The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : From behind the lens

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Saturday, Jul 14, 2007
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

From behind the lens

Special Correspondent

. —Photo: S. Gopakumar

In Focus: Cinematographer Santosh Sivan

Thiruvananthapuram: The lack of basic infrastructure has hampered the development of Kerala as a major destination for the film industry, according to Santosh Sivan, noted cinematographer. Addressing a meet-the-press programme organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club here on Friday, Mr. Sivan said the absence of a support system for the film industry was a major hurdle in Kerala, despite the good locations for filming.

Recounting his experience in other parts of the world, the widely-travelled cinematographer, said countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom were offering tax benefits and infrastructure support for film makers.

Asked about the budget limitations for Malayalam films, Mr. Sivan attributed it to the size of the market. “Bollywood films are made for a world-wide audience. They are also patronised by the diaspora from other States. Malayalis, on the other hand, would rather watch a VCD than go to a theatre, he observed. Quizzed about his ongoing projects, Mr. Sivan said he had completed principal filming and post production for a Hollywood film‘Before the Rains.’ Shot in Munnar, the film takes a look at life during the colonial era in 1937. “I have tried to maintain a flavour of Kerala in the film, which is all about human drama. The language is a mix of English and Malayalam,” he explained. ‘Before the Rains’ has been selected for the Toronto film festival in September this year.

Another film titled ‘Wedding Party,’ a fictional account of life in Afghanistan, is to be shot in Morocco or Ladakh. Mr.Sivan is also working on a BBC production on AIDS for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

A graduate from the Film and Television Institute of India, Mr. Sivan has wielded the camera for 45 feature films and 41 documentaries in Hindi, English, Tamil and Malayalam.

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