Bhagavthathy Goddess

Why did you make this film? What is that you want to tell through the film?

I don’t believe that every film should have a purpose. As someone who takes filmmaking seriously’ films not having purpose’ may seem a pedestrian thought. Bhagavathykaavu is something that was in my head. As a person whose philosophy keeps changing rapidly and contradicting itself I would say at the time of envisaging the film my idea was something to say about religion. In this social-political- religious climate I felt it important to state what I think about religion. I believe that there is a force in nature and that’s why we malayalis worship trees, suns, snake and rain. (This force might be something we created to give us hope.) I am disturbed by the fact that these forces are used for monetary political benefits and have become an albatross around our neck. In the film a trapped goddess tries to escape from its temple. She is helped by two sinners. Sins are relative and hence god is not worried about the sins of these sinners.

She selfishly wants to escape her followers. In the last 6 months my philosophy has changed so looking the film I could see a more clearer me. It was a personal narrative exploration with my own religious philosophies and that might be the purpose.

What do you think is the key aspect of the film?

The key to this film is the space. The space being an abode. (kaavu). There is a temple near to a
waterfall and its add to the pagan outlook of the film. The film is about how these spaces in nature
where taken up by man and worshipped. Later came places of worship because humans need a
face/personality for beliefs. These places of worship soon lost its purpose of originally worshiping that nature and evolved into autocratic religious institutions where nature is trapped. This trapped nature- goddess had to be shown in effectively isolated environmental panache which the location provided.

Where was the movie shot?

The movie was shot at Irunutty waterfalls (aka MEENMUTTY falls) in KALLARA, MULLAKARa, Trivandrum  Kerala. The content being environmental and spatial had to be shot in its natural pristine niche.

What is your process?

If I come up with an idea I talk to people (close friends and filmmakers). There are various viewpoints on every subject. Once I understand people’s viewpoints I go ahead and put my ideas on paper. Some of this may conflict with others view points and some resonate. There is research involved in the topic both field work and library work. Bhagavathykaavile Papikal was a product of some research I had done while on a recce trip to Ajanta. I had also come across people who sell and buy religious goods. (camphor, agarbathi, cloth) in Banaras which inspired me on how religion is a source of living for a lot of people.

When I start working on the script there will be several drafts. I also act out the dialogues to see the
oddity of its intonation and delivery. Afterwards I sent it to fellow filmamekrs to get feedback. I always have a screenplay and storyboard ready before the shoot. This gives me confidence to improvise on location. Using the camera as a storytelling device is always a priority rather than just a recording device.

What are your previous experiences?

I am an alumni from Industrial design centre at IIT-bombay where I did a masters in visual
communication. My area of specialization was digital filmmaking. I have worked with bollywood
cinematographer Santosh Thundiyil on a feature film. I have also been a part of documentaries with
MHRD, MMRDA and IIT Bombay. Previously had won best editor at MIFF 2013(Mumbai international short film festival). I have been a part of several short films which has circulated in the festival circuits.

What is your next project?

I am currently working on an independent feature film about a traveler across the India. There is also a Malayalam action crime feature film in talks. The script was completed two years back but a serious producer is yet to be found. I am also in p reproduction for a web series in Malayalam.

What are your production details ?

The movie is shot on DSLR with cine lens. The color pallete is green and environmental. The costumes were made to be contrasting with environment Thanks to Syama who had  color pallete designed for this. Edit was done in Neelavelicham studios kochi and later completed at Sacred heart’s school of communication. Minimal music was designed and a detailed folly was given.

Boards and Stories

For one of my last short films "Ghoda 22" i did not storyboard. Every scene was  shot according to performance and with respect to space. However this time it was a complicated story. (Not as complicated as Ghoda 22) but in its own space it was hard to communicate this content. So i boarded every shot. Storyboard is just the beginning of the visual. However in this short film because of time and location restriction i had to stick to it. This will make the film less organic since the film is not derived at the set but on a drawing board. A drawing board and shooting location are entirely different mediums. However this time I had to stick to this process. It was money versus time

                                      


                                            

                                          

                                      

                                     

The film is taking shape and is 70 percent of what is expected. .
Will update more on pre-production in the blog

INKTOBER

 I remember vividly copying superman figures that my sister copied from a graphic novel that Achan (DAD) brought me when I was in Kinder Garden. Superman had a beard in it. 

My Parents never thought of putting me in any art class or drawing classes and hence there was never a technique or style . To this date I don't produce finished art. I am the intermediate between an idea and its artwork. When I got my degree in Design eventually I figured out that drawing something just the way it is may not actually be art (not for me though) . If I can represent an idea in my head through a scribble then I am as much an artist as anyone around me.

Using the camera as a medium to tell stories was an easy escape out of this handicap of a skill. Incomplete lines, inconsistent colors with a definite camera angle became known as my style.

Since June I was consulting as a creator for animation films with Dhaksha animation. (Visualiser, Director - Storyboard creator ). I felt that if each image given in Jay Parkers inktober topic can somehow convey a thought, a story or an emotion then my creativity will get its much needed 'dog-training'. Here are some of the work. 

Simple RULES for inktober

1) Make a drawing in ink in 30 minutes - not more than that.

2) Post it online

3) Hashtag it with #inktober and #inktober2016

4) Repeat

                                                         

Fast - because a frog is fast and tortoise is slow and this guy is in between

Noisy -  because dogs and sound recordist can hear everything

Collect - 

Every time a person is shot his memories are erased too, and then this guy started collecting guns from every kill - each gun representing the man he killed - the memory he erased 

Hungry - because Marie Antoinette heard them shout for bread

Sad  - for Syrian refugees 

                               Hidden - since there are cameras everywhere and nothing could be        hidden except for animals - who are already invisible

Lost - because Laika died for mankind's urge for knowledge

Rock - half submerged - because it is a good image :-D

Broken - since sometimes when you miss someone and listen to the rain you can feel all the tiny cracks of your once broken spirit.

Jump - because I am superhero 

Transport - since Ganapathy uses the mouse as his vehicle

Worried - because a lot of stray dogs are killed in kerala

Scared - of the height of the mountain that I might climb tomorrow morning 

Trees - because Samurais are cool

Relax - A beer and a smoke goes with a good book to read

Wet - because before rains these termites comes out

Battle - Because washing utensils and houshold chores is abattle

Escape - since i was the only one who survived it witout a scracth

Flight - because she know it

Squeeze - for love 

Big - because the man to whom the shoes belonged was bigger

Little - because its a tiny green rock with moss

Slow - because she would wake up

One Dozen - because all the men who tread the valley before him were killed and he knows his fate

Tired - because they had a rocking time 

Box - since there is Television

Creepy - since the bullets whistled past me

Burn - because she misses him with every cigarette

I have thumb-nailed for comics and movies and hence the skill ,which I once thought I was not good enough is giving me bread and butter. Inktober forced me to think and draw- loved using brush pens. 

Some days it was tough for me to make scribbles and i would sleep feeling guilty. The exercise was good. Few people noticed my sketches and few made very valid remarks.