Magic and mystery
VIJAY GEORGE
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A sizzling song and dance number has Aravind and Shwetha Menon swinging on the sets of `Tanthra.'
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STRIKING A POSE: Aravind Aakash and Shwetha Menon in `Tanthra.'
He's danced his way into a million hearts as Krishna in `Nandanam.' She is known for her sultry looks and trim figure. The two - Aravind and Shwetha Menon - are swaying to the beats of a song, for the camera, of course. Debutant director K.J. Bose's `Tanthra' is being wrapped up on a studio floor in Kochi.
`Tanthra' is "the synthesis of myth, magic and mystery." Bose, a former scribe who has assisted Shaji Kailas, was attracted to the theme after his meeting with a `tantrik.'
"His anecdotes and the prospects of a thrilling story and colourful visuals motivated me to do more research on the theme," says the director.
The story
The story begins with Suryadharman (Siddique) and his wife Vedavathi (Aiswarya) who live in Malabar. His deep knowledge of the Vedas and `tanthravidya' leads him to experiment with its powers. Just before the start of a crucial pooja, the couple has a guest. Kiran Varma (Aravind) is there to learn more about `tanthra' and to make a documentary for an international channel, along with his fiancée Shwetha (Shwetha Menon), a well-known Mumbai model. Shwetha's brother has been missing for some time. In fact, Kiran has brought her to Kerala to help her recuperate from the depression brought on by her brother's strange disappearance. But things take a mysterious turn from then on.
"The story of `Tanthra' has an universal flavour and we have been careful about the cast. Alex Paul, the music director, has put in lots of effort to create the right kind of rhythm to suit the mood of the film," says Bose.
Aravind Aakash, who was known as Aravindar during his `Nandanam' days, hopes that with `Tanthra' he will be back in the reckoning in Malayalam.
"I am not particular about playing `solo hero' and hopes to do meaningful characters," he says. Shwetha is excited to be back in Mollywood after a pretty long hiatus, but feels that "I was never really away from my home in Kozhikode."
The `Asia Pacific' title in the Miss India contest in 1994, made her a hot favourite up north. Films like `Bandhan' and `Ishq' gave her the sex symbol tag. The Kamasutra campaigns merely confirmed it.
Mention that and she's in splits. "I never knew that I had raised so many eyebrows here with that ad."
Her forthcoming films include `Kisse Pyar Karoon' with Arshad Warsi and Madhur Bhandarkar's eagerly awaited film, `Corporate.'
Will she be seen more in Malayalam from now on? "It will depend on the kind of films that I am offered," she says with a smile.
`Tanthra' has been scripted by the director himself. Sadath cranks the camera, art direction is by Gokuldas. Stills are by Sunil Guruvayoor.
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