Black Water) is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language epic historical drama film written by T. Damodaran and directed by Priyadarshan.

Set in 1915, the film focuses on the lives of Indian independence activists incarcerated in the Cellular Jail (or Kālā Pānī) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the British Raj.

The ensemble cast includes Mohanlal, Prabhu, Tabu, Amrish Puri, Nedumudi Venu, Sreenivasan, Tinnu Anand, Annu Kapoor, Alex Draper, Sankaradi, and Vineeth.

[2] Originally made in Malayalam, the film was dubbed and released in Hindi as Saaza-E-Kaalapani, Tamil as Siraichalai, and in Telugu as Kaala Pani.

In 1965, G. S. Sethu of the Indian Army goes to Ross Island, Kaalapaani to find the whereabouts of his aunt Parvathi's husband Govardhan Menon, who has been sent to jail in 1916 during the period of British rule.

Govardhan, a doctor and Indian nationalist, is wrongly accused of bombing a train carrying 55 people, including British officials.

The basis for the story were existing accounts of life in cellular jail, particularly excerpts from biographies of political leaders of the Indian Independence Movement.

Most of these excerpts covered the ruthless routine of prisoners in jail, under the command of Jailer David Barry, Major James Pattinson Walker and Petty officer Mirza Khan.

[3][4][5] While the Pre-World War I ports were recreated on the Andaman Islands, several huge sets were built on a 1.5 acres space in Murugalaya Studio, Chennai to replicate the Cellular Jail.

Despite its flashes of brilliance and exceptional photography, and a Rs 3.10 crore budget - the largest ever for a Malayalam film - Kaalapaani does not linger in the memory after you leave the cinema hall."

"[8] Kalki magazine reviewing Tamil dubbed version Siraichalai praised the performance of Mohanlal but felt Prabhu was wasted while also criticising modern wardrobe choices for a periodic subject and concluded a film that should have reached international standards like Schinder's List, in the course of the story, nationalism is beaten, Prabhu-Mohanlal friendship, division and tragedy hence revenge thus becoming ordinary fare.

[9] D. S. Ramanujam of The Hindu reviewing Tamil version wrote "To make a film on pre-Independence days, particularly about the dark deeds of the British and their lackeys manning the notorious Andaman prison is a formidable task.

Director Priyadarshan can be really proud of the outcome in Kalaipuli International's Chiraichalai which is a rare movie exceptionally good in all departments of film production".