Asthamayam Vare and CR No 89, two critically acclaimed films, will make their way to the marquee this weekend
CR No 89
CR No 89 is more than an anomaly among mass heroes and multi-crore spectacles. But the film, made with a shoestring budget of `7 lakh, has a slew of accolades to its credit including two state awards. “The term ‘crime’ is not limited to acts of violence, a lot others also come under its purview. The film explores this concept,” says director Sudevan.
Four nameless characters thrown into a strange situation and what follows form the crux of CR No 89. Two men who are into arms trafficking get stranded in the middle of a plantation. “They are joined by two others - one on the way to invite relatives for his wedding and the other a mechanic,” he says. Achuthananandan, Pradeep, Santhosh Kumar and Ashok Kumar appear in lead roles.
CR No 89 is a situation-based film and is not woven around any single character. “It shows how the same situation triggers a spectrum of reactions from different people. There is no uniformity in the thought process though they all belong to the same milieu,” he adds.
CR No 89 took almost three years to complete as there was no steady inflow of money. “It’s not a crowd-funded film in the sense there is not a single stranger among contributors. Friends and cine buffs who have seen my earlier works were the main patrons. My last short film Thattumpurathappan received a total of 14 awards and all the prize money went into the making of CR No 89,” says Sudevan.
Asthamayam Vare
Be it dismissing chronology or doing away with background score, Unto the Dusk follows an experimental format. The film forms an impressive tapestry of sights and sounds as the hero, a seminary dropout, sets off on a long trip. “Asthamayam Vare has been conceived as an audio-visual experience rather than a conventional narrative,” says Sajin Babu, director. The film has made it to a string of festivals bagging some major honours including the audience prize at IFFK.
The film draws parallels between the life of St Francis of Assisi and its nameless hero while indulging in an array of subjects from necrophilia to incest. “More than fifty percent of the film has been shot in deep forest. Man’s bond with nature is dissected against this green and mysterious backdrop,” he adds.
Sanal Aman, an alumni of the School of Drama, plays the lead character while Bengali actress and theatre activist Prakrithi Dutta Mukharjee, Zakkir, Joseph Mapilasery and Shilpa Kavalam form the rest of cast. The makers have sold 5,000 passes at the ticket rate to ensure the screening in various theatres.
