4 decades later, restored Indian classic 'Amma Ariyan' premieres at Cannes
The restored version of the film was undertaken by the not-for-profit Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), making it the only Indian feature film selected for the world premiere section at Cannes this year
A digitally restored version of Amma Ariyan, a landmark Malayalam film made nearly four decades ago by acclaimed Kerala filmmaker John Abraham, premiered at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival on 16 May, drawing attention to India's rich legacy of parallel cinema.
Originally released in 1986, the black-and-white film is set against the backdrop of Kerala's turbulent Naxalite movement during the 1970s. Widely regarded as one of the defining works of India's parallel cinema movement, the film explores the political anxieties, idealism and eventual disillusionment of a generation caught in revolutionary turmoil.
The film follows a young man named Purushan, who travels across Kerala to inform a mother about the death of her son, Hari. Along the journey, a series of encounters and testimonies unfold, allowing the narrative to blur the lines between documentary and fiction while weaving together fragmented memories, politics and personal grief.
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Despite its critical significance, Amma Ariyan never received a conventional theatrical release.
John Abraham died just a year after making the film, at the age of 49.
The restored version of the film was undertaken by the not-for-profit Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), making it the only Indian feature film selected for the world premiere section at Cannes this year.
The project also marks the fifth consecutive year that the Film Heritage Foundation has presented a restored Indian classic at the Cannes festival.
John Abraham reportedly developed the film inspired by the suicides of individuals associated with the Naxalite movement. To finance the project, he turned to public support, with friends staging street plays and screening films to raise money through crowdfunding — a rare approach in Indian cinema at the time.
The restoration effort continues FHF's broader mission to preserve important works from South Asian cinema history. Earlier this year, the organisation restored In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones, directed by Pradip Krishen and written by Arundhati Roy, which had its world premiere at the 76th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival.
