If there is one role that Arun Viswam longed to perform other than as a uniformed officer, it is that of a film-maker.
A civil police officer at the Chottanikkara police station, this 39-year-old from Thalayolapparambu in Kottayam district is chasing his dreams, literally. Having joined the State police 12 years ago, he becomes the first serving officer from the force to win the prestigious Kerala State Film Award. His first directorial venture, Kolumittayi , was chosen as the Best Children’s Film.
Back in 2005, when he was associated with the award-winning Oridam , Arun thought it was just a hobby. But then, his association with Abrid Shine, a popular film-maker and his childhood friend, turned things head-on.
“I worked as assistant to Shine for 1983 and Action Hero Biju . It was my association with him that gave me the confidence to make a film on my own,” Arun recalled.
It was Santosh Anima, a cinematographer who worked for 1983 , who first pitched the idea of Arun directing a feature film independently. Subsequently, when Abhijith Asokan, who produced Kolumittayi , approached him with the idea of making a short-film, they decided to develop it into a full-length feature film.
“In fact, the whole script was developed around the climax of the story that Abhijith had planned for a short-film. It took us 52 days to shoot the film and the central characters of the movie — all school-going children — were selected through an audition,” Arun said.
The film, set in the 1980s, opens with the life of Unni and his friends, all Standard VI students of a village school. In addition to 30 child actors, the cast includes Saiju Kurup, Dinesh Prabhakar, Devi Ajith, and Krishnaprabha.
The movie, released on November 4 last year, was screened in around 25 cinemas across the State. But thanks to demonetisation, it did not do well at the box office despite rave reviews.
Though elated at the recognition, Arun, however, is yet to celebrate it. When the announcement came on Tuesday evening, Arun was busy discussing his next project, and the next day, he travelled to Chottanikkara to thank his colleagues.
“Besides my family, I should be thankful to my colleagues for their whole-hearted support, without which I would not have reached this far,” Arun said, before signing off.
