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‘Ammu …’ goes places
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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Producer Rufus Parker is elated that ‘Ammuvaagiya Naan’ was selected for screening in the Indian Panorama section at the recent IFFI 2007, in Goa.
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Path-breaking: Producer Rufus Parker.
Just back from the International Film Festival (IFFI 2007) in Panaji, Goa, where his film ‘Ammuvaagiya Naan,’ was selected for screening in the Indian Panorama section, producer Rufus Parker, an NRI from the U.S., is a happy man.
“The response was tremendous. After Mani Ratnam’s ‘Nayakan’ in 1988, only ‘Ammu …’ and ‘Periyar’ have won the honour,” he says.
Stiff competition
The competition was stiff. The other contenders (Tamil) included ‘Mozhi,’ ‘Pallikoodam’ and ‘Paruththi Veeran.’
Parker lives in San Francisco, where he has done a course in film processing and hi-definition digital filmmaking. It was when he came down to Chennai to make a documentary that he first met Padma Magan, the director of ‘Ammuvaagiya Naan.’
“I was impressed with his story of ‘Ammu …’ and decided to produce it,” Parker recalls. But strangely the two went on to make ‘Pallavan’ first, with Manoj K. Bharati.
“We thought we’ll begin with a commercial film.” ‘Pallavan’ created few ripples. Yet Parker’s confidence in Padma Magan was intact. “I knew he’s very talented,” he compliments.
Tightrope walk
So after a hiatus the producer returned, ready to go ahead with ‘Ammu …’
“Getting a heroine was really tough,” laughs Parker. “We approached Simran, Sneha and Sandhya, but they weren’t willing. Yet Sneha had done a sex worker’s role in ‘Pudhupettai’!
A scene from Ammuvaagiya Naan.
“Probably they hesitated because the director was fairly new. After all it was a tightrope walk. Even a slightly erroneous move could have made things vulgar and resulted in the film’s collapse, but Padma lent it the subtlety it warranted,” he explains.
New face
So they began looking out for a little known face with potential. Bharati filled the bill and ‘Ammu …’ happened.
Parthiban, another perfect choice, is generally known for his on-screen loquacity. But he plays a fairly taciturn hero in ‘Ammu …’
“We deliberately had it that way, because his face can convey myriad emotions.” The Censors were very appreciative of ‘Ammu…’ and certified it without cuts.
At the fest, film lovers from various countries watched ‘Ammu …’ and heaped encomiums on Parker and Padma Magan.
“Also many Malayalam and Hindi directors congratulated us after the screening and described it a masterpiece,” says Parker and adds: “One thing beats me. In the U.S. we look at all our products as Indian, but here the English visual media which showcases a good Hindi film, prefers to ignore a worthy regional language film. Why is it?”
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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