Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Scanning society Veteran Madhu motivated R. Prasannakumar, right, to go ahead with ‘Robo,’ which he scripted and directed

Whether science is beneficial or detrimental to society depends on the person using it and his intentions. This is the message R. Prasannakumar wishes to convey through his debut film ‘Robo,’ that has been scripted and directed by him.

“The film is centred on a robot called Robo. I have conceptualised Robo as a symbol of science,” says Dr. Prasannakumar, a radiologist who runs a scan centre near Medical College. His tryst with direction started during his student days when he directed and starred in plays staged in Medical College. Bitten by the direction bug, he then went on to learn the fine art of direction and script writing.

Prasannakumar remembers how one of his teachers, Raman Nair, was a great source of encouragement and inspiration. “I have dedicated my film to Dr. Raman Nair who passed away recently.”

The idea for the film came to Prasannakumar about seven years ago. “Actor Madhu was a customer at our scan centre. I discussed the theme with him and he persuaded me to complete the script,” he says.

Then began the search for a producer. “Madhu sir and I approached the Children’s Film Society but things did not work out. In the end, I decided to produce it on my own.”

The film was completed on a budget of Rs. 30 lakhs. ‘Robo’ is about a 12-year-old boy Kannan who has lost his mother. Kannan and his father, a computer engineer in the United States of America, return to their native village in India. His father gives him a robot named Robo.

But Robo soon falls into evil hands. How Robo is recovered from the evil doers forms the rest of the story.

“The film was shot at Vellayani, Kakkamoola and Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram. The shooting lasted 16 days. Madhu sir motivated me and was generous with suggestions He and Indrans, who plays an important character in the film, did not accept any remuneration,” adds the doctor-turned-director whose favourite film is ‘Oridathu’ by Aravindan.

Dr. Prasannakumar says: “I would like to make more films with a message for society.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail