What stops many projects from seeing the light of the day is money or the lack of it. But, set to overcome that huge hurdle is a group of enthusiastic film makers who has come up with the idea ‘Team Movie’ for their maiden production venture.
Armed with nothing but a good script and an even better crew, the team helmed by Sunil Ibrahim, director of movies like Chapters’ and ‘Arikil Oral, will soon kickstart their project titled Olapeepi, a family drama, directed by cinematographer Krish Kymal.
They will fund their project as a team movie wherein the cast and crew will work for free. The profit from the movie will be shared as remuneration.
Says Sunil Ibrahim: “Ours may be an unique venture in Malayalam movie. The cast and crew who are willing to work free for the movie has been roped in. The profit generated from the movie will be shared as remuneration. The biggest advantage of this film-making mode is that the entire crew will be equally responsible and dedicated towards the success of the movie,” says Sunil.
He added that music director Anil Johnson, editor V Sajan and art director M Bawa has already been associated with the project.
Sunil said the whole project gained steam after he stumbled on the story written by cinematographer Krish Kymal. “The story was so touching that we decided we should make a movie of it, no matter what the hurdles are. It is then that the idea of team funding popped up. We thought it was workable and discussed it further with other technicians who were equally enthusiastic,” says Sunil.
Though Sunil has taken the reins of the project, many of their friends have expressed interest in investing money for Olapeepi.
Krish Kymal, the director of Olapeepi, agrees that the project is a feasible and viable one. “I never really thought of making the movie. One day when Sunil came to meet me, he happened to read the story which touched him. In fact, he began to weep. It is then that we decided to make a movie. The idea helped realise our project,” says Kymal. Olapeepi is a family drama that draws inspiration from the social scenario of 1970s when the life of many went upside down.
“This is something I have seen in my life. Many people were isolated when the reforms were implemented. Olapeepi is one such tale. It is the story of a 85-year-old woman and her grandson, a nine-year-old boy. The reforms and a subsequent incident changes their life,” says Kymal.
The movie has three layers - the present day, the flashback (the 70s) and the period between. The protagonist is a famous painter who comes back to his land after a prolonged American sojourn. “The flashback deals with his intense emotional connect with his grandmother and though the protagonist has just 20 or 30 scenes, we need a strong character for it,” says the director.
The cast and crew is yet to be decided though the lead character will be played by a popular actor. The movie will go on floors by April second week and the second schedule of the movie will be held in June.