View source for Khaddama

{{Short description|2011 film by Kamal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Khaddama
| image          = Gadhama.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Kamal (director)|Kamal]]
| producer       = P. V. Pradeep
| story          = K. U. Iqbal
| screenplay     = K. Girishkumar<br />Kamal
| starring       = {{Unbulleted_list|[[Kavya Madhavan]]|[[Sreenivasan]]|[[Biju Menon]]||[[Murali Gopy]]|[[Shine Tom Chacko]]|[[Suraj Venjaramoodu]]|}}
| music          = [[M. Jayachandran]]
| cinematography = Manoj Pillai
| editing        = K. Rajagopal
| studio         = Anitha Productions
| distributor    = Murali Films
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|2011|02|04|ref1=<ref name="release">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/Gaddama-to-release-on-February-4-imagegallery-malayalam-lbymgnaaadb.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203043820/http://www.sify.com/movies/Gaddama-to-release-on-February-4-imagegallery-malayalam-lbymgnaaadb.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-02-03|title=Gaddama to release on February 4|website=[[Sify]]|date=2011-01-31|access-date=2011-02-01}}</ref>}}
| runtime        =
| country        = India
| language       = Malayalam
| budget         =
| gross          =
}}
'''''Khaddama''''' ({{Translation|Housemaid}}<ref name="Khaleej">{{cite news|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/diversions/2011/January/diversions_January18.xml&section=diversions&col=|title=Maid film highlights abuse|author=Sajila Saseendran|newspaper=[[Khaleej Times]]|date=2011-01-14|access-date=2011-01-30|archive-date=1 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001184922/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data%2Fdiversions%2F2011%2FJanuary%2Fdiversions_January18.xml&section=diversions&col=|url-status=dead}}</ref>) is a 2011 Indian [[Malayalam]]-language [[survival film|survival]] [[drama film]] co-written and directed by [[Kamal (director)|Kamal]]. It stars [[Kavya Madhavan]] in the lead role and was produced by P. V. Pradeep under the banner of Anitha Productions.  Cinematography is by Manoj Pillai and the film was edited by K. Rajagopal. The film features songs composed by [[Bennet Veetraag]] and the background music is by [[M. Jayachandran]].
The title of the film is a colloquial version of the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word ''Khadima'' ({{langx|ar|خادمة}} "servant"). The film narrates the story of some immigrants in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf]] region through the life of a housemaid in [[Saudi Arabia]]. It is scripted by K. Girishkumar and Kamal and the story is based on a feature by K. U. Iqbal, published in ''[[Bhashaposhini]]'', depicting the real–life incidents of a Kerala–born housemaid in Arabia.<ref name="Khaleej"/> Principal photography for the film began in October 2010 and took place mainly in the [[Middle East]]. After a special screening in the last week of January, the film made its theatrical debut in Kerala on 4 February 2011. The film's release was banned across the Middle East.<ref name="Bangalore Mirror interview"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2011/Apr/29/gaddama-at-the-receiving-end-yet-again-248906.html | title='Gaddama' at the receiving end yet again | date=16 May 2012 }}</ref>
The film was well received by film critics, with most of them applauding it as a realistic film,<ref name="Rev1"/><ref name="Rev2"/><ref name="Rev3"/><ref name="Rev4"/><ref name="Rev5"/><ref name="Rediffreview"/> while the performance of Kavya Madhavan has been rated as one of the best in her career.<ref name="Kavya1"/><ref name="Kavya2"/><ref name="Kavya3"/><ref name="Kavya4"/>
The movie was dubbed in to Tamil as "Palaivana Roja".
==Plot==
Razak Kottekkad ([[Sreenivasan]]) is a migrant social worker in [[Saudi Arabia]] who makes an effort to both identify "unknown Indians" whose bodies arrive at the mortuary and to secure their return home.
Meanwhile, we are shown the story of Aswathi ([[Kavya Madhavan]]), who is a lower middle-class Malayali woman from [[Pattambi]], Kerala. She marries a thug named Radhakrishnan ([[Biju Menon]]) who confesses her about his premarital life and assures a complete change. Unfortunately after a short period of happy life, he dies due to drowning. Due to the financial constraints of her family and the untimely death of her husband, Aswathi is forced to be the bread earner of the house and opts to go to the Persian Gulf. Usman ([[Suraj Venjaramoodu]]), who is the car driver of an Arab family, belongs to Aswathi's village and he arranges the visa for Aswathi and brings her to Saudi Arabia. After she lands in Saudi Arabia, she is forced to wear a burqa at all times, due to the strict dress code of the country. She is subsequently exposed to a slavery-like vocation and is taken up under a sponsor to work for him as a maid.
Aswathi had to face numerous troubles - sexual abuse and battery in the sponsor's house. Aswathi is accompanied by Usman, who actually brought her to all the miseries. However, he indulges in a sexual affair with the [[Indonesia]]n maid there and gets caught and is kicked out of the sponsor's house. Aswathi helps the other maid to escape the premises and in turn is tortured as punishment.
The story follows Razak, who tries to trace Aswathi who had disappeared during while escaping torture. On the parallel, we see Aswathi running into some good and bad people, eventually culminating in a deportation. After entering into much more troubles, she reaches Razak, who was actually in a search for her. He inquires her about the complete story. He eventually helps Aswathi leave for home back in Kerala.
==Cast==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Kavya Madhavan]] as Aswathi
* [[Sreenivasan]] as Razak Kottekkad
* [[Biju Menon]] as Radhakrishnan
* [[Murali Gopy]] as Bharathan, the truck driver
* [[Suraj Venjaramoodu]] as Usman
* [[Jaffar Idukki]] as Varghese
* [[Lena (actress)|Lena]] as Sareena, Razak's wife
* [[K. P. A. C. Lalitha]] as Ashwathi's mother
* [[Sukumari]] as Razak's mother
* [[Shine Tom Chacko]] as Basheer, Bharathan's friend
* [[K. T. C. Abdullah]] as Hamsa
* Abigail de Jong as Fatma, the Indonesian maid
* Manu Jose<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article464550.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201162823/http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article464550.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 December 2012 |author=K. Surekha|title=Multifaceted Manu |date=2011-03-31 |newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]] |access-date=2011-04-14}}</ref>
* Ali Khamees as Khalid Ahmed Bin Said Mohammed
* Mariam Sulthan as the sponser's mother
* Khaamiz. S. Mohammed as Nawaf Ahmed Bin Khalid Mohammed
* Hala Al Sayed as Sameera
* Ahmed Saleh as the sponser's son
* Ali Adnan Althuki as Badar
* Tehani Ali Mohammed as Sana
* [[Sasi Kalinga]] as Chaandu Maash
}}
==Development==
===Writing===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Khaddama book.jpg|thumb|right|An illustration by Vinayakrishna for the feature published in ''[[Bhashaposhini]]'']] -->
Saudi–based journalist K. U. Iqbal wrote an article which was published in ''[[Bhashaposhini]] Varshika Pathippu 2010''.<ref name="Khaleej"/><ref name="The Hindu"/> The report was based on the abuse and mistreatment of ''Khaddamas'' ("housemaids") in [[Saudi Arabia]] and was particularly inspired by the true life incidents of a maid servant named Subaida. It was a small news item published in ''Malayalam News'' (a Malayalam daily published in the Persian Gulf area) in 2002 — ''Subaida Vilikkunnu'', which forms the seed of the reportage. Iqbal says he is used to getting calls from Indians in deportation camps on a daily basis, but somehow it was the call from Subaida which struck a chord in him and he followed it up. Years later the ''Bhashaposhini'' editor-in-charge, K. C. Narayanan, asked Iqbal to do an article for its anniversary edition. Iqbal narrated several of his Gulf stories to him but it was the story of Subaida which appealed to the editor.<ref name="Iqbal">{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article394758.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094230/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article394758.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|title='Gaddama' - When fact inspires fiction|date=2011-02-09|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|access-date=2011-02-22}}</ref>
Kamal, who was inspired by the thematic significance and dramatic value of the story, immediately picked it up for his next film. He had already directed the Gulf-centric ''[[Perumazhakkalam]]'', which depicted the story of a young man facing death penalty in the Gulf.<ref name="Bangalore Mirror interview"/> Kamal said: "The series that appeared in ''Bhashaposhini'' caught my attention and I thought the theme had immense potential for a feature film. Although Malayalam cinema has handled Gulf-centric themes before, this had a unique perspective as it is centred on a woman. Our previous Gulf narratives mostly revolve around men, money and memories of homeland. This, I thought, was a marked deviation from that. Hence the decision to make it into a film"<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/article1154294.ece|title=Lost in the sands of time|author=Sangeeta|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2011-02-04|access-date=2011-02-04}}</ref>
Kamal hired K. Girishkumar to co-write the screenplay. Girishkumar's earlier works were mostly [[family film|family dramas]], such as ''[[Veruthe Oru Bharya]]'', ''[[Kana Kanmani (film)|Kana Kanmani]]'' and ''Amrutham''.<ref name="The Hindu"/> Kamal and Girishkumar have included several real-life characters and incidents as Girishkumar says: "Many of the incidents captured in the film are taken from real-life incidents. Only the structure of the story is fictional, the rest of it has been picked up from various individual experiences."<ref name="The Hindu"/> According to Kamal, more than 90 per cent of the film is captured from real life.<ref name="Bangalore Mirror interview"/>
===Casting and principal photography===
The central character Aswathi is played by [[Kavya Madhavan]]. Her previous association with Kamal was in ''[[Perumazhakkalam]]'', which won her a [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress]], public appreciations and critical praise.<ref name="The Hindu"/> She was also introduced to films by Kamal as a child artist in ''[[Pookkalam Varavayi]]'' and ''[[Azhakiya Ravanan]]''.<ref name="The Hindu"/> ''Khaddama'' also marks her comeback to Malayalam cinema after she took a break from films for sometime, only recently returning.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Kavya-in-her-second-stint/700183/|title=Kavya in her second stint|date=2010-10-22|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=2011-02-25}}</ref> The film also marks her first screen appearance after the official divorce from Nishal.<ref name="kavya"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/104217/Nischal-agrees-divorce-mutual-consent.html |title=Nischal agrees to divorce by mutual consent |access-date=2010-10-22 |publisher=[[Yahoo]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028140318/http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/104217/Nischal-agrees-divorce-mutual-consent.html |archive-date=28 October 2010 }}</ref> According to Girishkumar, Kamal had no other choice for the protagonist of the film. He says: "Kavya was the first and obvious choice for the film. Even before the idea germinated into the story, she was decided as the protagonist."<ref name="The Hindu"/> Kavya signed the project after soon after completing [[Priyanandanan]]'s ''[[Bhakthajanangalude Sradhakku]]''. According to Kavya, it is one of the best characters she has ever got. She says: "I was really moved when Kamal sir narrated the story, which will be an eye-opener to many women in south India with dreams of living in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf]]. Aswathi is one of the best characters that I've ever done."<ref>{{cite news|title=Kavya's big comeback|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-04/news-interviews/28375431_1_kavya-madhavan-film-expat-workers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912174419/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-04/news-interviews/28375431_1_kavya-madhavan-film-expat-workers|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-09-12|date=2011-02-04|access-date=2011-02-22}}</ref>
The other roles are played by [[Sreenivasan]], [[Biju Menon]], [[Suraj Venjaramood]], Jaffer Idukki, [[Murali Gopy]], [[Lena (actress)|Lena]], [[K. P. A. C. Lalitha]] and [[Sukumari]]. Sreenivasan's character of a social worker (named Razak Kottekkad) has been heavily influenced by the real-life character named Shihab.<ref name="Iqbal"/> Suraj Venjaramoodu, known for his comic roles, plays a negative character in the film. Several theatre artists from [[Indonesia]], [[Iran]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Egypt]] are featured in the film.<ref name="Kavya2">{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2011/kamal-more-awards-kavya-gadhama-050111.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218192947/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2011/kamal-more-awards-kavya-gadhama-050111.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-18 |title=Kamal expects more awards for Kavya's Gadhama role |date=2011-01-05 |publisher=[[Oneindia.in]] }}</ref><ref name="Kavya3">{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalamcinemanews.com/news/view/102|title=ഗദ്ദാമയിലെ അശ്വതി എന്റെ കരിയറിലെ മികച്ച കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളിലൊന്ന് - കാവ്യാ മാധവന്‍|language=ml|access-date=2011-02-05|publisher=Malayalamcinemanews.com}}</ref> Shine Tom, who plays Basheer, has also served as an assistant director for the film.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Gadhama filming.JPG|thumb|right|[[Kamal (director)|Kamal]] giving instructions to the remaining crew.]] -->
The film was launched in October 2010 with its pre-shooting blessing held in [[Kochi]],<ref name="kavya">{{cite web|url=http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/oct/08/slide-show-1-south-malayalam-snippets.htm|title=Kavya gets busy|access-date=2010-08-10|publisher=[[Rediff]]}}</ref> filming began on 20 October in [[Dubai]].<ref name="kavya"/> Almost 90% of the film was shot in Dubai and other parts of [[United Arab Emirates]], while the remaining parts were filmed in [[Ottappalam]], Kerala.<ref name="Ottappalam">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/gaddama-unit-in-ottappalam-news-malayalam-kmljk1gabgh.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215163447/http://www.sify.com/movies/gaddama-unit-in-ottappalam-news-malayalam-kmljk1gabgh.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-12-15|title=Gaddama unit in Ottappalam|date=2010-12-11|access-date=2011-02-04|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref><ref name="authorbackedrole">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kavya-in-an-author-backed-role-news-malayalam-kl0kU1dgjic.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129032858/http://sify.com/movies/kavya-in-an-author-backed-role-news-malayalam-kl0kU1dgjic.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-11-29|title=Kavya in an author backed role|date=2010-11-26|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=2011-02-04}}</ref> Though the film is set in [[Saudi Arabia]] it was not filmed there. Kamal had visited several labour camps in Saudi Arabia and had gathered information from a jail personnel to know more about the life of the people there. He also spoke to many Khaddamas who returned to Kerala.<ref name="Bangalore Mirror interview"/> Kamal argues that his research made the film more realistic and convincing. Manoj Pillai, who has been an assistant of [[Santosh Sivan]], an independent cinematographer for a few Malayalam films<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2007/02/16/stories/2007021600780200.htm|title=Sign of success|author=Sangeeta|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2007-02-16|access-date=2011-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809110949/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fr/2007/02/16/stories/2007021600780200.htm|archive-date=9 August 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref> was the cameraman. Manoj Pillai says: "The desert is a difficult terrain to work on. It was stressful, but we managed it. And the footage looks nice. It is a testimony of the fantastic crew that we add"<ref name="The Hindu"/>
The central character, Aswathi, appears in a black [[Pardah]] in major parts of the film.<ref name="The Hindu"/> The costumes have been designed by Anil Kumar, while Pandiyan did the make up.<ref name="authorbackedrole"/> Shafeer Sait, who has a longtime association with Kamal, is the production controller.<ref>[http://www.shafeersait.com/About-me.html "About me: Shafeer Sait"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201191134/http://shafeersait.com/About-me.html |date=1 February 2011 }}. Shafeersait.com. Retrieved 2011-02-04.</ref> Suresh Kollam is the art director. Tapas Nayak, who was an assistant of [[H. Sridhar]], completed the sound design.
===Post-production===
The film retains the title of K. U. Iqbal's feature published in ''Bhashaposhini''.<ref name="The Hindu2">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/05/stories/2010100550210200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009172912/http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/05/stories/2010100550210200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-10-09|title='Gulf Malayalis' is theme for next Kamal film|date=2010-10-05|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2011-02-04}}</ref> "Khaddama" (often spelt "Gaddama" or "Gadhama") is a colloquial version of the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word ''Khadima'' ({{langx|ar|خادمة}} "servant").<ref name="Khaleej"/> The name is generally used to address domestic workers  in Arabian countries who come from other countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=9096675&programId=3982928&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3|title=പേരു വരുത്തിയ വിനകൾ|language=ml|newspaper=[[Malayala Manorama]]|date=2011-04-04|access-date=2011-04-09}}</ref> Most of them are from North African countries, the [[Philippines]] and [[Sri Lanka]]. Indians are comparatively few, but most are from the [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]] region.<ref name="Bangalore Mirror interview"/>
Kamal organised a special screening of the film in the first week of January. The screening was attended by several industry people including actresses [[Manju Warrier]] and [[Samyuktha Varma]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article391734.ece|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629235039/http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article391734.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2013|title=Friends come to Kavya's rescue |date=2011-02-02|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|access-date=2011-04-14}}</ref><ref name="preview">{{cite news|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8756817&programId=3982928&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3|title=മഞ്ജു വാര്യരും കാവ്യയും സ്ക്രീനിൽ ഒന്നിക്കുന്നു|language=ml|newspaper=[[Malayala Manorama]]|date=2011-02-04|access-date=2011-02-06}}</ref> The preview was held at D.L.S. theatre, [[Kakkanad]], [[Kochi]].<ref name="preview"/> The film received positive responses among those who attended the preview.<ref name="screening">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kavya-madhavan-s-big-day-news-malayalam-lcdre3fdgdf.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206081230/http://www.sify.com/movies/kavya-madhavan-s-big-day-news-malayalam-lcdre3fdgdf.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-02-06|title=Kavya Madhavan's big day|website=[[Sify]]|date=2011-02-03|access-date=2011-02-04}}</ref> After the show it was reported that, "Kavya was brilliant as the harassed Indian maid working in an Arab household".<ref name="screening"/>
==Release and reception==
The film was distributed by Murali Films. It had a limited release in about thirty theatres in Kerala on 4 February 2011.<ref name="release"/><ref name="screening"/> The film was anticipated among both critics and cinema-goers, not only because of its theme but also due to the wide marketing strategy.<ref name="The Hindu"/> It was the only Malayalam film released on the date and hence had no significant competition. The film was to be released in the Middle East on the same day, a big market for Malayalam films, but it was banned across the Middle East as the Censor Board rejected the film.<ref name="Bangalore Mirror interview">{{cite news|url=http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=Entertainment%20-%20Bollywood&sectid=24&contentid=201103272011032719271292986872096|title=Gadhamas on celluloid|newspaper=[[Bangalore Mirror]]|date=2011-03-27|access-date=2011-04-17|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317052745/http://www.bangaloremirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article&sectname=Entertainment%20-%20Bollywood&sectid=24&contentid=201103272011032719271292986872096|archive-date=17 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.madhyamam.com/news/73918/110430 |title='ഗദ്ദാമ' ഗള്‍ഫ് രാജ്യങ്ങളുടെ ബ്ലാക്ക് ലിസ്റ്റില്‍; യു.എ.ഇ പ്രദര്‍ശനം നിരോധിച്ചു |language=ml |trans-title='Khaddama' blacklisted in Gulf countries; U.A.E banned the release |newspaper=[[Madhyamam]] |date=2011-04-30 |access-date=2011-07-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824094450/http://www.madhyamam.com/news/73918/110430 |archive-date=24 August 2011 }}</ref>
Even though the film had a limited release it to become a box office winner. The film's fiftieth day celebration was held at the  Avenue Centre, Kochi on 27 March. The function was attended by film directors [[Joshiy]] and [[Sibi Malayil]], producers [[Siyad Koker]], [[Swargachitra Appachan]] and Vyshakh Rajan, writer P. Sukumar, and politician [[V. M. Sudheeran]], along with the cast and crew of the film. During the function V. M. Sudheeran opined that ''Khaddama'' was one of the best films of recent times and that he had congratulated Kamal for the bold movie soon after watching it.<ref>{{cite web|author=Vazhoor Jose |url=http://malayalam.deepikaglobal.com/feature/featuredetails.asp?ncode=2137&feature_cat=Cat19 |title=ഗദ്ദാമ വിജയാഘോഷം |language=ml |publisher=[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]] |date=2011-03-27 |access-date=2011-04-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705102533/http://malayalam.deepikaglobal.com/feature/featuredetails.asp?ncode=2137&feature_cat=Cat19 |archive-date= 5 July 2011 }}</ref>
===Critical response===
The film received generally favorable critical reviews and some applauded ''Khaddama'' as a realistic film. [[Kavya Madhavan]]'s lead performance has been rated as one of the best in her career.<ref name="Kavya1">{{cite news|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=9025477&programId=3982928&channelId=-1073750705&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=3|title=അശ്വതിയുടെ അഭിനയം|language=ml|date=2011-03-02|newspaper=[[Malayala Manorama]]|access-date=2011-04-07}}</ref><ref name="Kavya3"/><ref name="Kavya4">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/will-kavya-win-a-national-award-news-malayalam-lchjUleiaeb.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211010245/http://www.sify.com/movies/will-kavya-win-a-national-award-news-malayalam-lchjUleiaeb.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-02-11|title=Will Kavya win a National award?|date=2011-02-08|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=2011-04-17}}</ref><ref name="Kavya2x">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/i-already-got-my-award/760534/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912085349/http://www.screenindia.com/news/i-already-got-my-award/760534/|archive-date=2012-09-12|title=I already got my award |author=Unni R. Nair|date=2011-03-11|magazine=[[Screen India]]|access-date=2011-04-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>
M. Ashitha of ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' said, "Director Kamal makes convincing depiction of the obscure fate of poor Indian women in an alien land. Kavya excels in her role. Manoj Pillai's outstanding camerawork makes the film realistic."<ref name="Rev1">{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/141227/destiny-desert.html|title=Destiny in desert|author=M. Ashitha|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|access-date=2011-04-17}}</ref>
S. Anandan of ''[[The Hindu]]'' commented, "Kamal's movie, on its part, attempts to catalogue the society's brutality meted out to Gulf Malayalees. The movie is a decent depiction of lives in exile in the Middle East. However, going by the accounts of Gulf deportees, what is shown is just the tip of the iceberg insofar as the agonies of the diasporic workers in the Persian Gulf are concerned. ''Khaddama'' would have evoked a better response had its narrative been a little nuanced and punctuated with dark humour."<ref name="Rev2">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/04/stories/2011030450320200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309011749/http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/04/stories/2011030450320200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-03-09|title=A searing tale from the desert|author=S. Anandan|date=2011-03-04|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2011-04-17}}</ref>
Paresh C. Palicha of [[Rediff.com]] gave the film three out of five stars, saying "''Khaddama'' is one example where he [Kamal] deals with a subject that requires realistic treatment and he has come up on top."<ref name="Rediffreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-review-khadama/20110204.htm|title=Khadama review: As real as it gets|author=Paresh C. Palicha|date=2011-01-04|publisher=[[Rediff]]|access-date=2011-01-05}}</ref>
The reviewer of ''[[Sify|Sify.com]]'' gave the film a verdict of 'Above Average' and stated, "Khaddama handles a different issue and it is indeed one that needs grave attention as well."<ref name="Rev3">{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/khaddama-review-malayalam-14962196.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416094722/http://www.sify.com/movies/khaddama-review-malayalam-14962196.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-04-16|title=Movie Review: Khaddama|date=2011-02-05|website=[[Sify]]|access-date=2011-02-06}}</ref>
Nikhil Narayanan of [[Oneindia.in]] stated, "If you are unhappy with the lack of women-centric themes in Malayalam cinema, here's a reprieve. This movie belongs to Kavya Madhavan, who has brilliantly delivered the role portraying the hardships of a Malayalee maid in a Sheikh's house in Saudi Arabia."<ref name="Rev4">{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/reviews/2011/gadhama-movie-review-280311-aid0062.html|author=Nikhil Narayanan|title=Gadhama – Movie Review|date=2011-03-28|publisher=[[Oneindia.in]]|access-date=2011-04-17|archive-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022170401/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/reviews/2011/gadhama-movie-review-280311-aid0062.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The reviewer of ''[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]]'' said, "All in all, 'Khaddama' is a quality offering from the master director, with a genuine upsetting story. The movie has plenty of faces that continue to haunt you even after the film has ended. This is a film for the discerning viewer who likes to go a little beyond the regular masala stereotype."<ref name="Rev5">{{cite web|url=http://www.asianetindia.com/cinebuzz/gaddama_241737.html |title=Gaddama: Movie Review |date=2011-02-14 |publisher=[[Asianet (TV channel)|Asianet]] |access-date=2011-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303032347/http://www.asianetindia.com/cinebuzz/gaddama_241737.html |archive-date= 3 March 2011 }}</ref>
===Accolades===
The film has received various awards and nominations. In the 2011 Kerala Film Critics Awards it became the biggest winner, with three awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/critics-award-gaddama-adjudged-best-film/755271/|title=Critics award: Gaddama adjudged best film|date=2011-02-26|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=2011-02-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article401573.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122140113/http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article401573.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 November 2012|title=Kavya Madhavan, Gaddama steal limelight|date=2011-02-28|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|access-date=2011-03-01}}</ref> The film was selected as one of the six Malayalam films to compete for the [[National Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20110175298&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=regional&nid=104721 |title=Seven Malayalam Films To Compete For National Award |author=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=10 May 2011 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |access-date=17 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524042037/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20110175298&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=regional&nid=104721 |archive-date=24 May 2011 }}</ref> Kavya Madhavan was in the final round in the Best Actress category, but she lost to [[Mitalee Jagtap Varadkar]] and [[Saranya Ponvannan]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.madhyamam.com/news/79543/110520
|title=കാവ്യാ മാധവന്‍ അവസാന റൗണ്ടില്‍ പുറത്തായി
|language=ml
|date=20 May 2011
|newspaper=[[Madhyamam]]
|access-date=26 May 2011
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602222929/http://madhyamam.com/news/79543/110520
|archive-date= 2 June 2011
}}</ref> She won the [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress|Best Actress Award]] at the 2011 [[Kerala State Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/23/stories/2011052361020100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526155715/http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/23/stories/2011052361020100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 May 2011|title=Adaminte Makan Abu adjudged best film |date=23 May 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=26 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article473336.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606215221/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/article473336.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2014|title=Debutant directors sweep Kerala state awards |date=23 May 2011|newspaper=[[The New Indian Express]]|access-date=26 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20110176136&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=regional&nid=10751 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710131220/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20110176136&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=regional&nid=10751 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2012 |title=Adaminte Makan Abu Wins Top Honours At Kerala State Awards |date=22 May 2011 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |access-date=26 May 2011 }}</ref> and Amrita-FEFKA Film Awards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2011/06/amrita-fefka-film-awards-announced/|title=Amrita FEFKA Film Awards Announced|date=2 June 2011|publisher=Best Media Info|access-date=2 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/67286.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605061414/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/67286.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 June 2011|title=Amritha awards for Mammootty, Kavya and T D Dasan|date=2 June 2011|website=IndiaGlitz|access-date=2 June 2011}}</ref> Gaddhama was screened in the ''Malayalam Cinema Today'' section at the 16th [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] (IFFK), in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]] in 2011.<ref name="A slice of Kerala">{{cite web|title=A slice of Kerala|url=http://newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/food/article136099.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012212341/http://newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/food/article136099.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 October 2013|publisher=Expressbuzz.com}}</ref>
;[[1st South Indian International Movie Awards]]
* [[SIIMA Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] - Kavya Madhavan
; Thikkurissy Foundation Awards (2012)<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Press Trust of India]] |title='Aadminte Makan Abu chosen best film by Thikkurissy foundation |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/aadminte-makan-abu-chosen-best-film-by-thikkurissy-foundation/947678.html |access-date=8 January 2012 |publisher=[[IBN Live]] |date=7 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119053141/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/aadminte-makan-abu-chosen-best-film-by-thikkurissy-foundation/947678.html |archive-date=19 January 2012 }}</ref>
* Best Actress - Kavya Madhavan
* Best Female Playback Singer - K. S. Chithra
* Best Male Playback Singer - Karthik
* Best Lyricist - Rafeeq Ahamed
; Kerala state film award 2011 Best actress - Kavya Madhavan
; Asianet Film Award 2011 Best actress - Kavya Madhavan
; [[59th Filmfare Awards South]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Malayalam|Best Actress]] - Kavya Madhavan
*Nominated National film award for Best Actress- Kavya Madhavan
===Accusation of plagiarism===
A controversy regarding the film's plot originated when [[Kozhikode]]-based writer Salim Kurukkalakath claimed that the main story of the film was plagiarised from his story published in ''[[Madhyamam]]'' weekly on 20 October 2000. Salim says he had written the story while he was working in the Gulf and alleges that though he had written to Kamal on the issue in the initial stages of film making itself, Kamal had not replied. "It became clear after I saw the film", he says."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.madhyamam.com/news/47849/110214 |title='ഗദ്ദാമ' സിനിമയുടെ കഥ മോഷണമെന്ന് |language=ml |date=2011-02-14 |newspaper=[[Madhyamam]] |access-date=2011-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218181315/http://www.madhyamam.com/news/47849/110214 |archive-date=18 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralabhooshanam.com/?p=50654 |title=ഗദ്ദാമ സിനിമക്കെതിരെ നിയമനടപടി സ്വീകരിക്കും |language=ml |date=2011-02-16 |publisher=Kerala Bhooshanam |access-date=2011-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905095710/http://www.keralabhooshanam.com/?p=50654 |archive-date=5 September 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://janayugomonline.com/php/newsDetails.php?nid=81023 |title=ഗദ്ദാമ സിനിമക്കെതിരെ നിയമനടപടി സ്വീകരിക്കും |language=ml |date=2011-02-15 |publisher=Janayugom |access-date=2011-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818203042/http://janayugomonline.com/php/newsDetails.php?nid=81023 |archive-date=18 August 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2011/gadhama-facing-plagiarism-charges-150211-aid0062.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709122326/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/top-stories/2011/gadhama-facing-plagiarism-charges-150211-aid0062.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-09 |title=Kavya's Gadhama facing plagiarism charges |date=2011-02-15 |publisher=[[Oneindia.in]] |access-date=2011-02-22 }}</ref>
==Music and soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name       = Khaddama
| type       = soundtrack
| artist     = Bennet Veetraag
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released   = 2011
| recorded   =
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length     =
| label      = Satyam Audios
| producer   = P. V. Pradeep
| prev_title = [[Dr. Patient]]
| prev_year  = 2009
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}
The film's background score has been composed by [[M. Jayachandran]], collaborating with Kamal for the first time after ''[[Perumazhakkalam]]''. The songs are composed by the duo [[Bennet Veetraag]]<ref name="music review">{{cite news|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8766015&programId=1073752867&channelId=-1073751205&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=4|title=ഗദ്ദാമയിലെ ഗാനങ്ങൾ|language=ml|newspaper=[[Malayala Manorama]]|access-date=2011-02-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714030136/http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/malayalamContentView.do?contentId=8766015&programId=1073752867&channelId=-1073751205&BV_ID=@@@&tabId=4|archive-date=14 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> and feature lyrics by noted poet Rafeeque Ahammed.
The soundtrack album, released on Satyam Audios, contains five songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malayalamcinemanews.com/news/view/30|title=ഏറ്റവും പുതിയ ഓഡിയോ റിലീസുകള്‍|language=ml|access-date=2010-02-05|publisher=Malayalamcinemanews.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112182139/http://www.malayalamcinemanews.com/news/view/30|archive-date=12 November 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Out of the five songs only two, "Naattuvazhiyorathe" and "Vidhuramee", are featured in the film as the track "Ariyumo" was a promotional song. The soundtrack received critical praise, particularly for the melody in the tracks.<ref name="music review"/>
{{Track listing
| headline        = Track listing
| extra_column    = Artist(s)
| total_length    = 26:22
| title1          = Naattuvazhiyorathe
| extra1          = [[Chithra]] & [[Vijay Yesudas]]
| length1         = 5:19
| title2          = Ariyumo
| extra2          = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]]
| length2         = 4:52
| title3          = Vidhuramee
| extra3          = [[Shreya Ghoshal]] & [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| length3         = 5:21
| title4          = Naattuvazhi
| extra4          = [[Chithra]]
| length4         = 5:19
| title5          = Vidhuramee Yathra
| extra5          = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]]
| length5         = 5:21
}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Official website|http://www.khaddama.com/}}{{dead link|date=October 2016}}
* [http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/movie.php?i=4272 ''Khaddama''] at the Malayalam Movie Database
{{Kamal (director)}}
{{Kerala Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
[[Category:2011 films]]
[[Category:2010s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Bennet Veetraag]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Films set in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films shot in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Films about women in the Indian diaspora]]
[[Category:Films involved in plagiarism controversies]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kerala]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ottapalam]]
[[Category:Films shot in Palakkad]]
[[Category:2011 drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kamal (director)]]
[[Category:Indian intellectual property law]]
[[Category:2011 controversies]]