head which was yet to decay. After removing the skin, leaving only the skull, they cleaned it up and used it for the shoot. The film took five years to complete. Reception Agraharathil Kazhutai received international acclaim. In 1978, Agraharathil Kazhutai won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 25th National Film Awards. The jury noted John's usage of the verses of Tamil poet Subramania Bharati "for creating a parable set against the orthodoxies and superstitions of a Brahmin village community". It was screened under the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India in 1978. Along with a few other films, it pioneered the "new wave" movement in South Indian cinema. The film became controversial as it was perceived as hurting Brahmin sentiments, and many Brahmin organisations called for its banning. In 1989, Doordarshan was forced to cancel a scheduled telecast of the film to avoid controversy. Though largely shunned during its initial release, it attained cult status in later years. The film gave a much needed breakthrough for John Abraham. In 2013, IBN Live included it among the 100 greatest films of all-time in Indian cinema. References Bibliography External links 1970s avant-garde and experimental films 1970s Tamil-language films Best Tamil Feature Film National Film Award winners Films about animals Films about superstition Films directed by John Abraham Films scored by M. B. Sreenivasan Indian avant-garde and experimental films Indian black-and-white films Indian independent films Indian satirical films