What does it take to make a movie?
Just a digicam and the passion. This was proved by seventh graders Ravi, Hamid and Onka, lead characters in the much-acclaimed ‘Seven Days in Slow Motion' directed by Umakanth Thumrupoti, an animator with Walt Disney and co-produced by K. Basi Reddy, CMD of Digiquest India.
The movie was made in 2009 and has the distinction of being selected in 11 festivals globally in the ‘World' category. On Friday, the cast, crew and their family members had the pleasure of seeing it on screen for the first-time as it was premiered in the Ravindra Bharathi, ahead of it being selected for the 17{+t}{+h} International Children's Film Festival (ICFF) between November 14 and 20.
The script and story of ‘Seven Days in Slow Motion' appears to be simple but has all the complexities of emotions that were showcased by the three young children - Teja, Kunal, Shiva, who essayed the roles Ravi, Hamid and Onka in the 90-minute film. Interestingly, another important role, that of Chand Ray, an actor, was played by Nishanthi, who appeared in the film ‘LBW' earlier.
Mr. Basi Reddy is excited about the film being selected for the 17{+t}{+h} ICFF here, because most of the cast and crew hail from the city. “Kids are the real heroes/heroines of the modern world - a loyal secretary, a greedy banker or an obedient eleven year-old. Disrupt the stereotype with their conscience. They may not change the world at large but they may change the life of one person and its still worth it,” he says, adding that they planned to release it across India in the December/January holiday season.
The film begins when a brown bag with a few books and a Leica Digicam falls out of a moving car and three children pick it up. They have only seven days to make their movie and they do it even keeping their parents completely in the dark, and also manage to write their examinations at the Delhi Public School here.
Music is by Anu Malik, while Derth Adams from New York is the Director of Photography.
