Inside a modest room in a hotel in Aluva, Sreenivasan is browsing the photo folder on his mobile phone. He is essaying Satheesh at the location of debutant director Manoj Aravindakshan’s Swargathekkaal Sundaram and the shot has him looking at the photos of his character’s son.
“We are narrating a family and social drama here, with some topical issues,” says Manoj. “Let me put it this way, our lives are generally defined by our own happiness and sorrows. Perhaps, life will become more beautiful when we start living for others…”
Besides Satheesh, there are three more characters of equal importance in the film – Maniyan (Lal), Lopez (Joy Mathew) and Jaya (Mythily), who take the story ahead. “Satheesh, a family man, is going through some tough times. He works for Lopez, a businessman. Jaya and Maniyan are in a relationship,” says the director. The action shifts to a corridor of the hotel, where actor Jaffer Idukki is in an animated conversation with a colleague. Meanwhile, some members of the crew are busy preparing to shoot the climax, which will be filmed on the floor above. The director says that more details about the scene being canned will give away the suspense in the storyline.
Sreenivasan, who has just completed Nagaravaaridhi Naduvil Njaan and will join Chirakodinja Kinavukal next, says that “because of my acting assignments, I have not been able to devote time to writing much. I am planning to slowly get back into the groove.”
Joy Mathew, who will be seen in a few different getups in the film, explains about his character thus: “Lopez, is a ruthless businessman. He is a strict disciplinarian and his only concern is to make more money.”
After making the widely appreciated Shutter , Joy has become one of the busiest actors in the business. “I am enjoying this phase doing roles of various shades. I am planning to start my new film next year,” he adds.
Swargathekkaal Sundaram is being produced by Shaji Thomas under the banner of Ponnu Films. Sameer Haq wields the camera and Rakesh Kesavan composes the music. Stills are by Hasif Hakkeem.
