Think forests, wildlife, greenery and more greenery. Add to this a generous splash of entertainment and adventure. How do you think the result would be?
Soon to be released children's feature film “Chithrakuzhal: The bird catcher” packages these exciting ingredients as a treat for children who will get a peek into the amazing ranges of Western Ghats through the film.
Learning about nature
Directed by Majeed Gulistan, the film is an adventure thriller set in the backdrop of the forests of the Western Ghats in South Kerala.
The film, starring child artists Amal Ashok, Sidharthan and Meera Nair, is about sharing and showing compassion to nature and our fellow beings.
“This is a children's film through which we have tried to address environmental issues, like global warming, climate change and deforestation. The main theme of the film is sharing and compassion between human beings and nature. As it was entirely shot in forest locations, it was also a challenging film to make,” said Mr. Majeed Gulistan speaking at a press meet held here recently.
“Chithrakuzhal: The bird catcher” tells the story of Vidrundhan, a tribal boy, who tries to rescue his classmate Charu, the forest ranger's son, who is kidnapped by poachers. The duo meets Amina, another classmate, who is running away from the police. The film depicts the daring journey the three children set out on.
Produced by Dhirubhai Productions, the film has the distinction of being the first Dolby Digital children's film in Malayalam. It has been shot in the deep forests of Peppara, Neyyar, Agasthyarkoodam and Meenmutty and boasts of scenic shots with glimpses of some rare wildlife and flora and fauna.
“Most of the locations that we have shot in were caught in camera for the first time. Sometimes we had to walk long distances to reach the location,” said Mr. Majeed who has directed numerous short films and documentaries. Cinematographer M.J. Radhakrishnan said that the experience of spending around 20 days in the forest itself was rewarding.
Thrilling experience
“It was thrilling to stay in the forest for so many days. It gave me the chance to learn more about forests and wildlife,” said an excited Sidharthan who plays Charu in the film. Meera Nair, who plays Amina, said that some of the shots were very challenging. “The shot on the wooden raft was the most challenging for me,” she said.
Master Amal, who plays the lead role of Virundhan, added that shooting in forests was most exciting. “Pushing our jeep through the mud track to reach the location was fun,” giggled the young prodigy.
Actors Madhu, Indran and Vijayaraghavan also don major roles in the film which is expected to be released before July.
