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Elippathayam

Original title: Rat-Trap

“The Rat-trap”

1981 · 2 h 1 min
Directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan · India · Indian Parallel Cinema
Drama

Where to watch in the United States: Stream: Criterion Channel. Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDB; availability changes.

Cast

Karamana Janardanan Nair Sharada Rajam K. Nair

Credits

Written by: Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Cinematography: Mankada Ravi Varma
Produced by: K. Ravindranathan Nair

Plot

Unni, the last male member of a once-grand feudal family in Kerala, is reluctant to adapt to the changing world around him. He lives in his crumbling mansion, while his sisters are fearful, and his refusal to work or move on is likened to a rat trapped in a cage. Adoor Gopalakrishnan's 1981 film, whose title means "The Rat-Trap", won the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival.

Sinekatalog’s take

Adoor Gopalakrishnan's film follows Unni, the last male of a feudal Kerala family, who refuses to adapt to a changing world while his sisters suffer. Quiet and precise, with a rat trap as a symbol, it is a masterful study of decline.Sinekatalog’s own editorial review – not a user or critic quote.

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Ratings

IMDb: 7.5 / 10 (635 votes)
IMDb rating and vote count from the IMDb ratings dataset (October 2026). Scores change over time.

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