Critically acclaimed Kutty Srank to release on July 23

Shaji Karun's Mammooty starrer Kutty Srank

After receiving critical acclaim at International Film Festivals the world over, Shaji Karun's Mammooty starrer Kutty Srank will release on July 23.

This is Mammooty's first film with Shaji who began his career as a cinematographer and later turned to direction with Piravi in 1988.

Shaji N. Karun’s directorial debut won him the prestigious Camera d'Or - Mention d'honneur at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989.

Kutty Srank has already been screened at Pusan International Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, Mumbai Film Festival and the International Film Festival of India last year.

Commenting on the release, director Shaji N. Karun says, Kutty Srank is a movie layered with several emotions and shades which could only be brought to life by an actor par excellence such as Mammooty. It has been a creative and self innovating journey and hopefully be appreciated and understood by movie lovers all over the globe."

Sanjeev Lamba, CEO Reliance BIG Pictures, which will distribute the movie, said, "Reliance BIG Pictures is always proud to be associated with meaningful cinema. We expect that the beauty of Kutty Srank’s storytelling and Mammooty’s compelling performance will captivate the hearts of all viewers."

Kutty Srank, scripted by Shaji, PF Mathews and Hari Krishnan (screenplay), has noted actor and 3-time National Award winner Mammooty playing the male lead.

The film also stars popular actresses Padmapriya, Kamalini, Meena Kumari in female leads.

The film’s music has been composed by Isaac Thomas.

This is also the very first Malayalam film to be shot by a female cinematographer Anjuli Shukla who has previously worked on films like Tahaan and Prarambh as First Camera Assistant.

She was also assistant to the award winning and highly acclaimed Santosh Sivan for several years.

Kutty Srank (Sailor of Hearts) is about an unidentified body found by the police on a beach.

"Three women turn up, each claiming it as 'her' Kutty Srank.

One is a wealthy woman who wants to become a Buddhist nun. The second is a woman who acts in a traditional Christian play with Kutty Srank and is later accused of murder.

The third is a gentle, mute woman who, it appears, is carrying Kutty Srank's baby, " the director said.