7/31/2019 First Take Issue 48
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8TEENTIMECHIPS@
GULF MADHYAMAM l No1 IN THE GULF
2012 MAY 16 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 48
FIRST TAKE>Jyothi Varma
In the early 1990s, a doctor whoarrives in Thiruvananthapuram
toappear for the medical PG examina-tion randomly drops in at the
venue
of the International Film Festival of Keralato while away some
spare timeand theexperience changes his priorities in lifeforever.
This episode is a testimony tohow Keralas film festival culture not
onlyshaped the sensibilities of generations of
cine-goers but alsoinspired some of the more ardent view-
ers in the cinema halls to take up film-making as a career.
This weeks appointment for First Takeis with Dr Biju (Bijukumar
Damodaran ishis complete name), who has carved outa global
reputation as abold young film-makerin the parallel cinemaspace.It
was my exposure to
a few Turkish films at theIFFK that changed myperception of
films, filmmaking and the languagethat films speak, saysDr Biju who
is a homoeo-path practitioner, cur-rently the Superintendentof the
Government Medical College in Pala.
The self-taught film-maker debuted as
writer-director with Saira (2007) whichwas screened at 22
International Film Fes-tivals. It was also the opening film at
the60th Cannes Film Festival, and the icing
was that the screening coincided withthe celebration of the 60th
year of IndianIndependence.
Global terrorism has been the leitmotifof at least three of Dr
Bijus films to date.However, each film tries to approach the
issue of terrorism from a different perspec-tive. While the
debut film looked at howthe interplay of the levers of power of
theState, activist groups and some organisa-tions influence people,
the next one Ra-man was based on Americas assault onIraq and took a
strident anti-US standpoint
while Veettilekkulla Vazhi exploredrelationships between people
who aretrapped in a web of terrorism.
If Dr Bijus socio-political movie Ra-man triggered fierce
debate, it was
VeetilekkullaVazhi that bagged themost critical acclaim. The
films list ofhonours includes the NETPAC Awardfor best film at the
International FilmFestival of Kerala 2010, the 58th Na-tional Film
Award for Best Feature Film inMalayalam 2011 and the awards for
bestfilm, best director and best music direc-
tor at Imagine India filmfestival Madrid, Spain 2011.
Dr Biju says he was fond ofwriting short stories and arti-cles
even during his studentdays. However, his passionfor cinema now
subsumes hisother interests. He says ona lighter note that since
hisfilms are being screened at alot of international film
fes-tivals, he is seldom left with
time to read or write.On his style of working for a movie:
For me, film making is very much a richcultural activity. Once
a
thread develops in my mind, I bouncethe idea off my associate
and cameraman.In case they feel that a similar theme wasdealt with
in an earlier movie, I drop theplan then and there. If the
storyline isnovel, I get into scripting and till I finishmy
scripting I dont discuss it with anyone.In fact it is the longest
and most time-con-suming process in my films, he says.
Once through with the script, he has apreliminary round of
discussion with thecinematographer, associate director, art
di-rector, music director, costumer and makeup man. This is when
the cast is finalisedand a draft project report prepared.
Once a producer okays my project, wechalk out a shooting
schedule for the film.Since we all interact such a lot at
various
stages of evolution ofthe plot, the techniciansare well versed
with thescript by the time webegin the shoots, hesays. The
exhaustiveplanning and coordina-tion makes the shoot-ing a smooth
affairand executable within
deadlines.Dr Bijus next is a departure from his
usual canvas of terror. Aakasathinte-Niram, featuring Nedumudi
Venu, Prithvi-raj, Indrajith and Amla Paul, seeks to delveinto the
link between life and Nature. Thefilm shot extensively on the
Andamans isslated for a July release. Another project,
ThanalTharratha Marangal is a work-in-progress which has been
conceived as apolitical story. The scripting is over
and the film is slotted for release by theend of the year, says
the filmmaker.
Dr Biju feels that the iron-clad frame-work evolved by the
masters in parallel ishard to breach. When youngsters try outa new
style, it is pretty tough to win overthe confidence of even the
people within
the industry, he says.His message though is that if one
carries
conviction, success will follow.n
The
doctorsdiagnoseson the
celluloid
The
doctors diagnoseson the celluloid
Dr. Biju
dEsIGnEd/[email protected]
