Otta (film) explained
Otta (also known as Otta: The Loner) is a 2023 Indian Malayalam-language drama thriller film directed by Resul Pookutty in his directorial debut, based on S. Hariharan's book, Runaway Children. The film stars Asif Ali, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Arjun Ashokan in the lead roles, alongside an ensemble supporting cast. The story follows two friends, Hari and Ben, who abandon their homes due to family problems.
The film was officially announced in April 2022 in Kochi, and principal photography began in the same month. The music was composed by M. Jayachandran, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Arun Varma and Zian Sreekanth, respectively.
Otta was released in theatres on 27 October 2023. The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics.
Production
Development
Otta marks the directorial debut of Resul Pookutty.[2] In an interview with Film Companion, Resul said that he planned to make his directorial debut with a Hindi film with Rajinikanth, however, his debut film eventually became Otta, which he wanted to initially produce, but later decided to direct by himself.[3] The film's script is written by Kiron Prabhakar, based on a book titled Runaway Children by S. Hariharan, a social worker.[4]
The film, along with Resul Pookutty's production company, Resul Pookutty Productions, was officially announced on 13 April 2022 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Kochi.[5] S. Hariharan's Children Reunited LLP co-produced the film with Resul Pookutty Productions.[6] [7] Arun Varma and Zian Sreekanth were recruited as the cinematographer and editor, respectively.[8]
Casting
In an interview with an online media in April 2022, Resul Pookutty said that his film will have Shobana, Asif Ali, Indrans, Arjun Ashokan, Sathyaraj, Rohini, Shyamaprasad, Renji Panicker, Adil Hussain, and Divya Dutta appearing in prominent roles.[9] Shobana, who was taking a break after her previous film, Varane Avashyamund (2020), was approached to play a role, which she agreed to after hearing the story.[10] Adil Hussain was chosen to play the role of a policeman. Resul Pookutty approached Divya Dutta to play the role of a Punjabi.[11] The film also marks her debut in a Malayalam film.[12] Devi Nair, daughter of actress Jalaja, was cast to play an important role. Resul Pookutty's brother, Baiju Pookutty, was also included in the cast.
Filming
The crew began principal photography on 25 April 2022.[13] [14] Initial filming took place at a Nālukettu in Kannankulangara, near North Paravur. On the fourth day of the shoot, Resul Pookutty was admitted to the hospital for 45 days after suffering from dengue. In Chennai, a kilometer-long strech was used to build a set to recreate the looks of the 1990s and the period scenes were shot with cameras from the era.[15] Filming was also done with still cameras and iPhones.
Music
The film's soundtrack album consists of five songs composed by M. Jayachandran, while the lyrics are written by Rafeeq Ahamed and Vairamuthu. The vocals are given by Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, P. Jayachandran, Jassie Gift, Alphons Joseph and Benny Dayal.[16] On 24 October 2023, the first song "Peyneer Poley" was released.[17]
Release
Theatrical
The film was initially scheduled to release on 15 September 2023 and later postponed due to unfinished post-production work.[18] [19] The film was released in theatres on 27 October 2023.[20] It was distributed in Kerala by Century Films.[21]
Reception
Box office
The film grossed in the United Kingdom and in the United Arab Emirates, bringing its total international earnings to .[22] [23]
Critical response
S. R. Praveen of The Hindu wrote "Despite an ensemble cast, only some of them get characters having enough to do to even register in our minds in Asif Ali and Arjun Ashokan's Otta'."[24] Anandu Suresh of The Indian Express gave 1 out of 5 stars and wrote "Otta demonstrates that even with a team of brilliant technicians and actors, a film is destined to collapse without a strong foundation comprising a well-developed story and script."[25] Cris of The News Minute gave 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "It is not that Otta is not relatable. Resul has tried to give a faithful account of Hariharan's story, depicted the realities that a runaway can end up in, and kept the flow. Only, the superficial treatment has weakened the effort."[26]
Subhash K. Jha of Times Now gave 4.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "This is not the place for sidelining the fringe people in our society. Otta celebrates the have-nots without patronizing them. It is a superbly paced drama that deals a resounding blow in our guts. Arun Verma's enriching cinematography, Zian Sreekanth's seamless editing, and Cyril Kurivila's invisible art direction make this the film of the year and one you won't forget for a very long time."[27] Sajin Shrijith of Cinema Express gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Otta may not make you feel good, but in this age when we have to make appointments to meet our loved ones, perhaps a film like this is needed to give one the necessary jolt."[28] Swathi P. Ajith of Onmanorama wrote "Otta' is undeniably a fantastic movie, aside from the occasional slow moments. It's guaranteed to take the audience on an emotional rollercoaster, with many scenes that are truly heart-wrenching."[29]
Notes and References
- Web site: Otta . . en . 3 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231103175128/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/otta-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmde3mzix . live .
- Web site: 29 August 2023 . Otta first look teaser: Resul Pookutty promises an emotional roller-coaster about runaway children . The Indian Express . en . 16 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016225114/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/otta-first-look-teaser-resul-pookutty-promises-an-emotional-roller-coaster-about-runaway-children-8915038/ . live .
- Web site: 26 October 2023 . Resul Pookutty wants to make Hindi film with Rajinikanth; reveals he 'almost died' during Otta shoot . The Indian Express . en . 27 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027092238/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/resul-pookutty-wants-to-make-hindi-film-with-rajinikanth-reveals-he-almost-died-during-otta-shoot-9000687/ . live .
- Web site: 20 October 2023 . Otta trailer: Resul Pookutty's debut directorial looks promising . The Indian Express . en . 27 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027140524/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/otta-trailer-resul-pookutty-debut-directorial-looks-promising-8992718/ . live .
- Web site: 14 April 2022 . റസൂൽ പൂക്കുട്ടി സംവിധായകനാവുന്നു, നായകന്മാരായി ആസിഫ് അലിയും അർജുൻ അശോകനും സത്യരാജും . Mathrubhumi . ml . 26 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326131451/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/resul-pookutty-to-direct-movie-starring-asif-ali-arjun-ashokan-and-sathyaraj-1.7433863 . live .
- News: Bureau . The Hindu . 22 October 2023 . 'Otta' trailer: Asif Ali, Arjun Ashokan star in Resul Pookutty's intense directorial debut . en-IN . The Hindu . 0971-751X . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028041927/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/otta-trailer-asif-ali-arjun-ashokan-star-in-resul-pookuttys-intense-directorial-debut/article67448761.ece . live .
- Web site: 15 April 2022 . Asif Ali to star in Resul Pookutty's directorial debut . The New Indian Express . 26 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220426130750/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2022/apr/15/asif-ali-to-star-in-resul-pookuttys-directorial-debut-2442074.html . live .
- Web site: 27 August 2023 . Teaser of Resul Pookutty, Asif Ali's Otta, to be out on this date . . en . 3 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230903065752/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/news/2023/aug/27/teaser-of-resul-pookutty-asif-alis-otta-to-be-out-on-this-date-47024.html . live .
- News: 27 April 2022 . Resul Pookutty to cast Shobana, Asif Ali, Indrans, and Arjun Ashokan in his directorial debut 'Otta' . The Times of India . 0971-8257 . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028191030/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/resul-pookutty-to-cast-shobana-asif-ali-indrans-and-arjun-ashokan-in-his-directorial-debut-otta/articleshow/91126135.cms?frmapp=yes . live .
- Web site: 26 April 2022 . 'Otta' based on real-life incident, says film's director Resul Pookutty . Onmanorama . 1 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221001052558/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2022/04/26/otta-film-director-rasul-pookutty-interview.html . live .
- News: 22 March 2023 . Divya Dutta had a fangirl moment shooting with Kattappa of Baahubali, Sathyaraj . The Times of India . 0971-8257 . 27 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327101712/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/divya-dutta-had-a-fanboy-moment-shooting-with-kattappa-of-baahubali-sathyaraj/articleshow/98900670.cms . live .
- News: 4 July 2023 . Divya Dutta remembers shooting for her first south film . The Times of India . 0971-8257 . 13 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230713081131/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/divya-dutta-remembers-shooting-for-her-first-south-film/articleshow/101485834.cms . live .
- Web site: 14 April 2022 . Resul Pookutty റസൂൽ പൂക്കുട്ടി സംവിധായകനാവുന്നു; 'ഒറ്റ' ഏപ്രിലിൽ ചിത്രീകരണമാരംഭിക്കും . News18 Malayalam . ml . 19 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220519055333/https://malayalam.news18.com/news/film/movies-resul-pookutty-turns-director-with-otta-mm-526437.html . live .
- News: 14 April 2022 . Resul Pookutty launches the first look of his directorial debut 'Otta' . The Times of India . 0971-8257 . 10 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221210110904/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/resul-pookutty-launches-the-first-look-of-his-directorial-debut-otta/articleshow/90838458.cms . live .
- Web site: Madhu . Vignesh . 5 November 2023 . Resul Pookutty's directorial debut Malayalam film 'Otta': Sound of mettle . The New Indian Express . 10 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231110172329/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2023/nov/05/resul-pookuttys-directorial-debutmalayalam-film-ottasound-of-mettle-2629462.html . live .
- Web site: 2 September 2023 . ആസിഫ് അലി നായകനാകുന്ന റസൂൽ പൂക്കുട്ടി ചിത്രം; "ഒറ്റ" റിലീസ് തീയതി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു . Mathrubhumi . ml . 23 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230923073250/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/asif-ali-movie-otta-release-date-announced-1.8870324 . live .
- News: 25 October 2023 . 'Peyneer Poley' song from 'Otta' out! . The Times of India . 0971-8257 . 26 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231026074627/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/peyneer-poley-song-from-otta-out/articleshow/104702759.cms . live .
- Web site: 30 July 2023 . Otta: Resul Pookutty's directorial debut is releasing worldwide on September 15 . OTTPlay . en . 10 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230810155652/https://www.ottplay.com/news/otta-resul-pookuttys-directorial-debut-is-releasing-worldwide-on-september-15/01977fa28e922 . live .
- Web site: 21 October 2023 . Resul Pookutty's Otta trailer: Asif Ali, Arjun Ashokan starrer hints at an intense social drama . OTTPlay . en . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028191033/https://www.ottplay.com/news/resul-pookuttys-otta-trailer-asif-ali-arjun-ashokan-starrer-hints-at-an-intense-social-drama/d3b3f438ac295 . live .
- Web site: Staff . T. N. M. . 3 September 2023 . Otta, Resul Pookutty's directorial debut, to release in October . The News Minute . en . 28 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230928010330/https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/otta-resul-pookutty-s-directorial-debut-release-october-181863 . live .
- Web site: 26 October 2023 . പെയ്നീർ പോലെ; റസൂൽ പൂക്കുട്ടി ചിത്രം 'ഒറ്റ' യിലെ ആദ്യ ഗാനം പുറത്തിറങ്ങി . Mathrubhumi . ml . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028113357/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/peyneer-poley-otta-movie-song-have-been-released-1.9017377 . live .
- Otta-(2023-India). Otta. 16 November 2023.
- 20851184. Otta. 16 November 2023.
- News: Praveen . S. R. . 27 October 2023 . 'Otta' movie review: Resul Pookutty's directorial debut fails to make a mark, despite its lofty intentions . en-IN . The Hindu . 0971-751X . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028093154/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/otta-movie-review-resul-pookuttys-directorial-debut-fails-to-make-a-mark-despite-its-lofty-intentions/article67465683.ece . live .
- Web site: Suresh . Anandu . 27 October 2023 . Otta movie review: Resul Pookutty's Asif Ali, Indrajith-starrer is an overstretched semi-biographical infomercial . The Indian Express . en . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028034535/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/otta-movie-review-resul-pookutty-asif-ali-indrajith-starrer-overstretched-semi-biographical-infomercial-9001436/ . live .
- Web site: Cris . 27 October 2023 . Otta review: Resul Pookutty's film has a touching theme but pretentious script . The News Minute . en . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028191054/https://www.thenewsminute.com/kerala/otta-review-resul-pookuttys-film-has-a-touching-theme-but-pretentious-script . live .
- Web site: K. Jha . Subhash . 27 October 2023 . Otta Movie Review: Resul Pookutty's Directorial Debut Is A Monumental Achievement . Times Now . en . 27 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027120641/https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/reviews/malayalam/otta-movie-review-resul-pookutty-directorial-debut-is-a-monumentalachievement-imdb-rating-review-104744280 . live .
- Web site: Shrijith . Sajin . 27 October 2023 . Otta Movie Review: Resul Pookutty's immensely hard-hitting directorial debut . . en . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028191045/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/malayalam/review/2023/oct/27/otta-movie-review-resul-pookuttys-immensely-hard-hitting-directorial-debut-49015.html . live .
- Web site: P. Ajith . Swathi . 27 October 2023 . Resul Pookutty's Asif Ali starrer 'Otta' portrays the heartbreaking journey of three men Review . Onmanorama . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028191053/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/2023/10/27/resul-pookutty-otta-movie-review-asif-ali-arjun-ashokan-indrajith.html . live .