'Kutty Srank' going to Montreal film fest

Mammootty starrer "Kutty Srank" has been selected for screening at the Montreal World Film Festival starting Aug 27. The veteran Malayalam film superstar won't be able to attend the event but says it's an honour that his film is being showcased at Canada's oldest movie extravaganza.

"Of course, I'm happy because this has been included in the World Greats section. Since I am busy in finishing a film here, I will not be able to attend the festival," said Mammootty.

Directed by internationally acclaimed director Shaji N. Karun, "Kutty Srank" is the story of a sailor who transports goods from one place to another in his boat. Mammootty plays the central role. The film will be screened in the World Greats section of the 12-day festival.

This is Mammootty's first film with Shaji who began his career as a cinematographer and later turned to direction with "Piravi" in 1988. His directorial debut won him the prestigious Camera d'Or - Mention d'honneur at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989.

Since then every film by Shaji has hogged international attention and this is the fifth full length feature film of Shaji.

Talking about "Kutty Srank", Shaji said: "Set in the mid fifties in Kerala, the story is about the association of the sailors from the point of view of three woman - an aristocratic woman (Padmapriya), a local danseuse (Kamilina Mukharjee) and a mute girl (Sri Lankan actress Meena Kumari)."

For the film, Shaji teamed up with Anjuli Shukla, the first women cinematographer in the Malayalam film industry. "Kutty Srank" is expected to hit screens in September or October.

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