Kummatty

Govindan Aravindan's 1979 Malayalam film follows a wandering figure who arrives in a village in Malabar. Kummatty is a magician from folk tale; he plays with the village children, turns them into animals and then gives them back. The turning point is a child who cannot be returned. Left as a dog, the boy goes home and is not recognised; the narrative gives this not as a horror scene but as a quiet loss. Aravindan ties the telling to rhythm rather than plot. Songs, images of the landscape and children's games run long; there is little dialogue. The film was restored and shown again years later and is counted among the most singular works of Malayalam cinema. Who it's for: those who like Indian art cinema and the telling of folk tale. Who it's not for: viewers looking for plot; the film is built on atmosphere more than narrative.