Archive · 30 Nov 2025
Mohanlal-Priyadarshan's Kaalapani: A Pan-Indian Epic
Mohanlal and Priyadarshan made a big movie called Kaalapani.
It's about people who fought for India's freedom and were put in jail.
The movie cost a lot to make, about Rs 2.5 crore, and took 60 days to shoot.
They even built a jail set in Chennai.
It had famous actors like Tabu and Amrish Puri.
The movie was shown in many languages and won lots of awards, but it didn't make enough money to cover its cost.
Still, people think it's one of the best movies ever made.
Kaalapani is a pan-Indian epic historical drama film directed by Priyadarshan and starring Mohanlal.
The film was made on a massive budget of Rs 2.5 crore and completed its shoot in 60 days.
It features a star-studded cast including Tabu, Amrish Puri, and others, with music by Ilaiyaraaja and cinematography by Santosh Sivan.
Despite its critical acclaim and award wins, the film underperformed at the box office and couldn't recoup its budget.
Kaalapani is regarded as one of the finest works of Indian cinema, winning multiple National and Kerala State Film Awards.
- Who
- Mohanlal, Priyadarshan, and a star-studded cast including Tabu, Amrish Puri, and others
- What
- A pan-Indian epic historical drama film, Kaalapani
- When
- Released on April 6, 1996
- Where
- Set in the Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Why
- To chronicle the lives of Indian independence movement participants incarcerated in the Cellular Jail
- Budget
- Rs 2.5 crore
- Shooting Duration
- 60 days
- Release Date
- April 6, 1996
- Languages
- Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu
- Awards
- National and Kerala State Film Awards
- Cinematography
- Santosh Sivan
- Music
- Ilaiyaraaja
- Art Direction
- Sabu Cyril