A fiction film titled, Shavam (The Corpse)!
The morbidity and lifelessness of the title, however, is in stark contrast to the feature-length film’s thematic vivacity.
Filmed by debutant Don Palathara, who had previously taken a documentary on the ‘Cinemavandi’, which literary translates into cinema vehicle, a mini van launched by the Kazcha Film Society to tour the length and breadth of Kerala for the screening of parallel, art and low-budget films, Shavam , unusually laced with black humour and aching realism, brings to life the scenes following a death and the journey of the dead to the graveyard.
Filmed in black and white, the movie, says the director, is a satire surrounding a household where someone has died.
“People may have different views on it, but for me, an ordinary, drab incident like a death could spur a certain sense of parodic reactions, ill-managed behaviour and manic human situations,” Don, also the writer of the film, says.
The film is devoid of the drama that’s so endemic to death-related portrayals in films.
Don is averse to the idea of getting the film cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), “as nearly 80 per cent of scenes have someone or the other smoking or drinking”. He will, instead, take it using the Cinemavandi to discerning audiences made available by film collectives and societies.
Some 40-odd newcomers have been cast in the film, taken on a shoestring budget of Rs.7 lakh.
Prathap Joseph has handled the camera while the award-wining duo of Sandeep Kurissery and Jiji Joseph has once again proved their mettle in capturing sync sound.
Don, who received technical training in filmmaking in Sydney, had earlier taken a few short films besides the well-received documentary on the Cinemavandi — which first hit the road with Sanal Kumar Sasidharan’s debut feature, Oralpokkam .
Shavam is set for its preview screening at Children’s Park Theatre on Park Avenue Road under the Cochin Film Society on November 28 at 6 p.m. Actor-producer Prakash Bare and director Dr. Biju will attend the preview.
