In love with the lens
VIJAY GEORGE
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Globetrotter Santosh Sivan, who has made his mark as a cinematographer and director, will shoot his next film in Kerala.
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My film `Navarasa,' is a journey into the heart of the third gender. Santosh Sivan
ON A ROLL: Santosh Sivan's camera has highlighted Kerala's picturesque landscape many a time. PHOTO: S. THANTHONI.
As he turns the pages of the bound script of `Ananthabhadram,' Santosh Sivan runs his hand through his curly, uncombed hair. The shooting for the film, which he is directing, will begin in a day or two in Ottappalam. Santosh has just reached the location after shooting the remaining portions of Paul Berges' `Mistress of Spices' in Thekkady.
Focus on one project
According to the grapevine, he has nixed some high-profile projects to concentrate on this work. "That's true. I want to focus completely on the project," he says.
As another much-awaited film is set to roll, what is his state of mind like? "I have done my homework and I just want the action to start," he says.
`Ananthabhadram,' Sunil Parameswaran's award-winning novel, was earlier announced with Sabu Cyril as the director. How did Santosh come into the scheme of things?
"When Sabu became busy with some other projects, I took over the mantle, obviously, with his consent. I liked the theme a great deal."
The liking for the story of `Ananthabhadram,' "which is just like re-visiting the tales that your grandma once told you," was generated from the fascination for Kerala's picturesque landscape and culture, says Santosh.
"With its scenic locales, Ayurveda, kalari, yoga and so on, Kerala has plenty of attractions to pull in film directors," he says. He has used his camera a number of times to promote tourism in Kerala.
With his flurry of assignments abroad, does he miss Kerala?
"Not really. I do take a break quite often to be with my father and to relax. And, often, I feel that it is more interesting to re-visit Kerala than to stay here always."
For Santosh, a student of Loyola School and Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram, the inclination towards photography was quite natural, as his father is noted photographer-filmmaker, Sivan.
Did he ever contemplate taking up another career?
"Never. The fascination for the camera was there all along," he says.
Santosh, who says that he is into cinematography to make a living, while direction is a passion, had made his mark as a director with some well-appreciated films. Like the Shah Rukh Khan-Kareena Kapoor starrer `Asoka,' `The Terrorist,' which had Ayesha Dharker in the lead, and `Halo.' According to him, `Asoka' "was not made in the typical Bollywood mould."
"My film `Navarasa,' is a journey into the heart of the third gender. It is set in the backdrop of the annual Koovagam festival in a small South Indian town, where the people of the third gender ritually re-enact the story of `Aravan.'"
The protagonist, a 13-year-old girl, is on a journey to find her uncle and bring him back from the fold. And in the process she discovers a whole new world and a new culture (that of the third gender), which she tries to understand.
"I was always interested in direction. After passing out of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, I went to Arunachal Pradesh to shoot a short film," he reminisces. Then he did `Raakh' as an independent cinematographer, "without any prior experience of assisting someone." After working with India's best known directors (Malayalam, Hindi and Tamil) in some top-notch projects, he focussed his attention on the international scene.
"It has taken me to places across the globe, literally. As actor Maniyanpilla Raju quipped recently, one day I may be in Amsterdam and the next day, in Neyyar dam," he laughs.
Santosh says that he is at home in opulent sets as well as in "realistic, low budget films."
He treasures the experience of working with M.F. Hussain for his `Meenaxi: Tale of 3 cities.' "I was amazed at his energy, even at the age of 89. He believes that he is just starting his life right now."
Memorable scenes
Ask him about his best moments as a cinematographer and he says there are far too many to describe. But, he says that the shooting for the song `Rukkumani, Rukkumani... ' in Mani Ratnam's `Roja' was memorable. "We were shooting with lots of older women, who had to dance near a waterfall. On account of the roar of the waterfall, no one could hear what the others said. We had a tough time."
He adds that the shooting for the song `Chaiyya Chaiyya... ' on the top of a running train for `Dil Se' was also fascinating. "We had travelled a lot looking for the right train."
To relax, Santosh likes to paint and to read. His current favourite? `The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' by Mark Haddon.
Santosh says that his next film will also be based on Kerala but refuses to reveal any details.
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