# Melvilasom

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Melvilasom
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Melvilasom.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvilasom
> Source revision: 1356701475
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{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](/source/Madhav_Ramadasan)
| producer       = Mohammed Salim<br> M. Rajendran
| screenplay     = [Soorya Krishna Moorthy](/source/Soorya_Krishnamoorthy)
| based_on       = {{based on|''Melvilasom''|Soorya Krishna Moorthy}}, based on ''Court Martial'', a play by [Swadesh Deepak](/source/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](/source/Suresh_Gopi)<br/>[Parthiban](/source/Parthiban)<br/>[Ashokan](/source/Ashokan_(actor))<br/>[Thalaivasal Vijay](/source/Thalaivasal_Vijay)<br/>[Nizhalgal Ravi](/source/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](/source/Indian_cinema) [courtroom drama](/source/Legal_drama) film directed by [Madhav Ramadasan](/source/Madhav_Ramadasan) and written by [Soorya Krishna Moorthy](/source/Soorya_Krishnamoorthy). It stars [Suresh Gopi](/source/Suresh_Gopi) and [Parthiban](/source/Parthiban) in the lead roles, and features [Ashokan](/source/Ashokan_(actor)), [Thalaivasal Vijay](/source/Thalaivasal_Vijay), [Nizhalgal Ravi](/source/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](/source/Hindi) play ''Court Martial'' (1991) by [Swadesh Deepak](/source/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](/source/Tamil_language) as ''Ulvilaasam''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/183294/|title=സൂര്യയുടെ മേല്‍വിലാസം വെള്ളിത്തിരയിലേക്ക്‌|language=Malayalam|newspaper=[Mathrubhumi](/source/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](/source/The_Hindu)''. Retrieved 29 April 2011.</ref>

The film does not feature any female characters, except the adopted daughter of [Sawar](/source/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](/source/The_Hindu)''. Retrieved 29 April 2011.</ref> Sticking close to the [Aristotelian unities](/source/Classical_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](/source/New_Wave_(Malayalam_film_movement)).<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](/source/Suresh_Gopi) as [Captain](/source/Captain_(armed_forces)) Vikas Roy
* [Parthiban](/source/Parthiban) as Sawar Ramachandran
* [Krishna Kumar](/source/Krishna_Kumar_(actor)) as Captain Bhikhari Das Kapoor
* [Ashokan](/source/Ashokan_(actor)) as Captain Dr. Gupta
* [Nizhalgal Ravi](/source/Nizhalgal_Ravi) as Major Ajay Puri
* [Thalaivasal Vijay](/source/Thalaivasal_Vijay) as [Colonel](/source/Colonel_(India)) Surat Singh
* [Gauthami](/source/Aria_(Indian_singer)) as Ammu, Sawar Ramachandran's daughter
* Sanjay as [Lieutenant Colonel](/source/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](/source/Soorya_Krishnamoorthy). 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](/source/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](/source/The_Hindu)|date=2 September 2010 |accessdate=29 April 2011}}</ref> The play was based on the [Hindi](/source/Hindi) play ''Court Martial'' (1991) by [Swadesh Deepak](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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''](/source/A_Few_Good_Men_(play)) by [Aaron Sorkin](/source/Aaron_Sorkin), about US Marine [David Cox](/source/David_Cox_(Marine)), which served as the basis of [the 1992 film of the same name](/source/A_Few_Good_Men). Deepak's play had earlier been made into the 2008 Hindi film ''[Shaurya](/source/Shaurya)''.

===Filming===
The film was shot in a single room at the [University Men's Hostel](/source/University_of_Kerala) in [Thiruvananthapuram](/source/Thiruvananthapuram) over ten days.<ref name="The Hindu"/>

==Critical reception==
The film received wide critical acclaim. [Sify](/source/Sify) labelled the film a "welcome experiment in Malayalam". The film is described as "technically brilliant", noting film director [Madhav Ramadasan](/source/Madhav_Ramadasan)'s distinct cinematic style in [Malayalam](/source/Malayalam_cinema) and [Indian cinema](/source/Cinema_of_India). In regard to performances, the critic praises [Suresh Gopi](/source/Suresh_Gopi) saying he "is absolutely brilliant as Captain Vikas Roy and he scores with his amazing dialogue delivery." [Parthiban](/source/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](/source/Sify). 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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Rediff.com)|date=2 May 2011|accessdate=7 May 2011}}</ref>

==Awards and accolades==

===Awards===
* The 15th [Gollapudi Srinivas National Award](/source/Gollapudi_Srinivas_Award) for the Best Debut Director (2011) 
* [P. Bhaskaran](/source/P._Bhaskaran) award for the Best Feature film of 2011.
* P. Bhaskaran award for the Best Actor of 2011 - [Parthiban](/source/R._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](/source/Busan_International_Film_Festival) (BIFF), in [Busan](/source/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](/source/Indian_Panorama) section of the [42nd International Film Festival of India](/source/42nd_International_Film_Festival_of_India) (IFFI), in [Panaji](/source/Panaji), India, and the Malayalam Cinema Today section of the [International Film Festival of Kerala](/source/International_Film_Festival_of_Kerala), in [Thiruvananthapuram](/source/Thiruvananthapuram), India.

==See also==
*[Trial film](/source/Trial_film)
*[Caste discrimination in India](/source/Caste_discrimination_in_India)
*''[Shaurya](/source/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

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melvilasom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvilasom) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvilasom?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.