Reacting to the review of the film 'Aarohanam', that appeared in these columns on October 27 under the headline “An abrupt saga”, the film director Lakshmy Ramakrishnan has clarified that enough research has been done before locking the characterisations. This, in response to the reviewer’s comment that the director should have done enough research before touching upon a serious subject like bipolar disorder.
“The film was shown to Dr Santhi Nambi, Dr Mohan Raj, Dr Micheal Weiss (Scarf), Dr Mangala ( Scarf) and Vandana ( Banyan), and they have been delighted with the way the disorder is portrayed,” the director says.
On the reviewer’s comment that the character Nirmala looks just stressed out and does not seem to have any serious problem, the director says that this is the point of the film.
“Any disorder gets triggered and aggravated when the person gets stressed out, and if there is awareness, insight, will power and expert help, the person concerned can manage the disorder and do great in life,” says Lakshmy Ramakrishnan. “Nirmala in 'Aarohanam' did great without awareness and medical help, she is a real character. The party and the dance sequence is done the way a person like ‘Nirmala’ who is, either in a hypomanic phase or manic phase, would behave in such a situation,” she says.
“This film is more of a personal experience and something which I have watched at close quarters. Each and every scene is genuine and honest,” the director adds.