Berlin: Malayalam film Ottaal has been named the best children's film at the Berlin International Film Festival and honoured with the Crystal Bear award in the 'Generation KPlus' section.
The film, directed by Jayaraj Rajasekharan Nair, is about the story of an old fisherman and his grandson. The movie is an adaptation of Anton Chekhov's short story 'Vanaka'.
Also read: Ottaal movie review
Jayaraj is known for adapting literary classic into films. He has earlier made films based on Shakespeare's works such as "Othello" and "Antony and Cleopatra".
GENERATION K+ Crystal Bears announced! Best Short: EL INICIO DE FABRIZIO, Best Film: OTTAAL https://t.co/l9Z7CNR6NZ pic.twitter.com/TRUBuMQix6
— Berlinale (@berlinale) February 20, 2016
This is the third year in a row that Indian films have triumphed. Earlier winners were Killa 2014 and Dhanak 2015.
Ottaal bagged the National Award for best film on Environment Conservation/Preservation and it set a record at 20th International Film Festival Of Kerala by sweeping all the top awards.
The members of the Children's Jury in Generation Kplus were Fabian Behrendt, Mathilda Fastabend, Felix Fuentes-Hare, Julian Leisle, Lilia Channary Noack, Mette Maren Schmahl, Fritzi Schneider-Reuter, Moritz Suubenbach, Sophie Tischmann, Tamino Kohne and Irma Weiche.
(With agency inputs)