‘Hey Jude’ is a rom-com: Shyamaprasad

Shyamaprasad talks about his new film ‘Hey Jude’, why it’s special for him and Malayalam cinema now

February 03, 2018 01:02 pm | Updated 01:02 pm IST - Thiruvananthapuram

 Shyamaprasad

Shyamaprasad

Shyamaprasad has never been part of the herd in Mollywood. Always ahead of the curve, the filmmaker’s oeuvre is studded with cinematic gems that go beyond the binaries of emotions and familial ties. With great dexterity and sensitivity, he explores those grey areas in society. Not someone to be constrained by templates for hits or commercial films, his kind of multi-layered films have made him a reel artist with a rich tapestry of works.

Naturally, every film of his evokes excitement among cineastes on account of its thematic content, cast, treatment and that unpredictability. So it is with Hey Jude , the latest in his enviable oeuvre which released on Friday.

As MetroPlus catches up with him to talk cinema, he is nursing a cold but is all smiles as he talks about his first “rom-com”. Before we begin the conversation, Shyamaprasad asks for a hot, strong tea. It looks like the common milky, sugary tea is not his cuppa. Much like his films, he seems to turn away from bland, commercial flavours. His films, like the tea that reaches the table, are brewed, filtered and seeped in the strong flavours and aroma of the earth and the environment. Brimming with hidden accents and fragrances, his films explore and tease out the hidden recesses of the mind and its strengths and weaknesses.

Hey Jude also is about angularities, quirks and idiosyncrasies of people. Hey Jude... also happens to be one of the biggest Beatles’ hits ever.

Favourite number

“As a Beatles fan, it has remained one of my favourite numbers. And, in Kovalam, there is a small cafe called Beatles where I like to hang out. The character came to my mind during one of my visits there. I decided I would make a film about a character called Jude and call the film Hey Jude . The cafe figures in the movie but it is in Goa,” says Shyamaprasad, as he stirs in the sugar.

 Nivin Pauly in a still from Hey Jude

Nivin Pauly in a still from Hey Jude

Shyamaprasad’s works stand out because he is not in the numbers game. He takes his time, conducts rehearsals, spends time with the cast and crew and is not willing to cut corners to make a quick buck.

As a result, his films, whether they charm the box office or not, have a niche audience and a timeless appeal.

Hey Jude , produced by Anil Ambalakara, is a first for the film director as it , “a kind of rom-com about a family who lives life on their own terms”. “No, they are not dysfunctional but they are different,” he smiles, during an interaction at Alchemy, a cafe at YMR junction in Thiruvananthapuram.

Starring Nivin Pauly and Trisha in the lead roles of Jude and Crystal, the film, says the director, is a coming-of-age movie where Jude finds himself.

While the song written by Paul McCartney is all about motivating Jude to discover his strengths and confidence, the movie, according to Shyamaprasad, is only broadly referenced on the song and it is more about a youngster’s inner voyage.

 Nivin Pauly in a still from Hey Jude

Nivin Pauly in a still from Hey Jude

Not one to repeat stars or themes, Hey Jude happens to be Nivin’s third work with the award-winning filmmaker. Each of their projects has revealed an unseen face of the actor.

While Nivin played a Casanova in English , Ivide had him portraying a ruthlessly ambitious man with a chip on his shoulder. “I had this story with me when Nivin expressed his wish to work with me and I felt I owed him this role. His role in English was not all that big while Ivide was a two-hero film. Nivin’s full potential as an actor has been tapped in Hey Jude and he has done an excellent job,” says Shyamaprasad.

Keeping Nivin company is Trisha, making her debut in Malayalam cinema. Crystal is a Malayali girl living outside Kerala and so the director decided to look beyond Malayalam cinema for his character.

Since Crystal and her father, played by Vijay Menon, stay in Goa, Trisha was apt for the role.

“Although she is usually seen in big-budget Tamil films, I felt there was a sensitivity and grace that she brings to her roles. A certain kind of professionalism,” feels the director. He agrees that as Trisha was not familiar with the language, he had to go for dubbing and not shoot in sync sound, his first preference. “Sayanora has dubbed for her. There is an actress in her who can emote and tune in to the character’s emotional spectrum,” exclaims Shyamaprasad with a pleased look.

Music bonanza

That is not all that is special about Hey Jude . For the first time, Shyamaprasad has worked with four music directors in a film, all of whom has worked in his previous films. Ouseppachan, Rahul Raj, Gopi Sundar and M. Jayachandran have composed the music for lyrics written by Prabha Varma, Vinayak Sasikumar, Madhu Vasudevan and Harinarayanan.

Filmed by Gireesh Gangadharan, DOP of Angamaly Diaries , the film begins with a journey from Kochi to Goa. “There is a lightness about the film and the way I have handled it.” Pausing for moment, he adds: “It has its dark moments but it is more of a rom-com.”

Once Jude is given over to viewers, Shyamaprasad will be back working on his new project – “a new film based on a controversial novel in Malayalam. The script is all done and casting is going on. I am going back to my Ore Kadal days,” he says, draining his cuppa and settling back in, all set for the next task.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.