Olu (film)

{{Short description|2018 Indian film}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox film | name = Olu | image = Oolu.jpg | caption = | director = Shaji N. Karun | writer = T. D. Ramakrishnan | screenplay = | story = | producer = A. V. Anoop | starring = Esther Anil<br/>Shane Nigam<br />Indrans<br />Kani Kusruti<br />Maya Menon | music = Isaac Thomas Kottukapally | cinematography = M. J. Radhakrishnan | editing = A. Sreekar Prasad | distributor = | studio = Piravi Vision | released = {{film date|2018|11|21|IFFI|ref1=<ref name=mathrubhumi />|2019|09|20|df=yes}} | country = India | language = Malayalam | budget = }}

'''''Olu''''' ({{translation|She}}) is an Indian Malayalam-language fantasy film directed by Shaji N. Karun and written by T D Ramakrishnan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/250517/esther-anil-in-shaji-n-karuns-oal.html|title=Esther Anil in Shaji N Karun's Oal|first=Aravind K|last=S|date=25 May 2017|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> The film stars Esther Anil, Shane Nigam, Indrans, Kani Kusruti in the lead role; produced by A V Anoop.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2016/oct/01/shaji-n-karun-with-oolu-1518514.html|title=Shaji N Karun with Oolu|date=3 October 2016|newspaper=The New Indian Express|first=Navamy|last=Sudhish|access-date=18 September 2019}}</ref> The film was the opening film at the 49th International Film Festival of India (2018). It was also screened at a few other major film festivals.<ref name=mathrubhumi>Anushree Madhavan (21 November 2018). [https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/movie-news/indian-panorama-to-begin-with-malayalam-movie-oolu--1.3328269 "Indian Panorama to begin with Malayalam movie 'Oolu'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715093740/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/movie-news/indian-panorama-to-begin-with-malayalam-movie-oolu--1.3328269 |date=15 July 2019 }}. ''Mathrubhumi''. Retrieved 15 July 2019.</ref>

==Cast== {{cast listing| * Esther Anil as Olu * Shane Nigam as Vasu *Samyuktha Shanmuganathan as Shwetha *Radhika as Meenakshi * Indrans as Abhu (Thonikkaran) * Kani Kusruti as Manasi (Vasu's sister) * P. Sreekumar * Punnassery Kanchana * Nyima Nangchung as a Buddhist girl<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/300618/tibetan-link-in-mollywood.html|title=Tibetan link in Mollywood | Tibetan link in Mollywood|first=Gokul|last=m.g|date=30 June 2018|website=www.deccanchronicle.com}}</ref> }}

== Reception == Sajin Shrijith of ''The New Indian Express'' rated the film three out of five stars and wrote, "Though I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, I found Olu to be a much better effort than Swaham, Nishad, and Swapaanam but a couple of notches below Piravi, Vanaprastham, and Kutty Srank. It's definitely worth a watch."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shrijith |first1=Sajin |title=Olu film review {{!}} An interesting statement on artistic integrity |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2019/Sep/21/olu-film-review--an-interesting-statement-on-artistic-integrity-2036660.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=10 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Deepa Antony of ''The Times of India'' gave it two-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "With no space for comedy or everyday references, Olu is what they call an arthouse cinema. But sadly it even as an arthouse cinema it holds back on emotions and focuses on computer generated graphics that the fantasy elements demand of it. However, Olu is watchable with the patience one reserves only for arthouse cinemas, but nothing else."<ref>{{cite news |title=Olu Movie Review : A movie that under-utilities its myths and motifs |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movie-reviews/olu/movie-review/71218455.cms |work=The Times of India |date=20 September 2019}}</ref>

S. R. Praveen of ''The Hindu'' wrote, "the plastic, soulless conversations, and some weak writing, drags the film down. So much so that even M.J. Radhakrishnan's evocative imageries fail to save it. The moralistic stand the film leans towards also feels a bit outdated, but then that is excusable considering the place and time where the film is set."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Praveen |first1=S. R. |title='Olu' Malayalam movie review: Depth unexplored of a profound story |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/reviews/depth-unexplored-of-a-profound-story/article29483637.ece/ |work=The Hindu |date=22 September 2019 |language=en-IN}}</ref> Padmakumar K of ''Onmanorama'' wrote, "Fantasies always transcend beauty and time, but at the same time if gone wrong it can go overboard. Karun, at certain areas, does seem to sweat to manoeuvrer the required connectivity between the magical and the real, especially after the movie journeys to Mumbai in the second half. Yet, the movie provides a wholesome entertainment that is aesthetically refreshing."<ref>{{cite news |title='Olu' review: Dream voyage to a fantasy island |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2019/09/20/olu-review-a-dream-journey.amp.html |work=Onmanorama |date=11 December 2020}}</ref>

== Awards == * National Film Award for Best Cinematography - M. J. Radhakrishnan

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|7668228}}

Category:Films directed by Shaji N. Karun Category:2018 films Category:2018 Malayalam-language films Category:2018 Indian films Category:Indian fantasy films