Binuraj Kalapeetom has an impressive body of documentary films, most of them biographical. He is now giving the final touches for two films, Frames of a Light Bender on noted auteur Shaji N. Karun and Krishnayanam on Kathakali maestro Sadanam Krishnankutty.
His films are not the fly on the wall kind. He follows the narrative style, often described as old school, but still a preferred mode in documentary films. “I’m not a trained filmmaker but one who jumped into this simply because I love films. Making films is an extension of this passion,” says Binuraj, who is an artist who has exhibited his works in numerous shows.
The brush and palette have been Binuraj’s companions right from his school days. This ardour intensified when he joined St. Albert’s College for his degree. He was elected Arts Club secretary and also went on to win the painting competition at the Mahatma Gandhi University Youth Festival. “Things took a turn when I joined Kerala Kalapeetom some time in 1992. Prof. M.K. Sanoo who was my father’s friend recommended me to M.V. Devan, who was then teaching at Kalapeetom. A whole world of colours and shapes opened before me. I got the chance to watch many great artists and sculptors work. The Cochin Film Society functioned out of Kalapeetom and I got to watch some great films and listen to directors, actors, and technicians.”
In 1994, Binuraj was part of an art camp in Kochi. “It was a mask workshop and the brochure had my name as Binuraj Kalapeetom. The Kerala Lalithakala Akademi had made the change, Devan Sir approved of it and the name stuck.”
Along with his training in art Binuraj dabbled in set designing. “Those were days when Little Theatre and Living Theatre were popular. Elish was directing the play One For The Road . T. Kaladharan, my guru, under whom I still study, suggested that I try my hand at stage designing and recommended my name to Elish. This took a different turn after I met Sabu Cyril. He asked me to come to the sets of Pavithram , which was being shot in and around Piravom. That was the first time I was watching a film being made. I went to Sabu Cyril’s Chennai studio and had a short hands-on training there. It was he who first suggested that I try my hand at making documentary films.”
Binuraj began working on that advice. He was fortunate to find Sabu Mudavathil, a professional theatre actor and art lover, who was ready to fund a film on Prof. M.K. Sanoo. “ Sneha Pournami attempts to capture some intimate moments of this multi-faceted personality. The film was released in 1998, telecast, and was adjudged the best documentary film by Asianet.”
In Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer - The Living Legend , Binuraj tracks the life and times of the former Supreme Court judge and human rights activist V.R. Krishna Iyer through nine decades. “For this film we revisited all the places associated with Justice Iyer's childhood and youth. The film intertwined old photographs along with a commentary of the significant events in Kerala’s history that impacted Justice Iyer’s life. The film was produced by another friend of mine, Sabu Kidangil.”
His other films include Charithram Urguna Vazhikaliloode , on the Marthoma Cathedral at Mulanthuruthy and his most recent one on Artist Namboodiri, Namboodiri: Varayude Kulapathy . The 45-minute documentary on Namboodiri won a Special Jury Mention at the Kerala State Awards in 2011. “A highpoint of this film is K.J. Yesudas’ rendition of the seventh sloka from Soundarya Lahari . He was singing in a documentary after 33 years.”
Two documentaries that have been left unfinished are Devaspandanam , on artist M.V. Devan and a sequel to his film on Namboodiri with a working title, Namboodiri: Varnangalude Swapnadakan . “Like Namboodiri, Devan Sir has contributed so much to our art and culture. But his work has been largely unnoticed. His role in making the All India Writers’ Conference in the early 1970s a success, his paintings, sculptures, illustrations and speeches are all part of the film. My father (K.K. Dharmarajan) who wrote the script for Varakalude Kulapathy has done the script for this too.”
The one on Namboodiri is a rare biographical sequel. Binuraj says that this will be a 30-minute fantasy which will show the artist living his dream of migrating to Paris, where he longs to live, work, and die. “Both these films have not been completed due to various reasons. But I hope I will be able to do it as soon as possible.”
For now Binuraj is busy completing the film on Shaji and Sadanam Krishnankutty. “The film on Shaji Sir will be ready for screening hopefully in December. The film is produced by L. Santhosh and Artist Namboodiri makes his debut as script writer in this film. The other one is slated for release in February next year.”
Binuraj is also working on an ambitious, music-based feature film. “It is only in its preliminary stage. The producer is keen, I’m working on the script and God willing, next year I’ll be able to make an announcement,” he wraps up.
