CHENNAI: The name JD-Jery is synonymous with advertising.
A growing client base stands testimony to their creative abilities, successfully attracting the attention of viewers with 30 second ads (The Chennai Silks and Saravana Stores to name a few). While Robert Joseph D’Samy (JD) and Jerald Arockiam (Jery) of JD-Jery are only known as ad and feature filmmakers, the duo boasts of yet another creative side — documentary filmmaking — something they are yet to get due credit and attention for.
Lately the ad gurus have been talking about their fiveyear- old documentary Kalamkari.
The film has now been reproduced as a book that was released recently. “The sense of satisfaction we get after completing a documentary is higher, and only that makes us do documentaries again and again, though our schedules are tight with ad films,” says JD.
Kalamkari traces the life of an artist Emberumal through the eyes of a girl Preethi who travels to Sikkal Nayakkanpettai near Kumbakonam.
She soon finds out that Emberumal’s family is fully into the dying art form of Kalamkari.
Jery says, “We used the material of researcher Thenuga, and based on it, we made this documentary. The way Emberumal devotes his life and time towards the art form is something worth applauding and the long process of making the print on cotton fabric is breathtaking. His son who has done a course on film studies is also into this art.” JD adds that their documentary starts with Preethi coming to Kumbakonam in search of a gift to give her mother who lives in America.
“Our first documentary was on puppetry and the second one was called Nadhaswaram, based on the instrument. Both Nadhaswaram and Kalamkari are available as books. They have full script and angle details.
We thought the book format would reach the audience even better. The highlight of Kalamkari is that the cover page is ornamented with Kalamkari print. Details of the camera angles would help film students. There are more technical details for other readers,” says Jery. The duo’s next documentary is called Bhagavatha Mela and is again themed on a distinguished art form practised by a troupe.
Talking about the reach of documentaries, the duo says that there are very few takers.
But what inspires them to do documentaries on age-old dying art forms is the will to spread awareness among future generations. Robert and Jerald plan to do a feature film by the end of 2011. So, what is the secret of their 30-year-long association? “We share the same interests and this made us work together ever since we passed out from the same college,” they say.
Published by Aazhi Publications, the limited edition of the book Kalamkari is available at Landmark.