Arjunan Saakshi
Encyclopedia
Arjunan Saakshi is a 2011 Malayalam drama thriller film written and directed by Ranjith Sankar
. It stars Prithviraj
and Ann Augustine
in the lead roles. The film is a thriller which deals with how we evade our responsibility to society. The film examines the vertical growth of Kochi
both as a metro and a centre of crimes. It is produced by S. Sundararajan under the banner of S. R. T. Films and released on 28 January 2011. The film got positive reviews from the critics but was a failure at the boxoffice.
), a young architect who has spent his entire life abroad, finally arrives in Cochin with dreams of starting a life afresh. But he soon realises that the city that he gets to live in is radically different from the one that he had seen in his dreams.
By coincidence his individuality is misundertood for a witness to a sensational crime involving top brass of industrialists and political class. Roy has now got to prove not just his true self but also save himself and his dear ones from the looming threat but also set things right.
, another thriller, was met with positive reviews for its novelty and was a box office hit. Ranjith Sankar announced this project on December 2009 with Prithviraj in the lead. The director says that the story of Arjunan Saakshi had been in his mind quite a while when he happened to see an article about a project for a tram network in Kochi, which didn't work out. The strange title of the film find more meaning, as the film progresses, according to the director. According to Prithviraj, Arjunan Saakshi is a contemporary film. He says: "It deals with how we evade our responsibility towards society. We often blame others for everything that goes wrong, but how often do we take responsibility for our actions? We are not ready to sacrifice anything but we tend to forget that we enjoy freedom because people risked their lives to attain it for us."
In Arjunan Saakshi, the lead character Roy Mathew is played by Prithviraj, who started working on the film much before the completion of Santosh Sivan
's Urumi
and Lijo Jose Pellissery's City of God
. Ann Augustine, who debuted through Lal Jose
's Elsamma Enna Aankutty
in 2010, plays the role of an investigative journalist and a city-bred youngster Anjali Menon, who happens to get involved in certain social issues. The supporting cast includes Jagathy Sreekumar, Nedumudi Venu, Vijayaraghavan, Biju Menon, Suresh Krishna and Vijeesh.
The film was launched on 1 November 2010 in Kochi. The filming occurred at various parts of Kochi
. Ajayan Vincent handles the camera while Bijibal composes the music for lyrics written by Anil Panachooran
. The editor of the film will be Ranjan Abraham.
Ranjith Sankar
Ranjith Sankar is an Indian screenwriter and film director, best known for his debut film Passenger . The film was a critical and commercial success. Many said it heralded the invasion of a new age cinema in Malayalam cinema.-Biography:...
. It stars Prithviraj
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Prithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....
and Ann Augustine
Ann Augustine
Anate Augustine , better known by her stage name Ann Augustine, is an Indian film actress, who appears in Malayalam films. She made her debut in Lal Jose's Elsamma Enna Aankutty .-Early life:...
in the lead roles. The film is a thriller which deals with how we evade our responsibility to society. The film examines the vertical growth of Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
both as a metro and a centre of crimes. It is produced by S. Sundararajan under the banner of S. R. T. Films and released on 28 January 2011. The film got positive reviews from the critics but was a failure at the boxoffice.
Synopsis
Roy Mathew (PrithvirajPrithviraj Sukumaran
Prithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....
), a young architect who has spent his entire life abroad, finally arrives in Cochin with dreams of starting a life afresh. But he soon realises that the city that he gets to live in is radically different from the one that he had seen in his dreams.
By coincidence his individuality is misundertood for a witness to a sensational crime involving top brass of industrialists and political class. Roy has now got to prove not just his true self but also save himself and his dear ones from the looming threat but also set things right.
Cast
- PrithvirajPrithviraj SukumaranPrithviraj Sukumaran credited mononymously as Prithviraj, is an Indian film actor and producer best known for his work in Malayalam cinema....
as Roy Mathew - Ann AugustineAnn AugustineAnate Augustine , better known by her stage name Ann Augustine, is an Indian film actress, who appears in Malayalam films. She made her debut in Lal Jose's Elsamma Enna Aankutty .-Early life:...
as Anjali Menon - MukeshMukesh (actor)Mukesh , born Mukesh Babu, is an Indian film actor and producer known for his work in Malayalam cinema.- Personal Life :...
as Firoz Moopan - Jagathy SreekumarJagathy SreekumarSreekumar Achary, better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar, is an Indian film actor who has performed in more than 1,000 Malayalam films. He has also directed two films and has written screenplays for two films...
as Dr. Ibrahim Moopan - Salim Kumar
- Suraj Venjaramoodu as Thankappan
- Nedumudi VenuNedumudi VenuNedumudi Venu is a popular Malayalam film actor from Kerala, India. He has also written screenplays and has directed one film.- Early life :...
- Vijayaraghavan
- Biju MenonBiju MenonBiju Menon is an Indian film actor who has mainly worked in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. He appears mostly in supporting roles, but has also acted in antagonistic roles. He made his debut in 1995 in Mannar Mathai Speaking...
as Aby Abraham - Suresh KrishnaSuresh Krishna (actor)Suresh Krishna is a Malayali film actor, known for his negative and character roles. He is noted for his strong characters in Manju Poloru Penkutti, Christian Brothers, Pazhassi Raja and Kutty Srank...
as Salim Memmen - Damu
- Vijeesh
Production
Arjunan Saakshi is the second film by Ranjith Sankar, whose previous film PassengerPassenger (2009 film)
Passenger is a 2009 Malayalam–language thriller film written and directed by debutant Ranjith Sankar and starring Sreenivasan, Dileep, Mamta Mohandas, Jagathy Sreekumar and Nedumudi Venu in major roles. It was well appreciated for its novelty and was declared as a hit...
, another thriller, was met with positive reviews for its novelty and was a box office hit. Ranjith Sankar announced this project on December 2009 with Prithviraj in the lead. The director says that the story of Arjunan Saakshi had been in his mind quite a while when he happened to see an article about a project for a tram network in Kochi, which didn't work out. The strange title of the film find more meaning, as the film progresses, according to the director. According to Prithviraj, Arjunan Saakshi is a contemporary film. He says: "It deals with how we evade our responsibility towards society. We often blame others for everything that goes wrong, but how often do we take responsibility for our actions? We are not ready to sacrifice anything but we tend to forget that we enjoy freedom because people risked their lives to attain it for us."
In Arjunan Saakshi, the lead character Roy Mathew is played by Prithviraj, who started working on the film much before the completion of Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan is an Indian cinematographer, film director, and producer who has worked in Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi cinema....
's Urumi
Urumi (film)
Urumi is a 2011 Malayalam historical-fantasy film directed and co-produced by Santosh Sivan and written by Shankar Ramakrishnan. It stars Prithviraj, who was also one of the producers of the film, as Chirakkal Kelu Nayanar, Prabhu Deva as Vavvali, Robin Pratt as Vasco da Gama, Alexx ONell as...
and Lijo Jose Pellissery's City of God
City of God (2011 film)
City of God is a 2011 Indian thriller film directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and written by Babu Janardhanan. The film tells the story of Tamil migrant workers and a team of land mafia criminals in the city of Kochi. It stars Indrajith, Prithviraj, Rajeev Pillai, Rohini, Parvathi, Rima Kallingal...
. Ann Augustine, who debuted through Lal Jose
Lal Jose
Lal Jose is an Indian film director. His debut film as a director is Oru Maravathoor Kanavu . His popular films include Meesa Madhavan , Classmates and Arabikkatha .- Biography :...
's Elsamma Enna Aankutty
Elsamma Enna Aankutty
Elsamma Enna Aankutty is a 2010 Malayalam film directed by Lal Jose and written by M. Sindhuraj, starring Kunchacko Boban, Ann Augustine, and Indrajith in the lead roles.The film was produced by M. Renjith, and distributed by Lal Creations.- Plot :...
in 2010, plays the role of an investigative journalist and a city-bred youngster Anjali Menon, who happens to get involved in certain social issues. The supporting cast includes Jagathy Sreekumar, Nedumudi Venu, Vijayaraghavan, Biju Menon, Suresh Krishna and Vijeesh.
The film was launched on 1 November 2010 in Kochi. The filming occurred at various parts of Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
. Ajayan Vincent handles the camera while Bijibal composes the music for lyrics written by Anil Panachooran
Anil Panachooran
Anil Panachooran is a noted Malayalam film lyricist and poet. A lawyer by profession, Panachooran lives on the income from his lyrical and poetic work...
. The editor of the film will be Ranjan Abraham.
Release
The film released on 28 January 2011 in 70 theatres It got positive reviews from the critics, but was a failure at the box office. Prithviraj rated it among his personal favorites and that Arjunan Saakshi was one film he was proud of doing.Critical response
Veeyen of Nowrunning.com gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, stating, "It is a multi-pointed critique that brings everyone around - the administration, the police force, the state, the media and the general public - under the scanner and unveils a startling story of victims and perpetrators."External links
- Arjunan Saakshi at Nowrunning.com
- Arjunan Saakshi at Oneindia.inOneindia.inOneindia.in is an Indian online portal owned by Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd., which provides news updates, sports news, travel, entertainment, videos, and classifieds. Alexa Traffic Rank of Oneindia.in is ranked number 525 in the world and Google page rank of Oneindia.in is 7...
- Arjunan Sakshi at Mallumovies.org
- Arjunan Saakshi review by Rediff.com
- Arjunan Saakshi review by Nowrunning.com
- Arjunan Saakshi review by Sify.com
- Prithviraj's interview on Arjunan Saakshi