‘Byari’ won the National Award for Best Film

‘Byari’ won the National Award for Best Film

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 7, 2012: Byari, the first film in the Beary language spoken in coastal Karnataka and Kerala won the award for Best Feature Film at the 59th National Film Awards in New Delhi.

Elated at his debut film Byari getting a National Award for Best Film, director K P Suveeran said the movie was about the taming of women in the Byari Muslim community based on sexuality.

Byari shared the National Award with Umesh Kulkarni’s Marathi film Deool at the 59th National awards that were announced in New Delhi today.

"Byari (also known as Beary) is an ethnic society trapped in their own faiths and beliefs, having its own traditions and distinct cultural identity. I did a lot of research on the society and their beliefs after reading works by various authors," he said.

He said the film was shot on a limited budget but he could capture the environs of the Byari community despite the limitations. "When I see the film now, I think I could have improved it more," said Suveeran, hailing from Kannur, Kerala.

 

This is the first-ever film made in ’Byari’ language, spoken mainly by people belonging to the community in the coastal regions of north Kerala and Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka

In the Ullal region in Dakshina Kannada, people belonging to other communities have also adopted Byari as their local language. Byari language, which has links with Malayalam, Urdu and Tulu, does not have a script.

The film, which was shown in some festivals, had won rave reviews. It has Tamil and Malayalam actress Mallika (who got a special mention from the jury for her performance) in the lead role, while popular Malayalam actor Mamukkoya appears in a "very serious negative role" in the film as her father, the director said.

The film depicts the culture, tradition and language of the ’Byari’ community. It highlights strict laws and regulations of marriage in the community, pros and cons of divorce in Islam and how it affects the women.
"The film, which is based on issues connected with ’Iddat’ (marriage) and ’talaq’ (divorce) in Islam, tries to bring such problems to the notice of Islamic law-makers," he added.