“It is a gift for me!” That’s how Phantom Praveen describes his directorial debut, Udaharanam Sujatha, that reaches theatres today.
He calls the film a happy outing with many things falling into place, starting with getting Manju Warrier to play the lead. “If she had said no to the character, I would have dropped the project. An artiste of her calibre was needed to pull off Sujatha. In her inexpensive saris, plaited hair and de-glam look, she lived the character. She closely followed mannerisms and body language of the domestic workers we saw in and around the shooting location. She became one with the people living in Chengalchoola colony in the capital city where her character lives with her daughter,” says Praveen.
Udaharanam Sujatha is about a single mother, Sujatha (Manju Warrier), who is sweating it out for a bright future for her daughter, Athira (Anaswara Rajan). A domestic maid, she does many other odd jobs to make ends meet. “We wanted to emphasis that circumstances need not dictate a person’s future. An individual from a humble background can rise to great heights. We have a fine example in late APJ Abdul Kalam. This is a simple film with an inspiring message. Sujatha represents many women breaking their backs to turn their dreams into reality,” he points out.
Although the teaser does indicate similarities between the movie and Nil Battey Sannata starring Swara Bhaskar ( Amma Kanakku in Tamil), there has been no official clarification. The story has beeen written by Martin and Naveen Bhaskar, scenarist of Anuraga Karikkin Vellam .
Comfort zone
The youngster excitedly talks about working with Madhu Neelakantan, cinematographer of the movie. Calling it a “bonus and a learning experience”, he says he never felt intimidated by the presence of senior artistes in the cast and crew.
Phantom Praveen
“It was like spending time with an extended family because I have already worked with Ranjiettan (Ranjith Ambadi, make-up), Gopi chettan (Gopi Sunder, music) and Sameera (Sameera Saneesh, costume), among others. It was overwhelming to call the shots for a thespian like Venu chettan (Nedumudi Venu), enacting a pivotal role in the movie.”
Mamta Mohandas, Joju George and Alencier are also in the cast.
The film has been co-produced by Martin Prakkat with whom Praveen started his career in tinsel town. “When I shared the subject with Martin chettan , he said he would produce it and Joju chettan [actor Joju George] joined him. Before I could go through the excitement and nervousness of becoming an independent filmmaker, I was given this film on a platter,” says Praveen, an assistant director in movies such as Mariyam Mukku and Charlie and later associate director in Kochavva Paulo Ayyappa Coelho and Sakhavu .
Capital in focus
As for setting the movie in Thiruvananthapuram, he observes that the city and its ambience was perfect for the subject.
“We could have easily shot the movie in any other part of the state, but the capital city has a flavour of its own with its landmarks such as Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Secretariat, Museum, Pazhavangadi and Manaveeyam Veedhi. It gave us all a lot of positive energy when we came here to finalise the locations. Be it Chengalchoola colony or the Cotton Hill Girls HSS or Attakulangara Central School, everything just fit into what we had planned,” says the 30-year-old.
The interview is incomplete without finding out why he calls himself Phantom Praveen! “‘Phantom’ is a nickname I got from school and I quite liked it. That name stayed with me through my college years because my friends from school were my college friends as well. They used to tell me to keep the nickname when I make a film of my own. So I fulfilled their wish. By the way, my actual name is Praveen P. Joseph!” he signs off with a chuckle.
