Cinema was not in his dreams during his childhood and hence he was not planning to enter the film industry. It was his reading habit that brought about a shift in focus to start a career in films in various roles.
Editor-turned-filmmaker Bijith Bala, hailing from Kozhikode, shares his experiences in various roles in the industry, with Express.
“In fact, it was as a CG artist that I entered the film industry. It was in 2003 through the Siby Malayil-directed Ente Veedu Appoontem. The first call to the cinema came via my friend Thomas Sebastian, who was then assisting Siby sir,” says Bijith.
Later, he became trailer editor of several movies, including Kazcha, Udayananu Tharam and Vadakkumnathan. “Blessy sir’s Palunku was my first movie as spot editor. That assignment helped me to work with Mammokka (Mammootty), who later called me to join his next venture Mayavi,” says Bijith.
Akasham, directed by Sunder Das, was his first movie as film editor. “It was after Akasham that I got the call from Siby Sir for his Mohanlal film Flash. Later, I could work with him in Apoorvaragam, Violin, Unnam and Njangalude Veetile Athithikal,” says the 34-year-old editor.
“Cinema was not my passion in my younger age,’’ he says. “I was not addicted to films during my school-college period. So, after SSLC, I joined Computer Science group in Plus Two and later BCom. Meanwhile, I used to read a lot of books on software and IT. It was the major factor that helped me understand the editing career. My experience in using computer during my school days and the multi-media class which I used to attend simultaneously during my graduation also played a major role in moulding my career,” says Bijith.
It was director Thomas Sebastian who introduced Bijith as an editor through a teleserial directed by him. “It was he who later introduced me to Siby sir. After editing Flash, another major project I had worked for was the Mammootty-starrer Maya Bazaar directed by Thomas,” says Bijith, who has edited several critically-acclaimed as well as commercially successful movies like Shutter, Chettayees and Kaliyachan.
Bijith Bala’s entry as filmmaker happened this year through the Athul Kulkarni-starrer Nellikka.
“After venturing into the industry as an editor and working with legendary filmmakers and technicians, unlike earlier days, I became passionate about films. That was the factor which forced or helped me to wear the cap of film director,” says Bijith, who is now engaged in the pre-production work of his next film Ami.
“The script work of the movie, which deals with the life of kids, has already been completed. The screenplay was written by Apoorvaragam fame G S Anand. We are now busy with the casting procedures. The shoot is expected to begin in August,” says Bijith Bala, who considers filmmaker Siby Malayil and cinematographer S Kumar as his mentors in the film industry.
