Nellu(2010)
Nellu is a 2010 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by M. Shiva Shankar. It stars Sathya and debutante Bhagyanjali in the lead roles. The film is set in a Tamil village in the late 1960s and centers on a Dalit farmer who organizes a strike against an oppressive landlord. It is based on the real Kilvenmani massacre of 1968, where 44 Dalit workers were burned alive. The film faced censorship issues for its explicit depiction of caste violence. Critics noted that while the subject was important, the execution had flaws. The soundtrack was composed by S. S. Kumaran with lyrics by Thamarai and Na. Muthukumar. The film was released in 2010 and is not currently available on major streaming platforms.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 24 December 2010
- Director
- M. Sivashankar
- Language
- Tamil
- Rating
- 6.5/10
Storyline
Kathir is a young Dalit farmer in a Tamil village. He works in the rice fields of a cruel landlord who pays almost nothing. Kathir falls in love with Thamara and dreams of a better life. He organizes a strike for fair wages. The landlord responds with violence, leading to a tragic massacre that changes everything.
“A grain of rice. A lifetime of pain.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Nellu
Cast reunions in this film: Crane Manohar & Singamuthu (4 films together), Kaali Venkat & Crane Manohar (2 films together), Kaali Venkat & Singamuthu (2 films together), Crane Manohar & Vasu Vikram (2 films together), and Crane Manohar & Bonda Mani (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film is based on the Kilvenmani massacre of 1968, where 44 Dalit villagers were killed in Tamil Nadu.
- Director M. Shiva Shankar chose to cast newcomers Sathyaa and Bhayaganjali to bring a fresh, authentic feel to the story.
- The film's music was composed by S. S. Kumaran, who was primarily known as a sound engineer before this project.
- It was shot by cinematographer Senthil Rajan, who used natural lighting to capture the rural setting realistically.
- Despite its serious historical subject, the film had a very limited theatrical release and low box office earnings.
- The title 'Nellu' means 'paddy' in Tamil, directly referencing the agricultural conflict central to the story.
- The film aimed to highlight caste-based violence and remains a lesser-known cinematic take on the Kilvenmani incident.