When he decided to make his debut as a filmmaker, cinematographer Shamdat Sainudeen wanted to make a low budget film with new faces and produce it himself. But the canvas of the film changed when Mammootty happened to hear the story. “He said he wanted to do it and produce it as well. That just changed the whole scenario,” says Shamdat over phone from Kochi.
When Street Lights releases today, Shamdat is on edge before he travels to Abu Dhabi with Mammootty for the film’s premiere. “I am extremely nervous. I haven’t slept properly for the last few days!” says the ace cinematographer who has an enviable body of work in Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil.
Shamdat on the sets of Street Lights
The film, written by Fawaz Mohammed, chronicles the happenings of a day and captures the action during an investigation headed by James, Mammootty’s character. “You don’t see him in a police uniform. He is unofficially investigating a crime,” says Shamdat. James is pitted against Stunt Silva’s character, stunt director and actor, who has also handled stunt sequences in the movie.
For the family
The trailer gives the impression that film will be an action thriller but Shamdat says with a chuckle, “Well, that’s for Mammookka fans! The film has more than that. It is a family movie.”
The soundscape of the movie is one of its highlights and he is confident that it will be a refreshing experience for the audience. “I strongly believe that sound is what uplifts the visuals of a movie. Whenever I watch a movie, I pay more attention to the sound than the visuals. So I have worked hard on that department. And I have got extremely good results from Yakzan and Neha, who have done the background score, Renganath Ravee, sound designer, and Ajith A. George, sound engineer,” he says. Adarsh Abraham, his college mate, is the music director, editor is Manoj and art director Sabu Ram.
Mammootty in a still from Street Lights
Shamdat had his work cut out with the film being simultaneously shot in Tamil. “But the best part is I could wrap up the shoot in 35 days and that’s quite an achievement,” he says. Except for Mammootty, the Tamil version, which is scheduled to release later, has another set of actors. While Lijomol, Saubin Shahir, Joy Mathew, Tamil actor Rajendran, Dharmajan, Jude Anthany Joseph and Hareesh Perumana are acting in Malayalam, the Tamil one has Prithvi Rajan, Pandiarajan and Manobala. National Award-winning child artiste Adish Praveen is also acting in the flick.
Big battle
Meanwhile we ask him about another big release of the day, Pranav Mohanlal’s Aadhi . Does that worry him at all? “Not really, because we all know that on the initial days of the release it is the fans who throng the theatres in large numbers, be it a Mammootty film or a Mohanlal film. We can’t judge a film based on the rush. We get the clear picture only a few days later when those who enjoy cinema come into the theatres. I am confident that people will enjoy the movie,” says Shamdat.
Presentation holds the key and he is confident that the film has come out well. He doesn’t rule out making more films in future. “This is just a beginning. I have written two scripts. If something positive comes out of Street Lights , I can assure you that my next film won’t disappoint the audience. I am eyeing something big that can take Malayalam cinema to greater heights, on par with international cinema,” he signs off.
Short takes
* Shamdat debuted as a cinematographer with Krithyam . He worked with Ravi K. Chandran in films such as Dil Chahta Hai, Koi Mil Gaya and Yuva . He has cranked the camera for Ritu, Kerala Cafe, Marykkundoru Kunjaadu, Ayaal Njaanalla, Oozham, Role Models, Uthama Villain and many Telugu movies. His upcoming work is Viswaroopam 2 , releasing in Tamil and Hindi.
* Shamdat is the son of Sainudeen Mundakkayam, a playwright. “He has acted in a few movies and it was his ambition to make it big in cinema. He has acted in Street Lights ,” he says. Cinematography of Street Lights is by Shamdat’s elder brother, Sadat Sainudeen, another experienced hand behind the camera. “He has shot many international advertisements but was keeping away from the Malayalam industry for some time. I am happy that he agreed to come on board for me.”
