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A story of faith and hope
SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO
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It took Kamalakar Rao a decade to make a film on the life of St. Bernadette Soubirous.
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Holy role Ajna Noiseux as St. Bernadette in the movie
Kamalakar’s Rao’s unit completed the filming of Our Lady or Lourdes and received the Censor Board’s approval on December 31, 2006. Kamalakar Rao did not release the film till date because he wanted the film to rel
ease during Christmas. On his film, which will release in English this Christmas, he says, “The film is for a niche audience and hence, it was a long struggle to find funds. I decided to produce the film 10 years ago and back then, did not know it would take a decade to see my dream come true.”
Research and perseverance
Rao spent nearly eight years researching his subject, writing the story and screenplay, finding the ideal locations and cast. Rao has earlier produced a few television series including Ekta in 1994. Our Lady of Lourdes is his first feature film, which will be released in French in April and then in Malayalam and Tamil. The movie traces the life and times of St. Bernadette Soubirous and her vision of Mother Mary in 1858 at Lourdes, France. “The idea of making this film is to show you can make a difference and do your bit even if you have no power or money at your disposal. Hers was a story of selfless service and we can even argue that she could have been an inspiration to Mother Teresa,” says Rao.
Rao shot the film in Kerala, in and around Ponmudi. “We needed a locale similar that of Lourdes in France. We wanted the mountains and the clouds… we finally found the ideal place in Kerala. Of course, we were careful to see that coconut trees were not in the frame,” he laughs.
The making of the film saw some of the best minds come together – director VRG, art director Radhakrishnan and cinematographer B. Diwaker. “All of them worked with Adoor Gopalakrishnan,” says Rao.
A visit to Lourdes a few years ago, says Rao, contributed towards the making of the film. “Archbishop Marumpudi Joji initiated me into the story and helped me through the years. During my visit to Lourdes I met people whose devotion to the Lady of Lourdes moved me. While queuing up for the Baths at Lourdes, I met an Irish musician, Edmund John Shweppe. He came forward to compose for the film,” recalls Rao.
Ajna Noiseux dons the role of St. Bernadette while her mother Maryse took up the part of Bernadette’s mother, Louise. The film was featured by the Accolade magazine after participating in the 2007 Accolade Competition. “I plan to take the film to more international film festivals. In fact, after releasing the film in France in April, I shall promote the film in the US,” says Rao. He was inspired by the film, The Song of Bernadette, while making the movie. “2008 marks the 150th year since the apparition and I hope the film reaches out to more people,” concludes Rao.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
