TWO years back, three students of St.Joseph’s Higher Secondary School came across a notice inviting short films for a film festival organised by the State Institute of Education Training (SIET). Rojin Thomas, Ahamad Suhail and Mano Sandesh were soon busy scratching their heads to mesh up a short film.
After all any one can make a film provided he has a camera. Led by this belief they shot a film using a handycam and named it ‘Book of Secrets’, a film totally inspired by broken bits of images from the Hollywood hits. Once it was finished they felt that something was missing.
It lacked the deafening sound effects and the technical fripperies which mark the likes of Spielberg and James Cameroon. But they sent their film and three months later one of their teachers gave them three tickets for a short film festival.
These students did not have the slightest idea that it was the same film festival for which they had sent their ‘Book of Secrets’. They were more than shocked to see that title at the top of the screening list. The film evoked mixed response. However they sensed a tone of consolation in their compliments since every word of praise was followed by a big ‘but’.
‘‘It is a good effort, but technically it is disastrous.” This blunt remark from one of the judges left the boys crestfallen. It was a moment of realisation for them as they understood that a film is not just about combining shots and frames.
Finally their perseverance to do better gave birth to a splendid creation from the very same boys. Amid the cheers and applause of a large audience their short film, ‘Onnu Pottichalo’ was screened at Kalabhavan Theatre on Saturday. Directed by Rojin Thomas and the screenplay was written by Mano Sandesh and Ahamad Suhail, who also plays the lead role in the film.
It was a joint venture of the plus-two students of St.Joseph’s Higher Secondary School. The film is a stinging reminder to the youth who lose their way in the snare of panmasalas and alcohol.‘Onnu Pottichalo’ has its moments of light and controlled humour as well as gripping emotions. A strong plot, well drawn characters, powerful narrative, realistic back drop and a mature and adroit handling of the theme make the film a fairly good one.
‘‘We had a lot of misconceptions about cinema. We worked hard on it and our efforts have paid off,’’ said Rojin Thomas. The three boys recollected the nights they had spent together at the school hostel talking about movies and dreaming about making a film of their own. It was not just their dream but their determination to make a technically sound film that had finally led to the creation of ‘Onnu Pottichalo’.
‘‘We were disheartened by the response our first film had created and we wanted our second film to be a good one,” said the boys. Thus they worked out a theme which could appeal to every one and though the film talks about the hazards of drugs it never seems to convey the idea in a drab moralising vein. Instead the film manages to sustain the interest right from the beginning.
Initially they faced no hurdles as the PTA and the school management were so impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and ability that they gave all the support for them. However the project was left stranded in the post production stage. The dwindling fund barred any further progress. It was then the old students of the school who passed out in 1987 came up with the financial support. ‘‘Even when we saw the raw unedited film we felt a professional touch in it and we thought the project had to be supported,” said Jose T.Abraham, Managing Trustee of the 1987 St.Joseph’s High School Batch Trust.
More than anything it was the sheer passion and genuine talent of these young chaps that have resulted in ‘Onnu Pottichalo’. The very title arouses curiosity and the creators said that they had wanted to give a title which should be clear and incoherent at the same time. Talking about the way they made a solemn theme look so lively they said, “Nobody likes advice. The best way to advise is to give it in an indirect way.”
The overwhelming response they got during the preview proves that they were absolutely spot on. Rojin shared a very interesting reason for his love for movies. ‘‘When my mother was carrying me she used to watch a lot of movies. Her pain started while she was watching Mohanlal’s evergreen hit ‘Kireedam’ and a few hours later I was born.”
Having just completed their plus- two Rojin and Sohail, want to join the Merchant Navy while Manu’s ambititon is to become a doctor. But their parents want to make sure that their children have a profession before they plunge into the uncertain world of cinema.
It is certain that these young guys are not going to give up their love formovies as they are planning something big. ‘‘We want to make a feature film.Hopefully we will get the assistance we need,” said the ebullient young lads.
trivandrum@epmltd.com