Latest news with #Pookkaalam
The Hindu
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
In conversation with Midhun Murali, recipient of National Film Awards for best editing
I first spoke to Midhun Murali in 2012, when he brought out a bunch of short films with his friend from college, Nevin Fradian. Both had just finished their engineering and were nurturing movie dreams, with Midhun focussing on editing. Now, over a decade later, Midhun is basking in the glory of the National Film Awards (2023) for best editing for the film, Pookkaalam, directed by Ganesh Raj. It was double delight for the film's crew since Vijayaraghavan won the national honour for the best supporting actor. 'I was shocked when I heard my name. We were expecting an award for Kuttettan (Vijayaraghavan). My award came out of the blue,' says 36-year-old Midhun. Pookkaalam is only his second film as an editor, the first one being Kalamandalam Hyderali released in 2020. The film tells the heart-warming tale of 100-year-old Ittoop (Vijayaraghavan) and his large extended family. During a function, Ittoop stumbles upon a letter which shatters his relationship with Kochuthresia (KPAC Leela), his wife of 80 years. Midhun says that Vijayaraghavan's performance made Pookkaalam very special for him. The actor was 72 when he played the 100-year-old Ittoop. 'He had given so much for the role, be it through his body language, make-up, dialogues, gestures or mannerisms. My job was cut out for me because he was extraordinary in all the scenes. I wanted to keep all that, but that is not how it works. It was quite a task to choose the best out of the best. I was happy that I could work in a movie that has Kuttettaan's career-best performance.' Midhun mentions that after the first cut, the duration of the film was three hours 15 minutes. 'We reduced it by one hour for which we had to let go off many scenes in which he was superb. When Kuttettan saw the full movie, he was a little disappointed that many scenes were not there.' Midhun is quick to add that KPAC Leela, a veteran theatre actor, also did full justice to her role. The film is divided into chapters in which the story alternates between different time periods. 'There are a lot of visual jumps on account of that. I had to make the narrative seamless. Anend (cinematographer Anend C Chandran) played a crucial role in executing this,' he says. Music by Sachin Warrier also complemented the process, he adds. Midhun says he had fun editing the light-hearted scenes featuring Basil Joseph and Vineeth Sreenivasan. 'The comedy is over-the-top in some instances, but that was reined in by the two actors,' says Midhun, adding, 'Ganesh and Basil have been Vineeth's assistants and so there was a happy vibe on the set.' Midhun recalls that while pursuing his Plus Two, he wanted to become a filmmaker. 'But, in college, I got a chance to edit dance programmes and plays. I realised the potential of the craft and soon started enjoying the process. I think an editor is like a second director. So, probably, once I gather the experience, I might direct a film. We have many editor-directors around,' he says referring to Mahesh Narayanan, Abhinav Sunder Nayak, Appu Bhattathiri and others. Talking about his stint with short films, Midhun remembers Shaaey, one of the films that became popular. 'That was when social media was gaining a hold. The film was widely appreciated. Since I was sure about making movies I did not even try to get a job, which did not go down well with my family. My sister has been extremely supportive though. I did a six-month editing course in Mumbai and assisted an editor in Chennai for some time. By 2014, I turned a freelance editor.' Ganesh has been his acquaintance since 2011. 'We collaborated on a few projects. Unfortunately I could not work in his first film (Aanandam).' Although they were supposed to start shooting Pookkaalam in 2021, the pandemic upset their plans. It took two more years for the film to reach theatres. Midhun says some recognition is coming editors' ways these days. 'People are discussing editors and their style. The scenario is such that there are hundreds of editors out there, the ones who put up reels on social media. Since they know the basics of editing they can judge our work and understand the effort that goes into it.' Shrinking attention spans makes an editor's job challenging, he points out. 'Content and emotion have to be placed correctly,' he says. In this context, he rates Ponman as one of the best-edited Malayalam movies of the recent times. 'It has been adapted from a book. The pace at which the story is told for the screen is brilliant.' Meanwhile, he is waiting for a few new projects to start rolling.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Urvashi questions 'Aadujeevitham' National awards snub: ‘We all know it's because of 'Empuraan'
Veteran actor Urvashi, who won Best Supporting Actress at the 71st National Film Awards for her role in 'Ullozhukku', has openly criticised the jury for sidelining Blessy's 'Aadujeevitham' and its lead star, Prithviraj Sukumaran. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'How could they ignore Aadujeevitham?': Urvashi stands by Prithviraj and Blessy Speaking to The News Minute, she said, 'You have an actor who's put everything into this role—physically and emotionally. He lived that pain, and they just ignored it. We all know it's because of Empuraan.' Urvashi's comments refer to the controversy surrounding 'L2: Empuraan', directed by Prithviraj, which allegedly included scenes referencing the 2002 Gujarat riots. Following backlash, the makers cut over two minutes of footage and made key character name changes. Urvashi believes this fallout cost Aadujeevitham any recognition. Raises questions over jury's choices for Shah Rukh, Vijayaraghavan In a separate interview with Asianet News, Urvashi also questioned the jury's decision to award Shah Rukh Khan Best Actor for Jawan. 'What were the parameters? How was Shah Rukh Khan chosen, and what about actors like Vijayaraghavan?' she asked. She was particularly critical about Vijayaraghavan, whose role in Pookkaalam was categorized as 'supporting.' 'He endured hours of makeup and gave a soulful performance. How is that not lead material?' she said, noting that he wasn't even offered a Special Jury Mention. 'I need to speak up for the next generation' Urvashi says her intent is not to stir controversy, but to demand fairness—especially for younger and upcoming artistes. "Having spent years in this industry, I feel it's time to speak up. If we don't stand against injustice now, what kind of message are we really sending to others?" She also revealed that she was originally offered the female lead in 'Pookkaalam' but declined due to the intense physical prep, including nine-hour-long makeup sessions. 'Even for crores, I wouldn't have done it. But Vijayaraghavan did, and still got overlooked. That's not right,' she said bluntly.
NDTV
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Urvashi Questions 71st National Award Jury: "'How Did Shah Rukh Khan Win Best Actor?"
New Delhi: The 71st National Film Awards were announced on August 1, and Shah Rukh Khan 's fans had a big reason to celebrate. The superstar bagged his first-ever National Award for Best Actor for his role in Jawan – a major milestone in his 33-year-long career. But not everyone is convinced about the decision. South actress Urvashi, who won Best Supporting Actress for Ullozhukku, has opened up about what she feels is a lack of fairness by the jury. In a chat with Asianet News, she pointed out a major concern: veteran Malayalam actor Vijayaraghavan only received the Best Supporting Actor award, even though his performance, according to her, deserved more. 'Vijayaraghavan is such a great actor. What exactly did the jury consider to distinguish between Vijayaraghavan's and Shah Rukh Khan's performances? How did one become a supporting actor and the other the best actor? On what criteria? We should raise such questions, as we too are taxpaying citizens. Kutettan (referring to Vijayaraghavan) has decades of experience in cinema. The film wasn't a big-budget, 250-day shoot kind of project like those in other languages,' she said. Urvashi further talked about how committed Vijayaraghavan was to his role in Pookkaalam, where he played a 100-year-old man. She mentioned that she was offered the role of his on-screen partner in the same film but had to say no because of the intense makeup demands. 'I was initially approached to play his pair in Pookkaalam. Still, I declined because the role required me to undergo a significant physical transformation, for which I would have had to be in the makeup chair for several hours. I told them, even if you pay me crores, I wouldn't do it. But he, at his age, endured all of that and performed. That alone deserves at least a Special Mention. How is he only a supporting actor? On what basis was that decided? That's all I'm asking — there must be some fairness,' Urvashi added. While Shah Rukh Khan shared the Best Actor title with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail, Vijayaraghavan's award came in the supporting actor category. He played opposite veteran actress K. P. A. C. Leela in Pookkaalam, a Malayalam film released in 2023. Interestingly, Urvashi also shared her Best Supporting Actress award with Janki Bodiwala, who won for her work in the Gujarati film Vash.
India.com
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Urvashi questions Shah Rukh Khan's National Award win, demands clarity on jury's criteria, says 'on what...'
On August 1, when the 71st National Film Awards were announced, Shah Rukh Khan's fans erupted in joy — the superstar had finally won his first National Award for Best Actor (Jawan) after 33 years in cinema. But not everyone was convinced the decision was fair. Actor Urvashi, who bagged Best Supporting Actress for Ullozhukku, publicly questioned the jury's reasoning, pointing out what she felt were inconsistencies in the awards. What did Urvashi say? Speaking to Asianet News, Urvashi asked, 'Vijayaraghavan is such a great actor. What exactly did the jury consider to distinguish between Vijayaraghavan's and Shah Rukh Khan's performances? How did one become a supporting actor and the other the best actor? On what criteria? We should raise such questions, as we too are taxpaying citizens.' She argued that Vijayaraghavan's portrayal in Pookkaalam was far from a small feat — it required physical transformation and intense preparation. She revealed that she had declined a role opposite him in the same film because of the long makeup hours required. 'Even if you pay me crores, I wouldn't do it. But he, at his age, endured all of that and performed. That alone deserves at least a Special Mention.' The awards in question Shah Rukh Khan shared the Best Actor award with Vikrant Massey (12th Fail). Vijayaraghavan received Best Supporting Actor for his role as a 100-year-old man in Pookkaalam. Urvashi shared Best Supporting Actress with Janki Bodiwala (Vash). Urvashi stressed her concerns weren't about undermining anyone's talent, but about transparency. 'That's all I'm asking — there must be some fairness.' Who is Urvashi? Urvashi is a veteran of South Indian cinema with a career spanning over four decades and more than 700 films in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. She started acting at age 10 and has two National Film Awards, six Kerala State Film Awards, and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards to her name. Her acclaimed performances include Kazhakam, Achuvinte Amma, and Charles Enterprises.
The Hindu
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Urvashi questions criterion for choosing National Award for Best Actress
The National Film Award jury's decision to award Urvashi and Vijayaraghavan in the supporting actor categories despite them playing lead roles in Ullozhukku and Pookkaalam respectively had raised eyebrows when the awards were announced last week. Now, the actress has raised questions about the criterion on which their performances were considered in the supporting category and not in the main category. Speaking to The Hindu on Monday, Urvashi said she is not questioning the awards given to any other actor, but wanted clarity on how her performance was considered under the best supporting actress category. 'I don't know if the old rules have changed over there. Earlier, actors who played lead roles were considered only for the best actor awards. Quite a few people, including young actresses, have been calling me and asking me about this particular decision of the jury, which made me decide to question the jury's decision. They are concerned whether they will also be ignored from being considered for the main categories. I am raising this question not for myself, but for the younger generation of actors as well as for the future generations. Silence is not an option at least in some matters related to justice. It will only end up encouraging wrong doing. I believe that a possibility of questions being raised might lead them to make just decisions in the future,' said Urvashi. Questioning the repeated instances of actors and films from the South being overlooked, she said her performance in J Baby was also recommended by the regional jury, but is unsure of whether the main jury watched it as there was not even a mention of it. 'I have no fear in speaking up as these are my own words. I have no connection with any political party. My questions are to the award jury, not the government. I will certainly accept the award because it is a recognition for the entire team of Ullozhukku,' she said. In Christo Tomy's Ullozhukku, Urvashi plays Leelamma who shares a fraught relationship with her daughter-in-law, played by Parvathy. Devastated by the death of her son and caught amid the revelation of unpleasant truths, the woman digs deep into her reserves of strength to navigate the troubled waters. The performance won her the Best Actress Award in the Kerala State Film Awards.
