# Paramapatham

Paramapatham (transl. Snakes and ladders) is a 2020 Malaysian Tamil-language thriller film co-directed by Thanesh Perrabu and Viknesh Perrabu, who also co-star in the film alongside an ensemble cast.
The film was released in film festivals in 2020 and had a theatrical release in February 2021 before being screened at the 78th Golden Globe Awards later that month.

## Cast

* Thanesh Perrabu as Aroon
* Viknesh Perrabu as Vajra
* Risheekeshan
* Pavitran
* Sasivaroobhan
* K. S. Maniam
* Singai JGun
* BenG
* Aghonderan
* Umagandhan
* Vicky Nadarajah
* Kavimaran (THR Raaga)
* Kausaliya
* Vimal

## Production

The film was directed by brothers: Thanesh and Viknesh Perrabu and is reportedly the first Malaysian Tamil thriller film. Viknesh Perrabu previously directed the satan-based film Sathuriyan (2014). The idea for the film came from a book their father bought for them after which they learned that snakes and ladders was in fact from India and not England. While Thanesh Perrabu plays the protagonist, his brother Viknesh Perrabu plays the antagonist. The film was shot in Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Thailand. The 20 minutes of CGI in the film was created by a Kerala, India based company. BenG shot a four page monologue in a single take.

## Release and reception

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic affecting Malaysia in February 2021, the film still had a theatrical release although many other local films were not released.
A critic from Asian Movie Pulse wrote that "Paramapatham ends up being a collection of ideas held together by a very thin central story than a compact movie, which, in the end, makes the movie very difficult to watch" while praising the chemistry of the lead cast.

## Awards

| Year | Event | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2020 | Rome Prisma Independent Film Awards | Best Film | Paramapatham | Won |
| 2020 | Norway Tamil Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Jegatheesvaran | Won |
| 2020 | Coimbatore International Film Festival | Best Film | Paramapatham | Won |
| 2020 | Coimbatore International Film Festival | Best Director | Thanesh Perrabu and Viknesh Perrabu | Won |
| 2020 | Coimbatore International Film Festival | Best Producer | — | Won |
| 2020 | Coimbatore International Film Festival | Best Actor | — | Won |
| 2020 | Coimbatore International Film Festival | Best Presenter | — | Won |
| 2020 | London NIFF | Best International Film | Paramapatham | Won |
| 2020 | MLC Awards of Green Bay | Best Presenter | — | Won |
| 2020 | MLC Awards of Green Bay | Best Jury Selection Artist | — | Won |
| 2020 | MLC Awards of Green Bay | Best Music Composer | — | Won |
| 2020 | MLC Awards of Green Bay | Best Film | Paramapatham | Won |
| 2020 | Vesuvius International Film Festival | Best Background Music | — | Won |
| 2020 | Tagore International Film Festival | Best Genre Film | Paramapatham | Won |
| 2020 | Cosmo Film Festival | Best Presenter | — | Won |
| 2020 | Indiescreen Awards | Best Film | Paramapatham | Won |
| 2020 | Malaysia Book of Records | Most Tamil Movie Awards won by a Movie Director (16) | Thanesh Perrabu and Viknesh Perrabu | Won |

## Home media

The film was available for streaming on Netflix in Malaysia as of October 2022.