Thoughts that heal wounds of the mind

Jameela, a short film, attempts to portray how a change in outlook can overcome negative thoughts

February 01, 2012 07:47 pm | Updated 07:47 pm IST

Baby Esther in 'Jameela'

Baby Esther in 'Jameela'

A thought can make or break a life. Like, what happens in the case of little Jameela. She loses her father and elder sister in a bomb blast. After that Jameela stops going to school lest she should be killed. Her mother Suhara is left helpless and frustrated. Neighbours like Chandran master and his family intervene to help Jameela. Finally, things do change. A bad dream sets Jameela free from her fears!

This forms the crux of the short film Jameela, written and directed by Arun Kishore, an ad-maker for nearly 12 years.

On the sidelines of the preview of the film held in the city recently Arun said, “This film shows how a positive outlook or a new thought can change one's world.”

A nightmare sets her free

Jameela is able to overcome her fear when she confronts it, albeit in a nightmare.

“We fall prey to different circumstances. In Jameela's case it was terrorism. It could have been a natural calamity. We have to understand that there is only light, and darkness is only a state when there is no light. This positive outlook can pull us out of any grief. In Jameela's case, the moment she starts looking at death from a different perspective, her fears vanish,” Arun says.

The film has a parallel story, that of Meenakshi, who finds herself alone after her parents are killed in the blast. However, thanks to her grandparents, she starts seeing things differently. The film is essentially about how two children overcome their trauma in two different ways.

The film has its fine moments because of the child actors, Baby Esther (Jameela) and Roshni Madhusoodanan (Meenakshi). It could have done away with some shots. Yet, the storyline needs to be lauded. Kalpana as the meek, grief-stricken Suhara, Mammukkoya as Chandran master and other actors have done justice to their roles.

The film has been shot in and around picturesque Kadinamkulam and the frames are absolutely beautiful, thanks to camerawork by S. Kumar. It has been produced by K.B. Madhusoodhanan. Background score is by Pandit Ramesh Narayanan.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.