A thought can make or break a life. Like, what happens in the case of little Jameela. She loses her father and elder sister in a bomb blast. After that Jameela stops going to school lest she should be killed. Her mother Suhara is left helpless and frustrated. Neighbours like Chandran master and his family intervene to help Jameela. Finally, things do change. A bad dream sets Jameela free from her fears!
This forms the crux of the short film Jameela, written and directed by Arun Kishore, an ad-maker for nearly 12 years.
On the sidelines of the preview of the film held in the city recently Arun said, “This film shows how a positive outlook or a new thought can change one's world.”
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Jameela is able to overcome her fear when she confronts it, albeit in a nightmare.
“We fall prey to different circumstances. In Jameela's case it was terrorism. It could have been a natural calamity. We have to understand that there is only light, and darkness is only a state when there is no light. This positive outlook can pull us out of any grief. In Jameela's case, the moment she starts looking at death from a different perspective, her fears vanish,” Arun says.
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The film has a parallel story, that of Meenakshi, who finds herself alone after her parents are killed in the blast. However, thanks to her grandparents, she starts seeing things differently. The film is essentially about how two children overcome their trauma in two different ways.
The film has its fine moments because of the child actors, Baby Esther (Jameela) and Roshni Madhusoodanan (Meenakshi). It could have done away with some shots. Yet, the storyline needs to be lauded. Kalpana as the meek, grief-stricken Suhara, Mammukkoya as Chandran master and other actors have done justice to their roles.
The film has been shot in and around picturesque Kadinamkulam and the frames are absolutely beautiful, thanks to camerawork by S. Kumar. It has been produced by K.B. Madhusoodhanan. Background score is by Pandit Ramesh Narayanan.