In under three minutes film director Mamas K. Chandran tells a story, on reel, that is heart warming. A teacher cycles on a narrow path along a hill, crosses a stream and walks some more to reach her students; the commercial opens with a cop recognising an old woman as his teacher. It is a simple story that has found a deep resonance among viewers. The commercial was released online on February 10 has gone viral since, garnering around 27 lakh views across social media platforms, according to Mamas.
“This is one of those rare films which has met universal appreciation. Usually there will be a set of people who would have a problem with any such work. But not this one, I am glad the hard work the team put in has been appreciated,” Mamas says. It was made as part of the run-up to the Eastern Group’s International Women’s Day campaign - Bhoomika - to honour extraordinary ‘ordinary’ women.
Primarily a film maker, Mamas directed Paapi Appacha , Cinema Company and Mannar Mathayi Speaking - 2 . He also makes commercials.
A newspaper report about a single teacher school triggered the concept, he says. “It was there in the back of my mind. Plus my experience with alternative education too contributed to the film’s making.” He had his education at Saarang Alternative School in Palakkad. The learning was outside the classroom with the accent on kids acquiring life skills other than than bookish knowledge. The teacher’s role too varied from those teaching regular schools. These factors lay the ground work for the script, which tells of how a good teacher shapes an individual.
The ‘film’ was shot extensively at Wayanad, Vagamon and Kochi. Filming at Wayanad was an adventure, he says. On more than one occasion the team had to pack-up and run, to avoid getting into trouble with the Forest Department and the police.
“We had the requisite permissions, yet we had to be careful, these areas are sensitive (due to Maoist presence). Any charge could be slapped on us and we would have had to make lifelong trips to Wayanad, to settle the cases,” he jokes.
Mamas’ brief to the team, including himself, was that the product had to be of national quality. “We didn’t have the huge budget of ₹50-₹60 lakh to work with, we had a ₹10 lakh budget to work with, but we were adamant that it had to be good. The entire team has delivered and I am so happy with the outcome.” The love the video has got from his peers in the film industry has enthused him, especially from actor Saiju Kurup who forwarded the film to others such as Mammootty, Dulquer Salman, Nivin Pauly and others. “They all got back, congratulating me.”
The film has been produced by Media Box Office (MBO), the creative team includes Arun Alison (DOP), Sreekumar (editor/colourist), Saurabh Kesav (art director), Anand Madhusoodanan (music), Jaiju Jos (associate director), Sumitha Sudhakar (costume and project designer), Sharran (dubbing), Swarna Vinayan (singer) and Gireesh Kodungallur (production controller).
