He’s cool, composed and approachable, making it difficult to believe that you are talking to an Oscar-winning sound designer. Resul Pookutty, whose last Mollywood collaboration was the recently released Kunjananthante Kada, confesses he is simply more at ease with Hollywood projects. By the year end he will be joining hands with the producer of Slumdog Millionaire for the second time. “Its too early to announce the title and other details of the movie, but I must admit I’m excited. When you work abroad, they allow you to grow. They approach you with a concrete idea and the communication itself is very transparent. I guess they have more proper estimation on each crew member’s input to the product,” he says.
Pookutty says the role of a sound designer is entirely different when it comes to regional cinema. “I experience an unwanted commercial pressure over here. Sound designing is usually the last job done in a film, and unlike overseas projects, here you are supposed to cover up the flaws in the package. Hollywood movies don’t compromise on scripts and never go for any last minute changes or dialogue crafting in the movie sets.”
He adds that most of the times this working style causes hindrance to the work and skill of a sound designer. “Unless and until you get enough space to cook your dish, its not fair to expect the best result.”
Post Slumdog Millionaire Resul Pookutty is considered one of the most expensive sound designers in the industry, but he says it’s just a myth. “I guess it’s because of the added ‘Oscar’ to my name,” he laughs. “Even though winning Oscar still continues to be the most significant event in my life, it’s a bit old story,” he says.
The sound genius is ever enthusiastic to speak about his upcoming Hindi project Warning which is likely to hit the screens by the end of September. “Warning will be India’s first Underwater 3D movie. We applied three-dimensional sound effects for the film which is a hardcore thriller. Though the three dimensional technology was available, I believe this is the first time an Indian movie is adopting it,” he says.
Speaking more about this ‘new’ assignment, Pookutty adds, “This is the story of four friends who get stuck in deep under ocean. Ninety percent of the movie is shot in the ocean. Therefore the script is very limited and we had to stack up the available elements in the best manner. Though there are no major actors, the movie can boast of the best blend of sound and picture. The elements are brilliantly stitched together,” says Pookutty.
The sound designer confesses he is emotionally involved in all his assignments. “During the mixings of Slumdog Millionaire, I had walked out several times. It’s all the work-oriented tug of wars. I am like that. At work, I am just too serious about it. Emotional outbursts happen often,” he chuckles. His other upcoming projects include the Hollywood films Blemished Light and Margarita with a Straw and Tamil flick ‘Kochadaiyaan’.
But definitely Pookutty looks forward to do more in his mother tongue.
“Being successful in foreign languages has been a dream come true. But I believe the real achievement is when your own people open the doors for you. I love to work in Malayalam films and my passion has only increased with time,” he says.