The award has come as a great relief for Priyanandanan. Though the film was critically acclaimed, it received a lukewarm response both at the Box Office and at the Kerala State Film Awards. Naturally it comes in as a great encouragement for the director.
So what is India's best film all about? Well, Pulijanmam mixes fantasy with reality and has been told with Theyyam as the backdrop. It is based on the struggle between the rulers and the people who are being exploited by them.
Legend has it that Kaarigurukkal travelled to Puliyoorkkunnu in search of pulijada and pulivaalu to rid the rulers of their worries. But when he returned as Thondachan, which was in the shape of a tiger, his wife, Vellachi, was supposed to sprinkle arikkadivellam and beat him with a broom. But out of fear, she did not do that and he could never get back into his original shape.
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