Campus capers on screen
VIJAY GEORGE
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`Classmates,' directed by Lal Jose, is a campus story that revolves around a group of friends.
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The younger generation is talented but their talent has not been properly tapped by the filmmakers here. LAL JOSE
BACK TO COLLEGE: `Classmates' is based on a campus in the early nineties.
It is indeed a casting coup of sorts. Prithviraj, Narain, Indrajith, Jayasurya and Kavya Madhavan, youngsters who have made their mark in Mollywood, are some of the actors in Lal Jose's `Classmates.'
The movie was shot on the picturesque CMS College campus in Kottayam and nearby locations.
As the title suggests, the story revolves around a batch of students, graduates of the class of `92. Working in different corners of the world, the friends, get together to revive the joy and laughter of their student days.
"It can be called a celebration of memories. The film is nostalgic as it brings back memories of our college days," says Lal Jose.
But Lal Jose makes it clear that it's not just all about chocolate romance or song and dance.
He says: There have been quite a number of memorable films based on the campus. Films like `Ulkkadal,' `Shalini ente koottukari' and `Sarvakalasala' belonged to that genre. Those films had realistic themes. My attempt is to make a movie of that kind.
The younger generation is talented but their talent has not been properly tapped by the filmmakers here. It's only a matter of time before they prove their worth and a good script could make the difference. For me it's the script that reigns supreme in the making of a film."
The storyline
P. Sukumaran (Prithviraj) was a firebrand student leader owing allegiance to the Left while Satheesan Kanjikuzhy (Jayasoorya) led the rival group. `Vaalu' Vasu (Vijeesh) is his trusted crony. Pious (Indrajith) is a rich college Romeo while Thara Kurup (Kavya Madhavan), daughter of the local MLA, is a dancer. Others in the group include Rasiya (Radhika) who is called `Penguin,' on account of her dress sense and Koshi (Anoop), the `brains.'
It was Murali (Narain), a singer, who used to insist on the group meeting after 10 years or so after their graduation. As Murali dies under mysterious circumstances while in college, his parents, who are teachers in the college, take it upon themselves to bring them together. Balachandra Menon and Sobha Mohan enact the roles of the parents.
Sukumaran now has a diamond business in Mumbai, Satheesan is an MLA, Vasu is his side kick, Thara runs a dance school and Pious is settled in the Gulf. As with their college days, their re-union too proves to be eventful.
James Albert makes his debut as the scenarist for this movie produced by Prakash Harikrishnan and Muraleedharan, under the Arya films banner. Rajeev Ravi wields the camera.
How much of the story is autobiographical ?
"Except for certain shades of some of the characters and a few incidents, the rest of the story is fiction," he says.
He adds that several incidents in the movie are narrated from the perspective of more than one person. The movie has elements of suspense too.
Indrajith is delighted over his role as a NRI scion who lends a touch of comedy to the movie. "I play a rich brat who cares two hoots about politics. A Romeo, he believes in impressing the girls."
Jaysoorya says the character he plays bears no resemblance to himself. "I have no interest in politics, but my character in the movie is."
The film has music by Alex Paul and the lyrics are by Vayalar Sarat Chandra Varma. `Classmates' is slated to hit the theatres on August 25.
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