Malayalam film makes waves at Berlinale

Jayaraj's evocative Malayalam film Karunam (Pathos) has bagged the Don Quixote prize at the 51st International Berlin Film Festival.

The four-member international jury described Karunam as "a simple tale with great emotional power and such deep imagery that it could be understood universally, while citing the 77-minute film for the special prize, instituted by the International Federation of Film Societies.

Jayaraaj said the prize was in recognition of the contributions made by regional cinema.

Karunam, last among the 300 films shown at theatres at the 12-day long Berlinale, stars an ensemble cast of Vavachan and Eliyamma, playing the role of an old, impoverished couple awaiting the return of their son from the United States.

The son does arrive -- but instead of bringing the hoped for relief, ends up selling the family home and installing the aged couple in an old people's home.

Karunam had three screenings, along with two other films shown in the forum section -- Mani Rathnam's Alai Payuthey (Waves) and M F Hussain's Gaja Gamini.

There was no Indian entry for the panorama and competition sections.

PTI