Dalam (transl.Group/Gang) is a 2013 Indian action thriller film by debutant director B. Jeevan Reddy, a protégé of noted Indian director Ram Gopal Varma. The film was simultaneously shot in Telugu and Tamil with the latter version titled as Koottam (transl.Crowd). The film starring Naveen Chandra, Piaa Bajpai, Nassar, Abhimanyu Singh, and Kishore tells the story of a group of former naxals and their struggles against the police and politicians when they start their lives afresh from jail. The Telugu version was released in the first week of 15 August 2013 while the Tamil version was released in 2014.

Plot

The scene begins in a Naxal-infested area, where a gun battle is ensuing between the state policeman and the Naxals. In the battle, the Naxals lose many men. They decide to forgo their pursuit of war and hand themselves to the government. During their time in jail, they undergo many tortures, but then one of the jail's seniors offers the Naxals to switch sides to the police and do hit jobs.

Cast

Production

Piaa Bajpai shot for the film for 35 days. Part of the film was shot in Dallapalli near Araku Valley.

Soundtrack

The music was composed by James Vasanthan.

Track list - Telugu
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Yetellinaa Aranyame"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryVijay Yesudas3:09
2."Thayya Thayya"Krishna ChaitanyaDhananjay, Belly Raj, Raghu, Somasundar, Prasad4:44
3."Ikkadi Nundi Ekkadi Dhakaa"Ananta SriramHaricharan, Shweta Mohan5:26
4."Addirabanna"SahithiPriya Subramaniam4:48
5."Ekbaar Esukora Theenmar"Krishna ChaitanyaDhananjay, Sunandan, Srinivas, Pooja4:24
Total length:22:31
Track list - Tamil
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Pattaana Kunjamum (Kannala Unnatha)"SumathiArvind Raj, Bellie Raj, R. Ajay, Somasunder R.4:40
2."Ithanai Dhooram"Madhan KarkyHaricharan, Shweta Mohan5:23
3."Yeni Mela"Mohan RajanSunandan, V.V. Prasanna4:25
4."Nigarputha Pinangal"Madhan KarkyVijay Yesudas3:15
5."Kaalanaa Kannu"Mohan RajanPriya Subramanian4:50
Total length:22:33

Release and reception

Reviewing the Telugu version, a critic from The Times of India rated the film two-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "Antics and some nifty cinematography are the most watchable parts of the movie, so it will help if you watch the movie with lowered expectations". Reviewing the Tamil version, Malini Mannath of The New Indian Express writing that "Koottam has a plot with the potential to turn into a riveting thriller. It would probably have, had the screenplay been more coherent and focused".

External links