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Panning the emotions of being
In search of a new cinematic idiom: Satish Menon.
The trials and tribulations of an urban couple living in a Kerala metropolis and the impact that the consumer culture wields on their life; their personal struggles and the family conflicts, presented with suggestions over the political and moral degradation that has taken deep roots in the Kerala society_an interesting storyline for what promises to be an forceful Malayalam movie.
It is this story that Satish Menon, a youth from Kochi, settled for long in Chicago, seeks to convey through his first full-length feature film, `Bhavam', translated best into English as the `Emotions of Being'. The movie, which can be described as bilingual, is now being shot in locations in and around Thiruvananthapuram.
``My work might be different from an average Malayalam film. No songs, no dances and none of the commercial `masala' ingredients. But in any case, it will certainly be a reflection of the contemporary Kerala society'', Satish said in a chat during brief interludes of shooting in a city hospital, as his cinematographer Sunny Joseph was busy moving his camera from one angle to another.
It is unfortunate that Kerala society has no escape from the consumerist culture, which had brought in its wake unhealthy tendencies like corruption and moral degeneration, Satish feels.
The central characters of the film, Joy, a journalist, essayed by Murali Menon and his college lecturer wife, Latha (Jyothirmayi) have adjustment problems in their married life.
The pursuit of materialistic pleasures on the part of the husband and the principled wife's reluctance to make compromise of any kind, make the going tough for both. The other characters of the film are portrayed by Mita Vasisht, a theatre personality from Mumbai, Siddique and Koothattukulam Leela. The background score is by Issac Thomas Kottukappally and Ajith, who had associated with Adoor Gopalakrishnan in his latest creation, is the film editor.
A scene from the film `Bhavam.'
The film may never be formally released in Kerala, even if he desired to, Satish says.
"How could I expect to find a distributor for this offbeat film, when even `Oru Cheru punchiri' made by none other than M.T.Vasudevan Nair could not manage one'' quips Satish.
However, he is optimistic about his work gaining acceptance and perhaps even accolades at film festivals. TV channels would also be interested, he hopes.
Satish has plans to hold previews of `Bhavam' in cities like Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai.
Apart from producing and directing this low budget film, Satish has done the script work too. Though an engineer by profession, Satish has to his credit, several documentaries and short films. "I'm still learning the nuances of film making and this learning never ends'', Satish remarks as he rises for the next shot in an atmosphere in which the strict hierarchical patterns of a cinema set does not exist at all. It indeed is a team work of equals, as the film maker himself claims.
By Ajith Kumar J.
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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