Govindan Aravindan's KUMMATTY (1979) – A Vibrantly Restored Masterpiece!

7th House is proud to present the restoration of a radiant rediscovery of India’s Parallel Cinema movement: visionary filmmaker Govindan Aravindan’s KUMMATTY (1979).

Beautifully photographed amid the lush pastoral landscapes of rural Kerala, KUMMATTY unfolds like a vivid, mythic dream. A folktale brushed with keenly humanist observation told largely from a child’s point of view, the film follows a wandering trickster—the Kummatty, a shamanic boogeyman —who arrives in a small village each year bearing songs, stories, and vividly colored masks. Like a pied piper, he enchants the local children, playfully transforming them into animals and back again. But his magic, though whimsical and wondrous, carries an undertow: when one boy fails to return home, the spell lays bare its darker, more unsettling power, revealing how wonder and danger can quietly coexist. 

A pioneering director of films in Malayalam, one of India’s oldest languages, director G. Aravindan was a master of Indian “Parallel Cinema,” a post-1960s art-house movement that rejected mainstream commercial formulas in favor of socially conscious, formally adventurous films rooted in realism, regional cultures, and personal expression. Of his own philosophy he once said, “My ultimate in the art form is the north Indian raga-alapana, whose only meaning is the satisfaction and the tranquillity it conveys.” Here he crafts a work of extraordinary gentleness and visual lyricism, presenting KUMMATTY as neither fantasy nor realism, but something more elusive and elemental — seamlessly weaving documentary textures with moments of pure myth, allowing children’s chants, folk rhythms, and long stretches of contemplative silence to shape the film’s emotional terrain. Vibrantly lensed by cinematographer Shaji N. Karun, its images feel rooted in the land itself—an elemental cinema shaped by wind, light, and the slow breathing of rural life.

Lovingly restored to its original vibrance by The Film Foundation, founded by Martin Scorsese, KUMMATTY emerges anew as a vital work of Indian cinema, reintroducing the world to one of Indian cinema’s great masters through one of his most luminous works—a cinematic poem of childhood, transformation, and the fleeting nature of wonder. 

Dir. Govindan Aravindan, 1979, 89 min, India, Malayam w/ English Subtitles, Digital.

Special thanks to Janus Films.

Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

ADVISORY DISCLAIMER

With some exception, The Philosophical Research Society’s 7th House Screenings does not typically provide advisory warnings about potentially upsetting content or subject matter, as sensitivities are particular to each viewer. Please be sure to read event listings, research on the web, or visit Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com for thorough info on content and age-appropriateness. If you have any specific content advisory questions, please email [email protected].

CONTENT DISCLAIMER

The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.

ACCESSIBILITY

PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.

REFUND POLICIES

All sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events , except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test. Ticket exchanges may be granted on a case by case basis, pending circumstances.

In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.

PARKING

We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking. Nearby street parking is available, as well as limited parking onsite at PRS in the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east).

PRS EVENT POLICIES

• We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
• Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.
• We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.
• Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.
• No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.
• There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.
• We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.
• Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.
• Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher The Philosophical Research Society