Virgin Goat - DVDScr - XviD - 1CDRip - [DDR]

About Director -

Murali Nair was born in a little village in the centre of Kerala, the most southern and politically active state in India. He has a passion for politics and makes several journeys through rural India after finishing his university studies in geology. After a brief course at Institut Xavier de Communication in Bombay, he becomes part of the Bombay film industry as assistant director. He develops his experience there before directing his first short film Tragedy of an Indian Farmer in 1993 which won a national prize in India. He then shoots two other short films: Coronations in 1995 and A long Journey in 1996 which is selected for Cannes in the category short films in competition. In 1997, he moves to London and sets up the Flying Elephant Films production company. He starts to make programmes (principally about youth of the world) for British television, with his wife Preeya. His first feature, Marana Simhasanam (Throne of Death) wins the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 1999, and the second, Pattiyude Divasam (A Dog’s Day) is also presented in competition at Cannes in 2001. Currently, Murali Nair is producing a series of youth programmes for British television and working on the screenplay of his next feature. “What can I say? I love first films and find them very stimulating. They are films that convey true passion.” —Cannes Film Festival

Review (Hollywood Reporter)

Living up to its whimsical title, “Virgin Goat” takes the viewer on a surreal trip through South India where a poor, half-crazed farmer struggles to mate his beloved Laila, last of a royal lineage of goats. Director Murali Nair, whose “Throne of Death” won the Camera d’Or in Cannes in 1999, transforms the simple story into a modern fairy tale of uncertain import, where social and political issues get hopelessly intertwined with the proud individuality of the stubborn hero. Poised between comedy and the dark side of human nature, film is too long and slow-moving to wander far from the festival trail, though it’s certainly worth a look for art-house programs.

Short, spry and sharp-tongued, plucky Kalyan Singh (Raghubir Yadav) has sold all his land to marry off his daughter. All he has left is a dog-like little goat with soft black fur, whom he seems to love more than his sourpuss wife and lay-about son. When a local vet manages to get her into heat, Kalyan Singh sets off to the other side of the city to mate her to a fine billy goat.

Complicating things, however, is the fact that an important personage is coming to town for a rally, and the police have started setting up road blocks. Leading the docile, aristocratic Laila by a leash, he pushes his way past yellow-uniformed policemen who start rapping to scare him, and circumvents a group of political militants out to make use of him. His astuteness is to no avail, however. First the police and then his own family wantonly conspire to put an end to his dreams.

One surreal adventure leads to another in Nair and Jonathan Page’s unpredictable, fantasy screenplay. Yadav is an extremely able actor who knows how to hold the limelight as he wanders through a magical kingdom that combines many flavors at once: funny and bizarre, fierce and sad.

This enigmatic little film confirms Murali Nair’s unique vision of his native land, as he attempts to describe its joys and sorrows, hopes and tragedies all at once. Sandeep Patil’s cinematography captures the incredibly bright colors of south India in a joyful spirit that echoes the costumes and music.