Actor Lal is deep in conversation with debutant director Joy Mathew at a deserted plot near Payyoli, in Kozhikode.
Joy, an actor-turned-director, is surveying the scene for the day's shooting. A set has been created to pass for the interiors of a one-room shop. “The make-shift walls are made in such a way that we can remove them and thus shoot from different angles,” says the director who played the hero in John Abraham's ‘Amma Ariyan.'
The scene being canned has Lal and Vinay (of Sibi Malayil's ‘Apoorvaragam') sharing a drink along with a group of people. Joy goes up to cinematographer Hari Nair and discusses the different angles the scene will require.
Scene of action
As the actors rehearse, the director talks about the scene. “Lal plays Rasheed, who has recently come back from the Gulf to set up a small business of his own in his village. This shop is a venue where he often meets his friends, one of whom is an auto driver Suran (Vinay),” explains Joy, who has also written the screenplay.
He adds that the film is about a few incidents that change the lives of the people involved. “Rasheed leads a happy life with his family. He enjoys spending time with his friends. One day, he gets involved in an incident and his life is not the same anymore,” says the director.
Sreenivasan plays the other main role in the film – as a film director. Theatre actor Sajitha Madathil plays the female lead.
Lal, who has just completed the scene, talks about his character. “This is one of the most interesting scripts I have come across recently. I liked it so much that I kept on calling him up and wanted to know about the progress of the script; I haven't ever done that for any other film,” says the actor.
He is confident that ‘Shutter' will be noticed. “Today in Malayalam cinema, it is the script that matters, much more than stars,” says Lal, who has himself co-authored some of the biggest blockbusters in Malayalam such as ‘Ramji Rao Speaking,' ‘In Hariharan Nagar,' and ‘Godfather.'
Active in theatre
Joy, who has been active in theatre, says he has been working on the script for quite some time. “I always wanted Sreenivasan and Lal to play the two prominent roles in ‘Shutter.' I am glad that they agreed to do the film, though I had no previous experience as a director,” he says.
‘Shutter' is produced by Abra Films International. Music is by Shahabaz Aman. Resul Pookutty designs sound. Stills are by Ramdas Mathur.
‘Shutter' will open in cinemas in January, 2012.
