Private Project

DEATH BY WATER (JALASAMADHI)

Jalasamadhi deals with a disturbing issue plaguing the contemporary society - treatment of the 'unwanted elders'. It seems that in certain areas of the Kerala-Tamilnadu border (south India) there is still a practice of eliminating such elders as a secret ‘ritual’. Jalasamadhi opens with the murder of Muthu, a friend of Muniswami the protagonist, to protect his son’s vested interest in getting his father’s job in the pretext of this age-old ‘ritual’ or killing.

Munuswami undergoes tremendous mental stress, as he is worried that the same fate would befall him too. When Munuswami’s family and their friends try to sacrifice his life at the altar of this 'ritual' of Jalasamadhi, the youngsters fiercely oppose it.

The film has so far been selected to 56 international film festivals and has won 70 awards worldwide.

  • VENU NAIR
    Director
    A Life Redrawn, Farming Our Future, One Of Seven
  • SETHU
    Writer
  • VENU NAIR
    Producer
  • M S BAASKAR
    Key Cast
    "MUNUSWAMI"
    8 Thottakal(Tamil)
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    JALASAMADHI
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 47 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    125,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Malayalam
  • Shooting Format:
    DIGITAL
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • LIFT-OFF GLOBAL NETWORK First-Time Filmmaker Sessions December 2019
    London
    United Kingdom
    December 8, 2019
    ONLINE
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Third Eye Asian Film festival 2019
    Mumbai
    India
    March 1, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • International Film Festival of Ahmednagar
    Ahmednagar
    India
    January 3, 2020
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Chatrapathi Sivaji International Film Festival
    Pune
    India
    December 29, 2019
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Pickurflick Indie film festival
    Haryana
    India
    January 2, 2020
    Best Feature Film
  • Kosice International Monthly Film Festival - 2020 - Slovakia
    Kosice
    Slovakia
    May 27, 2020
    Slovakia
    Finalist
  • Cinemalab 2020 Columbia
    Zapatoca
    Colombia
    January 30, 2020
    Colombia
    SEMI FINALIST
  • Under The Stars International Film Festival 2020, Italy
    Bari, Puglia
    Italy
    January 17, 2020
    Italian premiere
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Darbhanga International Film Festival, 2020 India
    Darbhanga
    India
    February 7, 2020
    Bihar premiere
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Kolhapur International Film Festival, India
    Kolhapur
    India
    February 9, 2020
    No
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Crown Wood international Film Festival, India
    Kolkata
    India
    February 9, 2020
    Kolkata
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • White Unicorn International Film Festival, India
    Kolkata
    India
    February 10, 2020
    Kolkata
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Creation International Film Festival, USA
    California
    United States
    February 15, 2020
    California
    WINNER
  • Eurasia Fest International Film Festival, Russia
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    February 15, 2020
    Russia
    Semi-Finalist
  • South Film and Arts Academy Festival 2020, Chile
    Chile
    Chile
    February 16, 2020
    South America
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Cult Ctitic Movie Awards, India
    Kolkata
    India
    February 22, 2020
    WINNER
  • Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival, Russia
    Moscow
    Russian Federation
    February 25, 2020
    FINALIST
  • Coimbatore International Film Festival
    Coimbatore
    India
    March 21, 2020
    Tamil Nadu
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Druk International Film Festival
    Punakha, Paro
    Bhutan
    March 20, 2020
    Bhutan
    Official Selection
  • World Film Carival 2020, Singapore
    Singapore
    Singapore
    March 28, 2020
    Singapore
    OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
  • Realtime International Film Festival (rtf) 2020, Nigeria.
    Lagos
    Nigeria
    April 1, 2020
    Nigeria
    FINALIST
  • Filmeraa International Film & Web Series Festival 2020
    Delhi
    India
    April 10, 2020
    Delhi
    Official Selection
  • Green Chili International Film festival 2020, Sikkim
    Gangtok
    India
    April 22, 2020
    Sikkim
    DIRECTOR-OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
  • Thrissur International Film Festival
    Thrissur
    India
    March 7, 2020
    Kerala
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Muvattupuzha International Film festival
    Muvattupuzha
    India
    March 1, 2020
    Kerala
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Tagore International Film Festival 2020, West Bengal, India
    Bolpur, Birbhum
    India
    April 28, 2020
    OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
  • Ghum International Film Festival 2020,West Bengal, India
    Ghoom
    India
    April 30, 2020
    WINNER
  • Indus Valley International Film Festival 2020, Shimla, India
    Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
    India
    April 29, 2020
    Himachal Pradesh
    WINNER
  • Holy Grail International Film Festival, Israel
    Jerusalem
    Israel
    May 2, 2020
    Israel
    FINALIST
  • Pattaya International Film Festival 2020 Chon Buri, Thailand.
    Chon Buri
    Thailand
    May 4, 2020
    Thailand
    WINNER
  • Panjim International Film Festival 2020, Goa, India
    Panjim
    India
    May 8, 2020
    Goa
    OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
  • Sand Dance International Film Festival 2020 Rajasthan, India.
    Jaisalmer
    India
    May 11, 2020
    Rajasthan
    OFFICIAL SELECTION
  • Old Monk International Film Festival 2020, Bagmati Pradesh, Nepal.
    Bagmati Pradesh
    Nepal
    May 12, 2020
    Nepal
    Finalist
Director Biography - VENU NAIR

I am Venu Nair an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. I have been active in film and television since 1990.

This is my debut feature film.

My films have won 70 odd awards worldwide which include state, national and international accolades.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Jalasamadhi focusses on the inhuman attitude adopted by the people towards the older generation in general. Respecting one’s elders is a part of Indian culture. However, that is fast changing. One reads about senior citizens being abandoned due to various reasons, especially when the family experiences a financial crunch.

This ‘throwaway’ culture is one that is influenced by the rise of consumerism. While watching this film, I wanted the viewer to experience the throwaway culture in human relations that can never bring peace and happiness in the lives of people, be it anywhere.