A steady stream of hope runs through Christo Tomy’s works. His protagonists, despite their circumstances, derive hope from the little things.
Perhaps, it is this same principle that helped Christo win accolades. After passing out from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, in 2015, Christo went on to assist the acclaimed director Adoor Gopalakrishnan in the filming of Pinneyum . When asked how different the filming process was from his prior experiences, he says, “Adoor sir has great clarity of vision. Each scene was meticulously planned out, thus simplifying the filming process. It was as though he had already seen the film in his head. This is why the filming was wrapped up in a single month!” The movie, featuring actors Dileep and Kavya Madhavan in lead roles, is slated for release later this year.
“My fascination for cinema began in my teens. I immersed myself in Indian and foreign films, visited film societies and discovered classics. I was greatly influenced by Hungarian director István Szabó and his use of non-linear storytelling and dream sequences in his films like 25 Fireman’s Street and Lovefilm .” With such ideals in mind, Christo joined SRFTI. In his time there, he “relearned the language of filmmaking” and constantly reworked his ideas so that they were viable. Earlier this year, his movie Kamuki won the National Film Award for best Non-Feature Film Direction. Dealing with the sensitive issue of teenage pregnancy, it managed to connect with the viewer on an emotional level. Christo adds, “It is very important that the audience empathises with the characters onscreen.” In 2014, his movie Kanyaka won the National Film Award for Best First Non-Feature Film of a Director. Shot entirely within the SRFTI campus, the movie deals with a subject that has greatly interested Christo. “I studied in a convent in Kerala and so I was drawn towards the conflicts that arise between a nun’s personal interests and the dictums set by the convent.”
As Malayalam movies gain greater ground today, Christo seems to have arrived in the industry at the right time. “There is an increased interest in regional films among moviegoers. My next project is an independent film set in the backwaters of Kuttanad, Kerala.”
