2007012000860200.htm "Actor in the making"]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 29 April 2011.</ref> It became a major success, and has been staged at more than 400 stages around the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/02/stories/2010090256940200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100909034906/http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/02/stories/2010090256940200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2010|title=Premalekhanam set for 100 stage|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2 September 2010 |accessdate=29 April 2011}}</ref> The play was based on the Hindi play ''Court Martial'' (1991) by Swadesh Deepak.<ref>Leena Chandran. (25 February 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070309085215/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/02/25/stories/2006022501000300.htm "Much ado about an address"]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 29 April 2011.</ref> It was also inspired by real-life incidents narrated by Krishnamoorthy's mentor Gopi Poojapura, a former soldier in the Indian Army.<ref name="The Hindu"/> The film credits both ''Court Martial'' and Gopi Poojapura.
Swadesh Deepak's ''Court Martial'' (1991) was an adaptation of the 1989 play ''A Few Good Men'' by Aaron Sorkin, about US Marine David Cox, which served as the basis of the 1992 film of the same name. Deepak's play had earlier been made into the 2008 Hindi film ''Shaurya''.
===Filming=== The film was shot in a single room at the University Men's Hostel in Thiruvananthapuram over ten days.<ref name="The Hindu"/>
==Critical reception== The film received wide critical acclaim. Sify labelled the film a "welcome experiment in Malayalam". The film is described as "technically brilliant", noting film director Madhav Ramadasan's distinct cinematic style in Malayalam and Indian cinema. In regard to performances, the critic praises Suresh Gopi saying he "is absolutely brilliant as Captain Vikas Roy and he scores with his amazing dialogue delivery." Parthiban is appreciated as "he gives subtle acting an altogether different meaning, even though his dialogues are limited to only a few minutes. His lines towards the end can leave you with a lump in the throat."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150106093333/http://www.sify.com/movies/melvilasom-review-malayalam-14968761.html "Movie Review: Melvilasom"]. Sify.com. Retrieved 5 May 2011.</ref>
Nowrunning.com stated, "''Melvilasom'' is a reflection of the staunch belief that a film maker has on his script. It displays a fine sensibility in whatever it has to say, and is peppered all over with real enthusiastic performances."<ref>{{cite web|author=Veeyen|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/8291/malayalam/melvilasom/3080/review.htm|title=Melvilasom Review|publisher=Nowrunning.com|date=2 May 2011|accessdate=7 May 2011}}</ref> The Hindu also published an extremely positive review stating, "the story is effectively told with well crafted dialogues and riveting performances by the main actors."<ref>{{cite news|author=G. Jayakumar|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/06/stories/2011050651030200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810230056/http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/06/stories/2011050651030200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 August 2011|title=Soldier of misfortune|newspaper=The Hindu|date=6 May 2011|accessdate=7 May 2011}}</ref> Rediff rated the film {{rating|3|5}} and said, "''Melvilasom'' is exciting as it experiments with new ways of storytelling. ''Melvilasom'' is the kind of film that leaves you happy for simply surpassing your expectations."<ref>{{cite web|author=Paresh C. Palicha|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-melvilasom/20110502.htm|title=Melvilasom surpasses expectations|work=Rediff.com|date=2 May 2011|accessdate=7 May 2011}}</ref>
==Awards and accolades==
===Awards=== * The 15th Gollapudi Srinivas National Award for the Best Debut Director (2011) * P. Bhaskaran award for the Best Feature film of 2011. * P. Bhaskaran award for the Best Actor of 2011 - Parthiban.<ref name="'മേല്വിലാസ'ത്തിന് പി.ഭാസ്ക്കരന് അവാര്ഡ്">{{cite news|title='മേല്വിലാസ'ത്തിന് പി.ഭാസ്ക്കരന് അവാര്ഡ്|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/249960/|newspaper=Mathrubhumi|accessdate=7 Feb 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207072458/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/249960/|archivedate=7 February 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
===Film festival participation=== ''Melvilasom'' got selected to the 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), in Busan, South Korea.<ref>{{cite news|author=Keerthy Ramachandran DC |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/kochi/melvilasom-goes-international-628 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914135539/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/kochi/melvilasom-goes-international-628 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 September 2011 |title='Melvilasom' goes international |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |date=2011-09-14 |accessdate=2012-10-18}}</ref> It has also been selected for the Indian Panorama section of the 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI), in Panaji, India, and the Malayalam Cinema Today section of the International Film Festival of Kerala, in Thiruvananthapuram, India.
==See also== *Trial film *Caste discrimination in India *''Shaurya'', a 2008 Indian film also based on Swadesh Deepak's play
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|1921019|Melvilasom}}
Category:2011 Malayalam-language films Category:2011 Indian films Category:Military courtroom films Category:2011 directorial debut films Category:2011 films Category:Indian films based on plays Category:Films shot in Thiruvananthapuram Category:Indian war films Category:Indian crime drama films Category:Indian legal thriller films Category:Indian Army in films Category:Indian courtroom films Category:Indian drama films Category:Indian legal drama films Category:Films about lawyers Category:Fiction about courts-martial Category:Films based on multiple works Category:Films about prejudice Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films Category:Films about mutinies Category:Films about human rights Category:Films about social issues in India Category:Films about the caste system in India Category:Films about murder Category:Indian films based on actual events Category:Films set in Kerala Category:Films about father–daughter relationships Category:Films based on adaptations