This deeply intimate work depicts the emotional battles of a family as father (Venu) and daughter (Janaki) struggle to save mother (Chitra) from falling into the abyss of self-harm and depression.
Indu Lakshmi’s AppuramOne of the Malayalam films in the competition section of the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), will be premiered on Saturday.
Told from the perspective of a teenager, Appuram is a sensitive exploration of psychological issues and a woman’s battle with superstition.
Filmmaker Indu Lakshmi’s second film Appuram (The Other Side) sensitively penetrates those gray areas of the mind where one woman’s reality is threatened by the bouts of depression that torment her. This deeply intimate work depicts the emotional battles of a family as father (Venu) and daughter (Janaki) struggle to save mother (Chitra) from falling into the abyss of self-harm and depression.
Poet and novelist Indu says that this is a story which is very personal to her. Written by him, Appuram It is a nuanced exploration of a woman’s relationship with her husband and teenage daughter as she swings between stages of mental turmoil and stability.
Indu says the film is also based on archaic beliefs focused on menstruation and female agency, and the patriarchal ecosystem that confines women to traditional roles within the family and society under the guise of providing care and protection to women. For example, the mother is haunted by the memory that her father prevented her from pursuing higher education even after she topped her school exams.
with sympathy
Instead of melodrama and harsh tones, Indu portrays Chitra’s mood with sympathy; The warm expressions the family shares are a contrast to the pain they experience when Chitra falls into despair.
The warm expressions the family shares are a contrast to the pain they experience when Chitra falls into despair.
“Shot in sync sound, the film is narrated from Janaki’s perspective as she struggles to get her voice heard, especially in the home of her conservative grandparents. In a society that denies a woman’s ideas, her ambitions and desires, the teenager has to look within herself to find the strength to fulfill her mother’s wishes,” says Indu.
She further adds that the film is based on Janaki’s “love for her mother and her fear of losing her”.
Jagadish (Venu), Mini IG (Chitra) and Anagha Maya Ravi (Janaki) are playing lead roles in the film. “I am grateful to my actors as they put in extra efforts to support my film. There were days when a senior actor like Jagadish sir worked for more than 12 to 18 hours to ensure that our film was completed on time,” says Indu.
Praising her actors, Indu further says that Mini and Anagha lived their characters on screen.
The cast also includes theater artists from Surya Krishnamurthy’s troupe.
Prime location
Shot in and around Thiruvananthapuram on a very low budget within nine days, the main location of the film was a house in Venganoor. She adds, “A few more days were required to shoot some scenes in the Himalayas and on the highway.”
Appuram Produced by Indu and Ravi Sridhar under the banner of Indus Cinemas. Filmed by Rakesh Dharan and edited by Appu Bhattathiri, of Appuram The music is composed by Bijibal.
Appuram This has come as a big shock for the techie turned filmmaker actor. Indu, one of the filmmakers selected under a scheme by the state government’s Kerala State Film Development Corporation to promote women’s participation in film production, says she had to face a lot of trouble during the making of her first film. Blue It is a chapter she wants to forget.
Indu is also the scenographer of the critically acclaimed film DaimWhich was showcased at MAMI Festival and 2023 IFFK. He has also directed three short films.
Appuram It will be premiered at Tagore Theater on 14 December at 9 am and at Kairali on 16 December at 6 pm and New Theater (Screen 1) on 18 December at 11.45 am.
published – December 13, 2024 07:22 PM IST
