After winning the National Award for her first film, ‘Kutty’ (2001), a story based on author Sivasankari’s novel, director Janaki Vishwanathan, went on to direct ‘Kanavu Mei Pada Vaendum’ in 2004. After a 7-year hiatus where she was directing a few short films, Janaki is back with ‘Om Obama’, which is currently in its final stages of production.
Janaki started writing the script even before Obama visited India last year. Says Janaki, “The film will offer something different to the audience. I would call it as a mix of action and some fun moments, rather than the unconventional with various sub plots. It has romance, comedy, politics, action and more.”
She says the idea sparked when she was doing research for her previous film. “I came across different findings that actually amazed me. I wondered how a musical instrument like a nadaswaram is played to awaken the gods in temples. This concept fascinated me,” she explains. “At the same time, the recession was spreading majorly across the world and its impact on people was strong. I found a connection between my findings and the recession. Because, Obama, who was not even the president at that time, became a cult figure overnight.
This amused me and I included it in my findings. He became the man who could solve economic and political issues. So with Obama, I decided my backdrop and started writing the script for ‘Om Obama’.”
Janaki also reveals that the title of the film has some significance with the President. “When he was contesting the elections, people all over the world prayed for his victory. In fact, I read a report of a common man’s comment about chanting ‘Om Obama for peace and prosperity’. And it soon clicked me that why not take a film with a title, ‘Om Obama’!”
The story revolves around a particular village called Kedarapalayam, an imaginary place, where people are rustic, and are unaware of recession and its global impact. But they make an effort to understand the problems in different way. “The villagers hold high hopes that Obama would help in the economic transformation of the village. Every subplot in the film has an issue and the only solution to every issue is Obama’s arrival,” she explains.
Does Obama actually feature in the film?
“He does...in the form of cut-outs and visuals,” she quips. “His presence is felt everywhere in the village. The story unravels when a bemused American journalist, who arrives in the village to document Kedarapalayam’s obsession with Barack Obama. Most of them are newcomers and from theater background.”
Produced by Shruthika Foundation, audio release of the film is slated to release early next month. The music has been scored by Paul Jacob. Three Tamil songs are penned by Yugabharathi in the film and one Urdu song penned by Raqeeb. “The film has a politician, local rowdies and also a love track between a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl. But it’s a lighthearted film. I’ve penned dialogues like ‘Obama enga veettu pillai’,” she says.
Shot in the scenic locales of Tamil Nadu, the crew took 40days to complete shooting. “We had shot the film in many villages in and around Tamil Nadu, but I don’t want to specify the names. We had also raised a Perumal Koil set, which looked realistic. In fact after the shooting, people of the village started visiting and worshipping the idol,” she laughs.
After shooting in villages, Janaki says she has created awareness-of-sorts about Obama. “The villagers didn’t know who Obama was initially. But by the end of the shoot, they’re eagerly waiting to meet him,” she chuckles.