THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Veteran film critic, K Gopinath, who has been an active voice in the Malayalam industry for more than two decades through his film reviews and short films, is up with his debut movie, ‘Ithra Mathram’. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Kalpetta Narayanan. “The incidents that happen as the aftermath of a woman’s death and the lives and memories of people in her close circle make the thread of the film,” says the director. Main character Sumithra is essayed by Shwetha Menon.
Gopinath says, “’Ithra Mathram’ is one of my favourite novels. When I first read the book, it struck the right chord and I thought about the cinematic possibilities of the story. Though set against the backdrop of a death, the film implicates the delights of life, and the complexities of relationships.”
Shwetha Menon, who plays the pivotal role in the film says, “Sometimes we realise the worth of a person, whom we have taken for granted for long, only after the person’s departure. Then only will we understand the unrequited love they have showered on us. Sumithra is one such woman, who in spite of being a lighthearted character, is powerful enough. There are unexpected twists and turns in the storyline. I have played a few rustic characters and this is another one which promises great acting possibilities.”
Gopinath who has witnessed the ebbs and flows of the industry all these years says his film will not make any compromises in terms of aesthetics and will certainly be appealing to the masses.
He says, “A handful of qualitative films were released last year and I consider my film as a continuum to the phenomenon, though it is not a deliberate move. Choosing a female oriented theme is also something that happened without any prior intention.”
Biju Menon, Jagathy Sreekumar, Nedumudi Venu, K P A C Lalitha, V K Sreeraman, Prakash Bare, Anoop Chandran, Sajitha Madathil and Tashi Bharadwaj are the other actors of the film.
The lyrics penned by Rafeeq Ahammad and composed by Jaison J Nair are sung by Chitra, Venugopal and Vijay Yesudas. The shooting of the movie will begin by March 23. The entire shoot will be at the picturesque locales of Wayanad.
