''Ottu'' (; titled ''Rendagam'' in
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
) is a 2022 Indian
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
-language
action thriller film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...
written and directed by Fellini T. P., shot simultaneously in Malayalam and Tamil languages. It was produced by
August Cinema
August Cinema is an Indian film production and distribution company based in Trivandrum. Formed in 2011, it was found by Shaji Nadesan, Santosh Sivan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Later, actor Arya joined in 2015. In June 2017, Prithviraj announce ...
and
The Show People
The Show People is an Indian film production company established by Indian actor Arya. The studio has primarily been involved in the production of Arya's Tamil language films, having worked on films including ''Boss Engira Bhaskaran'' (2010) an ...
. The film stars
Kunchacko Boban
Kunchacko Boban (born 2 November 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer. Sometimes referred to as Chackochan, he works in the Malayalam film industry and has acted in more than 90 films in more than two decades. He is a member of the List ...
and
Aravind Swamy
Arvind Swamy (born 18 June 1970) is an Indian actor, model, entrepreneur and television presenter known for his work in Tamil cinema and a few Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam films. He was introduced as an actor by Mani Ratnam with the blockbuster ...
along with
Jackie Shroff
Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff (born 1 February 1957), popularly known as Jackie Shroff, is an Indian actor and former model. He has been in the Bollywood industry for over four decades, and , has appeared in over 220 films in 13 languages namely Hi ...
,
Eesha Rebba
Eesha Rebba (born 19 April 1990) is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Telugu films. She is known for her roles in ''Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha'' (2013), '' Bandipotu'' (2015), ''Oyee'' (2016), '' Ami Thumi'' (2017), ''Darsakudu'' (20 ...
. The Malayalam version was released theatrically on 8 September 2022 while the Tamil version was released on 23 September 2022.
Plot
The film starts with Kichu, a happy-go-lucky guy who wishes to move outside the country with his girlfriend Kalyani. With the help of his father Chachan, Kichu receives a suspicious mission from a group of people who are willing to pay Kichu money to befriend a lonely man. They reveal that the lonely man is David, a gangster who lost his memory in a shootout at Udupi with confidential information about Rs. 30 crore worth gold. Kichu accepts the offer and proceeds to find David and befriend him. He eventually finds David working as a popcorn seller in a movie theatre. Kichu awkwardly approaches David in many ways and finally succeeds in becoming friends with him and starts calling David "Anna(brother)". The gang forces Kichu to make David regain his memory. Kichu plans a road trip with David by convincing David that he has to deliver a car consignment to Udupi. David reluctantly agrees and they start the trip. On the way from Mumbai to Udupi, they drop down at Goa to chill and end up in an intense fight with some drunkard who gets beaten up by a drunk David. After the fight, David and Kichu sit at the beach at night and drunk Kichu reveals his true intentions without any senses, to which David gets surprised and starts to suspect Kichu in every way. Finally David confronts Kichu and asks him about David. Kichu lies to him saying that he had heard from a friend. David keeps asking Kichu to make him talk to the friend as David feels like he is missing something. Finally, Kichu reveals that David was the ferocious gangster who was the right hand to his boss Asainar.
David surprisingly reveals that he isn't David but his boss Asainar. Kichu shocked to hear this gets out of the car and contacts the gang and they admit that it is in fact Asainar with Kichu in the car and offers Kichu 10 lakhs more if he takes Asainar to the shootout spot in Udupi. They finally reach Udupi at the shootout spot and Kichu goes outside the compound to get 2 teas but the teaseller lady already keeps 2 teas ready for them and hands it over. Kichu afraid of Asainar offers him the tea and asks him if he remembered anything from the incident. Asainar says no and asks Kichu in return if he remembered anything addressing him by the name "Dawood (David)". Kichu gets confused by Asainar calling him Dawood and finally Asainar reveals that it is Kichu who is actually David or Dawood and it is he who lost his memory all this time. Kichu doesnt want to believe all this and the gang arrive at the location and they stand in support of Asainar instead of Kichu. Kichu gets confused and suddenly notices his father Chachan dressed up with the gang along with Kalyani. Shocked to see his whole life ending up as a lie. Asainar questions him on why David betrayed Asainar during the incident, to which Kichu cannot remember anything and breaks down.
Asainar and gang takes Kichu along with them to another enemy named Adiga. They arrive at Adiga's place and shoots down everyone at his bungalow and finds Adiga at the beach who recognizes everyone including Kichu/David. He recollects everything from their origin stories in the past and finally expresses his anger towards Asainar. Asainar kills Adiga and takes Kichu to a silent location nearby. Asainar realizes that Kichu cannot remember being David and considers him of no use and leaves Kichu. Before leaving Kichu asks what David used to call Asainar. Asainar responds "Annan” (brother) and indicates to Kalyani to finish him off after he leaves. Kalyani takes the gun and holds him at the gunpoint. Kichu finally asks if he is really David to which Kalyani nods. In his final moments, Kichu recollects telling Kalyani, when he thought Asainar was actually David, that if David realizes that he is David to even a small extent no one around him can even think about touching him. During the final moment, Kichu suddenly transforms into David and fights back killing everyone except Kalyani, David hugs Kalyani and kisses her but ends up killing her at that moment confirming that Kichu has actually turned into David. David takes a van and sits to realize a promise he had once given to Asaianar's wife that he will kill Asainar once and for all and David sets on the path to hunt Asainar down while Asainar is arrogantly confident that no one can stop him, indicating that the story will continue.
Cast
*
Arvind Swamy
Arvind Swamy (born 18 June 1970) is an Indian actor, model, entrepreneur and television presenter known for his work in Tamil cinema and a few Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam films. He was introduced as an actor by Mani Ratnam with the blockbuster ...
as Assainar / David
*
Kunchacko Boban
Kunchacko Boban (born 2 November 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer. Sometimes referred to as Chackochan, he works in the Malayalam film industry and has acted in more than 90 films in more than two decades. He is a member of the List ...
as Kichu / David
*
Jackie Shroff
Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff (born 1 February 1957), popularly known as Jackie Shroff, is an Indian actor and former model. He has been in the Bollywood industry for over four decades, and , has appeared in over 220 films in 13 languages namely Hi ...
as Adiga
*
Eesha Rebba
Eesha Rebba (born 19 April 1990) is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Telugu films. She is known for her roles in ''Anthaka Mundu Aa Tarvatha'' (2013), '' Bandipotu'' (2015), ''Oyee'' (2016), '' Ami Thumi'' (2017), ''Darsakudu'' (20 ...
as Kalyani
*
Jins Baskar
Jins Baskar is an Indian actor and model. He made his debut in the 2011 Malayalam film '' Swapna Sanchari'' directed by Kamal.
Early life
Jins was born in Kannur, Kerala, India as the second son of his parents and grew up in Wayanad. He is a ...
*
Aneesh Gopal
Aneesh Pilathottathil better known as Aneesh Gopal is an Indian actor and graphic designer known for his works primarily in malayalam films. He made his debut with ''Second Show'' in 2012.
Personal life
Aneesh Gopal was born in Cheekkode villag ...
*
Aadukalam Naren
Narayanan (better known as Aadukalam Naren) is an Indian actor who has appeared in Tamil and few Telugu films, mainly in supporting roles. He made his début in 1997 film ''Raman Abdullah'' but he got noticed for his role in the 2011 film, ''Aa ...
as Chacha
* Siyad Yadu
* Amalda Liz
Production
The film was to mark
Kunchacko Boban
Kunchacko Boban (born 2 November 1976) is an Indian actor and film producer. Sometimes referred to as Chackochan, he works in the Malayalam film industry and has acted in more than 90 films in more than two decades. He is a member of the List ...
's first film in
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
cinema, and also marks
Arvind Swamy
Arvind Swamy (born 18 June 1970) is an Indian actor, model, entrepreneur and television presenter known for his work in Tamil cinema and a few Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam films. He was introduced as an actor by Mani Ratnam with the blockbuster ...
's comeback to
Malayalam
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
cinema after ''
Devaraagam
''Devaraagam'' is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Bharathan and starring Sridevi and Arvind Swamy. It also had KPAC Lalitha, Kozhikode Narayanan Nair, Zeenath, and Nedumudi Venu in supporting roles. The film was famous for its ...
''. On 17 March 2021, it was announced that Telugu actress Eesha Rebba would be playing the female lead opposite Boban which marks her debut in both Malayalam and Tamil cinema. The film was produced by actor
Arya
Aryan or Arya (, Indo-Iranian *''arya'') is a term originally used as an ethnocultural self-designation by Indo-Iranians in ancient times, in contrast to the nearby outsiders known as 'non-Aryan' (*''an-arya''). In Ancient India, the term ' ...
under the production banner
August Cinema
August Cinema is an Indian film production and distribution company based in Trivandrum. Formed in 2011, it was found by Shaji Nadesan, Santosh Sivan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Later, actor Arya joined in 2015. In June 2017, Prithviraj announce ...
and
The Show People
The Show People is an Indian film production company established by Indian actor Arya. The studio has primarily been involved in the production of Arya's Tamil language films, having worked on films including ''Boss Engira Bhaskaran'' (2010) an ...
. On 19 September 2021, the shooting of the film was wrapped.
Music
The film's music was composed by Arulraj Kennady.
Release
The film was released theatrically on 8 September 2022. The film was originally scheduled for release on 2 September 2022 but due to censor issues of the Tamil version the release date was postponed. The teaser of the film was released on 3 January 2022.
Reception
Anna M. M. Vetticad
Anna Mercy Mathews Vetticad, commonly known as Anna M. M. Vetticad, is an Indian film critic and journalist. She has been in the field of journalism since 1994. Vetticad has also hosted her own interview show, ''Star Trek'', on Headlines Today ...
of ''
Firstpost
''Firstpost'' is an Indian online news and media website. The site is a part of the Network 18 media conglomerate owned by Reliance Industries, which also runs CNN-News18 and CNBC-TV18.
The ''Network 18'' group was originally owned by Raghav ...
'' gave the film 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, “Ottu has a premise with potential but starts sputtering early on in the absence of a worthwhile script. It picks up in fits and starts, but the engine dies on it long before the final scene.” Sajin Srijith of ''
Cinema Express
''Cinema Express'' was an Indian Tamil-language entertainment fortnightly magazine published from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was a part of The New Indian Express Group, which also publishes ''Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika'' weekly as well as '' Din ...
'' gave the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "The choreography of the film is straight out of a bad B-movie." A critic from ''
Asianet News
Asianet News (formerly Asianet Global) is an Indian free-to-air Malayalam-language news channel owned by Asianet News Network. Asianet News Network operates as a subsidiary of Jupiter Entertainment Ventures (Jupiter Capital Ventures). The chann ...
'' wrote after reviewing the film that "Ottu is a film that gives a different experience in the recent action thrillers in Malayalam in terms of background and presentation." A critic for ''
The News Minute
''The News Minute'' is an Indian digital news platform based in Bangalore, Karnataka. It was founded by Dhanya Rajendran, Chitra Subramaniam and Vignesh Vellore in 2014. Apart from Karnataka, it also has bureaus in the states of Telangana, And ...
'' rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote "Ottu – meaning betrayal – gives you the feeling that more than a particular character in the film, it is you, the audience, who were taken for a ride." S. R. Praveen of ''
The Hindu
''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It began as a weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889. It is one of the Indian newspapers of record and the secon ...
'' wrote after reviewing the film that "The way Ottu proceeds does not make one excited enough for the promised prequel and the sequel."
The Tamil version of the film received negative reviews.
References
External links
*
*{{IMDb title, tt14452794, Rendagam
2022 films
2020s Malayalam-language films
2020s Tamil-language films