The 70th National Film Awards saw Malayalam film Attaam taking center stage, winning the prestigious Best Feature Film Award. This achievement marks the 13th time a Malayalam film has won this honor. The film, directed and written by Anand Ekarshi, is generating significant buzz for its gripping narrative.
Attaam, released on October 30, 2023, is a Malayalam suspense thriller inspired by the American courtroom drama Twelve Angry Men. The film features an impressive cast including Vinay Fort, Sudheer Babu, Nandan Unni, and Zarine Shihab. It garnered the Grand Jury Award at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and was selected as the opening feature at the 54th International Film Festival of India.
The title Attaam translates to ‘The Play’ or ‘Drama’ in English, reflecting its courtroom drama essence. The story revolves around a theater group of 12 members, focusing on a serious allegation of sexual harassment made by Anjali (played by Zarine Shihab) against a popular movie star who recently joined the group. The film delves into the struggles of seeking justice in a politically and socially charged environment.
Despite a modest box office collection of 1.5 crores, Attaam has been critically acclaimed and continues to attract attention. It is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video with subtitles in Hindi and English, boasting an IMDb rating of 8.2.