Vinesh Vishwanath did not expect the beginning of his direction, Stannee SrikuttanTo start a revolution. Dil-wise about a upper primary school in Thiruvananthapuram, the climax of the upcoming age Malayalam film suggests how a class does a class with a traditional row-based seating arrangement in favor of a semi-circle arrangement with the teacher at the center. Last month, after the release of the film on the OTT platform, Saina Play, it has been adopted by several schools in Kerala.
Says Vinesh, “At least six schools have already introduced it and we have come to know when he tagged our Instagram handle,” Vinesh says.
The idea is looted by the title character of the film, which is an uneven backbane, which is late for class. This concept underlines the need to remove with the practice where the studying children are frontbenchers and often disruptive rebel, backbengers.
RVV HSS in Kollam, a primary level class at Walkom | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
This concept is not new because the District Primary Education Program (DPEP), launched by the Central Government in six states including Kerala, suggested a flexible seating arrangement that some schools tried. However, most educational institutions have been tilted towards the traditional row system.
Vinesh, who wrote the story and wrote the screenplay with Anand Manmadhan, Murali Krishnan and Kailash S. Bhawan, says that he used to sit in his primary classes in Pedikulam, Government LPS in Thiruvannathapuram. “But when we kept it as a climax, we never expected it to reach so many schools,” they say.
A still Stannee Srikuttan
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Aju Varghese, Johnny Antony and a group of child actors killed several factors against the film from the beginning. It was released after a delay of almost a year and despite the flashing reviews, it had to run a small theater. OTT release came after seven months, considered a long gap in business.
The first school to introduce the new seating system was managed by RVV HSS, Walkom, Government of Kerala, Transport Minister, Government of Kerala, who is also an established actor in Malayalam Cinema, in Kollam district. “We had shown it several months before the film reached theaters and liked it very much. We were unaware that he introduced the system in his school until one of his relatives told us. However, we could not promote it when the film was released as the film was released. It was the film’s climax. We revealed only after the start of the film.”
Director’s work
Vinesh Vishwanath, who has directed many short films and a documentary, was an assistant Insertion (2020), directed by Prasobbh Vijayan. The epidemic deprived him of opportunities to work with and directors. ,Stannee Srikuttan There are many characters whose symptoms have been taken from people I know. Some incidents have happened to me during my school days, ”they say.
Vinesh has directed the documentary, Ee bhoometene Peru, Who occupies the visit to the Theater troupe at Thiruvananthapuram, Kanal Samasakarika Vedi, when he traveled to Dibrugar in Assam for Bharat Rang Mahotsav.
According to RVV HSS headmaster Sunil P. Sekhar, the new system was introduced from one to four in classes last year. “We continue with it. It is not possible to have a semi-diabetic layout in all classes because the dimensions of classes and students in each division vary. We have classes where there are 35 to 40 students. In such cases, we have changed the size slightly without compromising the teacher’s views,” Sayl says.
Students of RCC LPS, East Mangad, Vadakkanchari, Thrissur | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Other schools adopting it so far include Pappisi West LP School in Kannur, Endur ALP School at Kannur, RCC LPS East Mangad in Thrissur, GHS in Throat in Palakkad and NSV VHSS in Kolam, Valasode. Most of these schools have less than 20 strength.
Bindu MV, head of the Popiccy West LP School, says the school was happy to try layout, suggested by one of his teachers, Amal C. “We have applied it to one and three classes. Since we have only a few students, we felt it possible,” she says. “Children and teachers have liked it. The class now looks more huge,” says Amal.
Pappinissery West Lp School, Pappinissery, An Class in Kannur | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Sojesh PC, Headmaster of Endur Alps, says he was receptive to the suggestions made by Ethul MT, one of the teachers. “We have separate clubs in the school, and they were the ones who started the film club. We were open to break the conferences while carrying forward this idea,” Sajesh says. Athul says that this is a new seating system in all classes except kindergarten. He said, “We also watched the film for the students because they did not see it all.”
Class V student of Endur ALP School, Thaliil, Kannur | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
According to Elbert Christin, a teacher from RCC LPS, East Mangad, the same idea was previously discussed in various training programs organized by the Department of Education. “Our teachers have done this before.
Filmmaker Vinesh Vishwanath | Photo Credit: Aashiq Babu
The blackboard is arranged in such a way that all students can see it properly, calling Sunil.
However, it should be added that not everyone is happy with the new system. Aalbert says, “Those who enjoyed being backbenners can no longer escape the eyes of their teachers!”
The film is streaming on Saina Play
Published – July 08, 2025 01:12 pm IST
