Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Maiden celluloid venture
WHAT YOU call it doesn't really matter. But the message it conveys matters. Attempting to classify it as offbeat or parallel cinema wouldn't be worthwhile because the filmmaker, Satish Menon, himself doesn't bother. Rather he is attempting to give a `sensible film'.
The movie called Bhavam (not bhaavam), the production of which currently takes place in Kochi, is expected to add a new chapter to serious movie making in Malayalam. Set in a typical urban background of Kerala, the movie is described to be an attempt at exposing how badly our society has succumbed to the negative effects of globalisation. Mr. Menon - who scripts, directs and produces the film - appears to have understood the diabolic side of globalisation much better than any of our contemporary Malayalam filmmakers. Born and brought up in Michigan, U.S., Mr. Menon has successfully gauged the shift of our society into a consumer one.
The tendency of the society to consume rather than produce has had its corrupting influence on people's sensibilities. It is this point which helps the story of a husband and wife roll. As Mr. Menon says, it is a very familiar story but told in an unfamiliar fashion.
The film portrays the struggle between the husband and wife, who have had their happiest times earlier, in a most sensible manner. The change in their lives in proportion to the change in their relations takes the story further. Murali Menon, a known theatre artiste from London, plays the lead role of Jayan in the film. The presence of Hindi actress Mita Vasisht as the sister of Joy's wife, who is played by Jyothirgamayi of Meesamadhavan fame, lifts the movie to an offbeat level. Artistes like Siddique and Koothattukulam Leela are also on the cast.
Mr. Menon, however, doesn't target the kind of audience which keeps commercial films thriving in the State. He has apparently higher aims. He knows the film buffs abroad have better sensibility.
The film, which has no songs or other commercialese `masala', keeps the trademark Malayalam farcical comedy at bay. Mr. Menon says he hasn't given undue importance to dialogues too. `Dialogue will be succinct and to the point,' he said, because he believes film is primarily a visual medium.
Mr. Menon, who if hard pressed would call it an `independent film', said he is not sure how the Kerala audience would receive the movie, the camera for which is being handled by Sunny Joseph.
Mr. Menon, who has avidly followed films abroad and produced many short films and documentaries, says Indian cinema is not very open to change. Yet he is confident that his first Malayalam venture would click, if not with the Malayali audience, with the audience abroad.
By Abdul Latheef Naha
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
|
