It is drizzling outside Juice Lounge on R.C. Road in Kozhikode. The bright lights set up in various corners of the cafeteria gradually nullify the cold nip in the air, even as the crew of Green Apple prepares for a shot of Kaniha and Tiny Tom who are seated across a small table.
Director Haridas discusses the shot with cinematographer Sajith Menon and his associates. “It is a short scene that we are going to shoot right now. Kaniha and Tiny have come for a cup of tea. They also have a little argument,” says the director.
Kaniha is dressed casually in a white embroidered kurti and black tights, with her hair tied into a neat ponytail. Tiny is dressed smartly in black trousers and grey shirt, with sleeves rolled up. He is sporting a trendy beard as well as spectacles.
“Tiny plays Leo, a software professional, while Kaniha is Abhirami, his wife, who is working in a private insurance company. Theirs is a lower middle class family and they often find that their pay cheques do not always take care of their needs. In fact, right now they are discussing a financial problem,” explains Haridas, director of films such as Georgekutty c/o Georgekutty and Kinnaripuzhayoram .
He adds that Leo is a bit upset that Abhirami has offered to pay a big amount as donation to their daughter’s school. “Leo is trying to convince her that they cannot afford to gift so much to the school. But Abhirami retorts that good schools are expensive,” he says. Then he interacts with the actors to explain what he expects in the scene.
Kaniha and Tiny take their seats. A few junior artistes are also seated elsewhere and a couple of boys enter the frame, dressed as waiters, with trays in their hands. The little argument, without either of the two lead actors raising their voices, begins and the camera starts rolling. The same shot is repeated from various angles and a few close-ups of Tiny and Kaniha are canned. And that marks the end of the day’s proceedings.
“ Green Apple is about how a lower middle-class family struggles to keep up with the demands of a big city. Leo and Abhirami, as their names suggest, are from different religions, and have therefore no support, financial or otherwise, from their families. This tale is told from a woman’s perspective, about some of the choices she has to make in her life,” says Haridas.
Green Apple is written by K.P. Sunil, who says the story is about how a young woman, a loyal wife and loving mother, handles a difficult situation in her life. “Her life changes when she meets Madhav Das (Prathap Pothen). Abhirami is a strong woman, very much a today’s woman. And I am glad that we could rope in Kaniha for that role,” he says.
Kaniha did not think twice before accepting the role. “It is not everyday that you get an author-backed role like this. I am happy that I am doing a film which revolves around me,” says the actor who made her mark in Malayalam cinema with films such as Pazhassi Raja , Bhagyadevatha and Spirit .
Tiny too looks quite pleased. “Leo is different from anything I have done so far. Of late I have been rejecting many films because they did not offer anything new,” he says.
Praveena, Kochu Preman, Atlas Ramachandran and newcomer Al Ameen are also in the cast.
Lyrics by Prakash Marar have been tuned by Ouseppachan. Still photographer is Vidyasagar.
