On home ground
P.K. AJITH KUMAR
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A major part of `Photographer' is being shot in Kozhikode.
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RIGHT CAST: Director Ranjan Pramod, left, felt only Mohanlal could do justice to the role of Dijo John.
To shoot his debut movie `Photographer,' Ranjan Pramod decided to stick to his home base, Kozhikode. He is filming a good part of `Photographer' in Kozhikode, his hometown. In fact, it's at his house at Meenchanda, on the outskirts of Kozhikode, that many scenes are being canned.
Lights, action, camera
After five days of incessant rain, the camera starts rolling. The scene is nature photographer Dijo John's home. His wife, Sathya, is worried that he hasn't returned from a tour; she hasn't heard anything from him for days.
Her face lights up when she sees Dijo's elder brother approaching the house, but he does not have any news. He still doesn't know what has happened to his brother. "But there is nothing to worry about," he tries to console Sathya.
"Was the scene okay this time?" wonders Ramachandran, the actor who couldn't make it big despite a promising debut in Padmarajan's `Novemberinte Nashtam.' The director assures him that it was.
The next scene creates quite a stir among the many onlookers, for it features Mohanlal, who plays Dijo.
Clad in a black shirt and white `mundu,' the star is the cynosure of all eyes. It's a short scene with Neethasree, the debutante who is donning the role of Sathya, and Saugandh, Ranjan's son, who is playing the couple's child.
The script-writer-turned-director says the shooting has progressed as per schedule, despite the rain.
"As everything had been planned well, there have been no delays, so far. The film narrates how a political incident changes the life of a photographer; how it changes the way he thinks. Yes, the film is based on the Muthanga incident, which upset me as a human being."
Successful scenarist
Ranjan, who has already proved himself as a scenarist with `Meesa Madhavan,' `Naran' and `Achuvinte Amma,' believes that the film would not have been possible without Mohanlal.
"While writing the script, I knew only he could portray this character. He's so well-acquainted with the script that he knows each of his scenes and I have very little explaining to do."
Mohanlal says working with Ranjan has been a pleasant experience. "I know him well and it's an interesting role I am playing," adds Mohanlal who is on a roll after three consecutive hits in recent months.
But choosing the rest of the cast was a challenge, says Ranjan.
"It took me quite a while to get the actors I wanted, but it was worth the wait. I believe it's vital to get the cast you want; they have to look the parts completely. That's why they have a casting director in Hollywood. The biggest challenge was finding a boy from among the tribal people of Wayanad; I combed the entire district before zeroing in on Mani. Pichai Ammal, who plays Neethasree's grandmother, has also turned out to be a find."
The film stars Biju Menon, Murali, Manoj K. Jayan, Venu Nagavally and Mamukkoya.
"I'm happy that I have an excellent crew to work with, like cameraman Alagappan, who has been involved with this project months before we began shooting, and art director Premachandran, who has changed the way my house looks," says Ranjan.
The film, produced by Howly Pottoor, marks the return of music composer Johnson, who has set to tune songs written by Kaithapram. After the Kozhikode schedule, the unit will return to Wayanad.
The film is being planned as a Ramzan release.
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