Slice of reality
G. JAYAKUMAR
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`Shyamam' has gained an entry to the NewYork AIDS Film Festival 2006.
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WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT: Sruthi Nair, left, and KPAC Lalitha play the lead roles in `Shyamam.'
`Shyamam,' a low-budget film that was shot in 13 days at Kadampuzha, Kurumbattoor and Thirunavai, has bagged an entry to the New York AIDS Film Festival 2006. It will be screened in the first week of December.
The script of his film `Shyamam' took shape in debutant director Sreevallabhan's mind when two children were thrown out of their school once it became known that their parents had died of AIDS. The incident highlighted the misconceptions about AIDS.
"It was while working as an assistant to Sharvi for his film `Arya,' that I saw a newspaper report on the two children. It moved me so deeply that I felt I had to make it into a film."
After brushing up his knowledge of AIDS with the help of doctors at Kerala State AIDS Control Society, Sreevallabhan completed the script within a month.
Search for a producer
Then began the hunt for a producer to finance the film. Sreevallabhan spent more than a year knocking on the doors of many producers. Many were reluctant to go ahead after listening to the story.
No different was the case with actors. When he approached a well-known actor to do the lead role, she declined saying that the role of an AIDS patient would taint her image.
"I must acknowledge the whole-hearted support I received from veteran actor KPAC Lalitha, and Sruthi Nair who played the lead roles," Sreevallabhan adds gratefully.
Two of his friends, brothers Nazar and Nazir, came forward to produce the film on the condition that they would not lose any money in the venture. Sreevallabhan assured them that the film would break even.
"Nowadays if we are able to sell the satellite marketing rights, we are assured of 50 per cent of returns," Sreevallabhan explains.
While the film was being made, good news boosted Sreevallabhan's confidence.
"Sharvi had recommended my film to Time Line Media, London, and they offered to dub it in English, and show it worldwide."
English version
The dubbing was done in Soundtrack Studio, Adelaide, Australia. The English version of `Shyamam' will be released abroad soon under the title `Dark Clouds of Reality.' But Sreevallabhan rues the fact that he is yet to find takers for exhibiting his film in Kerala.
But 32-year-old Sreevallabhan is used to setbacks. He had to wait for 12 years to fulfil his ambition of becoming a film director. H considers Sharvi, with whom he had worked as assistant director in two Malayalam and two Tamil films - `Gandhian,' `Spiderman,' `Campus' and `Arya' - as his guru and mentor.
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