John Abraham’s 1981 Malayalam film *Amma Ariyan* (“Mother, I Know”) will premiere a restored version at the Cannes Film Festival’s Cannes Classics section. The film, considered a cult classic, is a significant work of Malayalam cinema known for its unique narrative and visual style.
The restoration was undertaken by Film Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with The Kerala State Film Archive. Funding came from the FIAF World Fund and Sunbeam Pictures. The restoration process involved scanning the original camera negative and sound negative, color correction, and sound restoration. It took approximately two years to complete.
*Amma Ariyan* is a neo-noir thriller that departs from conventional Malayalam cinema of its time. It features a non-linear narrative and experimental editing techniques. The story revolves around a retired police officer, Narendran Nair, played by Bharath Gopy, who is haunted by his past and becomes entangled in a web of deceit and murder.
John Abraham, a film institute graduate, directed only three films – *Vidyarambham*, *Amma Ariyan*, and *Anu Bandham* – before his untimely death in 1987. *Amma Ariyan* is particularly celebrated for its innovative camerawork by V.K. Madhu and editing by A. Sreekumar.
The screening at Cannes Classics aims to introduce the film to a wider international audience and highlight the importance of film restoration. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, founder director of Film Heritage Foundation, emphasized the film’s artistic merit and the necessity of preserving India’s cinematic heritage. The restored version will allow a new generation to experience the film in its original glory. The screening is scheduled for May 20th at the Buñuel Theatre.
