A teenager on the cusp of the twenties has been a fount of inspiration for cinema. But when cinematographer and director Rajeev Ravi calls the shots, rest assured there will be something special about that teenager and his story. As Njan Steve Lopez , Rajeev’s second directorial venture (after last year's blockbuster Annayum Rasoolum ) reaches the big screen, he explains what is that makes him focus on the guy or girl next door and tell their stories with such attention to detail and sensitivity. He emphasises that what makes Steve special is his lack of any speciality. Steve is just another teenaged student.
“I want to tell the stories of people. It is the face in the crowd that nudges my curiosity. Each of them has a story in them. They have dreams, disappointments, aspirations and desires. But many a time, these individuals become nameless faces in a crowd, a part of statistics, a number. I want to free them from that anonymity and give them an identity and life,” says Rajeev.
So, Njan Steve Lopez tells the story of 19-year-old Steve, the son of a police officer from Puthenthope, a coastal hamlet in Thiruvananthapuram. Theatre artistes Alencier and S.K. Mini act as Steve’s parents while newcomer Ahaana Krishna is Anjali, Steve’s childhood friend, neighbour and love.
The film, shot completely in Thiruvananthapuram and its suburbs, began on December 25 with a recee in Puthenthope as Rajeev insists on learning about a place and its people before beginning work on a film. “I may or may not use those details but I believe all that I glean about the place and its residents seep into the script. Thiruvananthapuram is a city of many migrants who came to the capital in search of employment or to work in one of the myriad government offices in the city. There is also a sizeable number of people who hail from the suburbs but work in the city. They might stay in the city but their roots with their family are still strong. Njan Steve Lopez is the tale of such a family,” says Rajeev, who has also contributed to the writing of the story along with Santhosh Echikkanam, Ajith and some of the cast and crew.
The film is about the loss of innocence as the youngster sees life in all its different shades thanks to certain incidents that take him up the collar and push him into the thick of reality. Rajeev says that the present generation is often accused of being laidback, materialistic and narcissistic. “But who made them like that? That is what I am trying to show. Till a few decades ago, the middle man was a bad word, paying a bribe was unheard of among middle class families. But now all this has become the norm. Today’s youngsters have been brought up by parents who have legitimised the middle man,” says Rajeev.
Njan Steve Lopez trails the life of Steve even as it subtly maps the social, emotional and economic contours of our society. This is the second film produced by Collective Phase One, a group of like-minded people, the script was finalised collectively and so were the songs. The camera was cranked by Pappu.
Lyrics written by Anwar Ali have been composed by Shahbaz Aman. Chandran Veyattummal has composed a song ‘Pokaruthen Makane’ that has been extracted from the oral text of ‘Iravikutti Pilla Poru’.
The songs, which are already hitting the charts, have been sung by a wide range of singers, including Jassie Gift and members of Vidwan band.
Looks like Rajeev is on song again.
Short takes
Rajeev Ravi and Fahadh Faasil team up again for a new film in September, which will be shot in Mumbai. As yet unnamed, the film, Rajeev says, will also turn the arc light on the seen but unseen vignettes of the city and its residents. “Discussions are on and I am still developing the story,” he says.
The shooting of Bombay Velvet , Anurag Kashyap’s film that is being canned by Rajeev is over, and it is now in the post production stage.
