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Kaalapani

  • 1996
  • 2h 58m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
Mohanlal in Kaalapani (1996)
ActionDramaHistory

Govardhan, a doctor by profession, is wrongly accused of bombing a train and is jailed by the British in Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He witnes... Read allGovardhan, a doctor by profession, is wrongly accused of bombing a train and is jailed by the British in Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He witnesses the sufferings of hundreds of Indian prisoners there.Govardhan, a doctor by profession, is wrongly accused of bombing a train and is jailed by the British in Cellular Jail, also known as Kala Pani, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He witnesses the sufferings of hundreds of Indian prisoners there.

  • Director
    • Priyadarshan
  • Writers
    • T. Damodaran
    • Priyadarshan
    • Umesh Sharma
  • Stars
    • Mohanlal
    • Amrish Puri
    • Prabhu
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    4.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Priyadarshan
    • Writers
      • T. Damodaran
      • Priyadarshan
      • Umesh Sharma
    • Stars
      • Mohanlal
      • Amrish Puri
      • Prabhu
    • 20User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins total

    Photos6

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    Top cast30

    Edit
    Mohanlal
    Mohanlal
    • Govardhan Menon…
    Amrish Puri
    Amrish Puri
    • Mirza Khan
    Prabhu
    Prabhu
    • Mukund Iyengar
    Tabu
    Tabu
    • Parvathi
    Sreenivasan
    Sreenivasan
    • Moosa
    • (as Sreenivasen)
    • …
    Vineeth
    Vineeth
    • G.S. Sethu
    Tinnu Anand
    Tinnu Anand
    • Ram Lakhan
    Cochin Hanifa
    Cochin Hanifa
    • Ahmed Kutty
    Annu Kapoor
    Annu Kapoor
    • Veera Savarkar
    Alex Draper
    • David Berry
    Nedumudi Venu
    Nedumudi Venu
    • Sreekandan Nair
    Maniyanpilla Raju
    Maniyanpilla Raju
    • Nair
    Sankaradi
    Sankaradi
    • Kunju Muhammad Musaliar
    Tom Alter
    Tom Alter
    • British Chief Commissioner of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Province
    Christina
    Javed Khan Amrohi
    Javed Khan Amrohi
      Delhi Ganesh
      Delhi Ganesh
      • Pandiyan
      Govind Menon
      • Parmanand
      • Director
        • Priyadarshan
      • Writers
        • T. Damodaran
        • Priyadarshan
        • Umesh Sharma
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews20

      8.54.9K
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      Featured reviews

      9shabeelone

      All time epic

      Its an asset to the industry. Movie greatly crafted
      7SumanShakya

      Saza E Kala Pani.... a hard hitting historical movie......

      "Saza E Kala Pani" is a period film on early 19th century when the British rulers sent the prisoners to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a punishment. The film effectively portrays the sufferings the prisoners had to endure in the Islands. The film was made in Malayalam; so the narration of the film at times is very obscure. Forget it if you are going for entertainment. The film is highly remarkable for the hard hitting account of the gruesome sufferings perpetuated from the film which is rarely accounted in the movies. The film succeeds in recreating a part of the history with highly realized and terrifying accounts of atrocities done to the prisoners which makes it an Indian equivalent of "Schindler's List." The film deserves the acclaim for its hardly realized historical accounts, photography, and performances.

      Rating: 3 stars out of 4
      8ragingbull_2005

      Magnum Opus

      I remember that I had gone with my family to watch its Hindi dubbed version in theatres, 25 years back. And the theatre was almost completely empty. Who will pay to watch such *Fat heroes, with moustaches* is what I remember one of my family member as commenting?

      I have been reading two part biography on Savarkar and as it's complimentary piece, decided to watch it. And I have been blown away by how ahead of its times, this was.

      The story may seem fantastical but it is breathtakingly close to real events. The tortures perpetrated by real life characters are too horrific and their horror is magnified many folds by the fact that they were true.

      Mohan Lal , Anu Kapoor and Amrish Puri are stand out performers. Puri is evil incarnate as Mirza Khan and this may just be his most powerful act as a villain, completely sold on the philosophy of barbarity.

      It is truly a magnum opus. The fact that it is not more widely watched is unfortunate as it sheds light on the plight of the freedom fighters in the era of the Great War. Very highly recommended.
      9negimp

      A must-see

      Priyadarshan's magnum-opus is one of the finest depictions of pre-independence India that i have ever seen. In this moving cinematic spectacle, Mohanlal essays the role of Govardhan with elan, while Prabhu acts as a perfect foil, with the supporting cast also doing a commendable job. The cinematography is breath-taking, and the screenplay and editing are top-class. Being one of the first Indian movies to use DTS technology, it has been used very effectively in the movie. The plot is brilliantly crafted, and the ending is superb. An absolute must-see.
      10venkatb83

      kalapaani 1996 its must watch -its too good

      I have heard about KalaPaani punishment and read about Andaman cellular jail,and its jailers brutal punishments and also as a Indian of this after independence age i was curious about making a film on such an issue and how well they might make(made) it?

      after watching movie(i have heard about it when am just 12 yr old n watched now 28..)i felt sad not about film but the punishment given to inmates...

      film is made very well with blasting cast mainly MohanlaL ,praBU ,AMARI SH PURI, TEENU -ANanD ANnu kapoor..

      in every department film excels well.. i have watched many hilarious comedy movies by pr i y an, but never thought he'll make such an film (kancheevaram too)..but he's genius on far with Mani rathnam and ram gopal varma...

      its a cinema which will showcase Indian directors capability to handle such an issue well and make films on far with west film makers.

      >>>splendid performance by MOHAN LAL,AMARISH PURI,PRABHU(SHIVAJI),MOHAN LAL Excels ONCE AGAIN AFTER IRUVAR(ANOTHER FANTASTIC MOVIE BY MANI RATHNAM N MOHAN LAL'S PERFORMANCE)

      all Indians should watch it too know the freedom fighters plight their sacrifice for our country's independence ...

      i give whole 10/10 for it... it deserves it..

      go watch it...

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      History

      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Mohanlal won the Kerala State Film Awards for Best Actor for his performance, and the film additionally won 5 more state awards.
      • Connections
        Features Vanaprastham (1999)

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      FAQ17

      • How long is Kaalapani?Powered by Alexa

      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • April 12, 1996 (India)
      • Country of origin
        • India
      • Language
        • Malayalam
      • Also known as
        • Sirai Chaalai
      • Production companies
        • Pranavam Arts International
        • Shogun Films
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        • 2h 58m(178 min)
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Dolby SR

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