Kerala - Alappuzha   

Bonding with the backwaters

A. Harikumar

KERALA INSPIRING: Film director Cheran says he experiences a feeling of déjà vu when he arrives in Kuttanad.

ALAPPUZHA: The semi-arid lands of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu and the waterlogged villages of Kuttanad in Kerala have very little in common. Yet, noted Tamil film director Cheran, a native of Tirunelveli district, says he experiences a feeling of déjà vu when he arrives in Kuttanad and the nearby town of Alappuzha.

Speaking at a Meet-the-Press programme at the Alappuzha Press Club on Friday, Mr. Cheran said it was A. Kabir, president of MACTA Production Executives' Union, who introduced him to Alappuzha. "The serene backwaters and the green canopied villages stirred up my creativity," he said. It was in Kuttanad that his hugely successful film `Autograph' was conceived. Cheran wrote the script of `Autograph' in Kuttanad and also shot parts

of the film here.

Cheran is now in Alappuzha to work on the script of his next venture. Malayalam actress Navya Nair is the heroine of the yet-to-be-named film. Cheran himself dons the role of hero. The film will be shot at various locations in Tamil Nadu, he said. Replying to a question, Cheran said language was not a barrier to enjoying a film. The success of `Autograph' in Kerala was an example, he said.

Cheran said he planned to do a Malayalam film, though not immediately. "I can understand Malayalam but cannot speak the language fluently. I'll do the film after I become fluent in the language," he said.

Cheran said he had high regard for the Malayalam film industry and its actors. Here the story is very important and the actors are masters in reflecting the nuances of emotions. The subtle issues of life are themes of films here. Tamil films are created on a much larger canvas.

Cheran felt the Tamil film industry should have better actors. The director said he wished to remake the Malayalam film `Udayananu Tharam' in Tamil. However, the absence of an actor in Tamil who can play the role essayed by Sreenivasan was proving to be a hindrance.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Bonding with the backwaters
Nod for new road from Cherthala to Arookkutty

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu