Bhoomiyude Avakashikal
Bhoomiyude Avakashikal | |
---|---|
Directed by | T. V. Chandran |
Screenplay by | T. V. Chandran |
Based on | Bhoomiyude Avakashikal by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer |
Produced by | Anand Kumar |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Ramachandra Babu |
Edited by | Johnkutty |
Music by | Sandeep Pillai |
Production company | Yes Cinema |
Distributed by | Vismaya, Prism & Pixels |
Release date |
|
Running time | 114 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Malayalam |
Bhoomiyude Avakashikal (transl. Inheritors of the Earth) is a 2012 Indian
.Bhoomiyude Avakashikal is the third and last installment of T. V. Chandran's trilogy on
The film premiered at the 43rd International Film Festival of India on 27 November 2012. It was also an official selection for the International Film Festival of Kerala.
Plot
Mohanachandran Nair is a Malayali youth working in Ahmadabad, Gujarat. On 28 February 2002, a day after the Godhra train burning, he is driven away from the city, after he makes a futile attempt to save a Muslim woman hunted by a group of Hindu fanatics. He reappears in Kerala but without any marks of identity. He has lost his job, ID cards and name. In the new place, he is helped by a man called Beeran Ikka, who is a warm and gentle human being, whose only passion in life is music.
But, eventually, Ikka too is killed during a communal clash. Mohanachandran Nair is forced to move away from that place. Finally, he goes back to a secluded house that was bequeathed to him by chance (even his lineages are doubtful). He starts living a peaceful life there by sharing his thoughts, concerns, doubts and frustrations with various kinds of animals around him. He eventually discovers that he is not the only owner of the land. Even the animals and insects that live on that patch of land are inheritors too, he discovers. He also maintains a warm relationship with his neighbour, a school teacher.
But, again, another altruistic act of his attracts hatred from society. In the end, he feels that his being there would only bring trouble to those creatures living in that space. And he decides to walk out, one doesn't know where to.
Cast
- Kailash as Mohanachandran Nair
- Sreenivasan as Beeran Ikka
- Mythili as Mohanachandran Nair's neighbour
- Shankar
- Shahabaz Aman as Aravindan
- Meera Nandan
- Lakshmi
- Mamukkoya
- Indrans as Postman
- Shilpi Marwaha
- Arun
- Urmila Unni
- EA Rajendran
- Vishnu Unnikrishnan
Themes
In an interview with noted film critic C. S. Venkiteswaran of The Hindu newspaper, T. V. Chandran said,
In one word, the film is about 'endangerment'. Not only are several species on earth becoming endangered and extinct every day, the most significant casualty is humanity or the condition of 'being human'. Humanity is the most endangered thing in our lives now; we are not only pushing all other life forms out of the earth, but, in the process, humaneness too, the ability to coexist with others, tolerance for others and all that make human life worth living. This film is about a man who is driven away from place to place by human intolerance, violence and hatred. Finally, he finds a place devoid of humans, in a dilapidated house in the middle of a vast compound, amongst all forms of flora and fauna. But, eventually, 'humanity' catches up with him there too.[3]
Venkiteswaran notes that Bhoomiyude Avakashikal is "perhaps the first Malayalam film that leaves the human and the anthropocentric narration behind, and explores the realm of the non-human." In his reply, Chandran said,
All my films till now have dealt with the human world and the various kinds of oppressions working within it; but here, you have the protagonist sharing his thoughts, concerns, doubts and frustrations with various kinds of animals around him such as frogs, spiders, tortoises, snakes and rats. He converses with the rats, tortoises and spiders. This took hours to get these animals to 'act', we had to follow them for hours to capture the right moment, and I think Ramachandrababu, our cameraman, had a tough time.[3]
Production
Pre-production
The film's title is adapted from the famous short story "Bhoomiyude Avakashikal" by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer although the film is not based on the story. Also the film is done as a tribute to Basheer and his ideologies. Chandran says, "No, the film is not based on the Basheer story, but it is a film that is dedicated to him. In fact, the title draws not only from Basheer but also from the Red Indian Chief who told the American President that they are the real inheritors of the earth. The film is actually dedicated to Basheer, the great musical genius M. S. Baburaj, and the vanishing habitats of Kerala."[3]
Noted scenarist and actor
Filming
Bhoomiyude Avakashikal commenced its production in June 2012 and the film was shot mainly from
Chandran ensured that the crew was bare minimum so as not to disturb the animals in their natural settings.[5] Kailash recounts how the shooting of the flick was also different. "We've shot animals — including frogs, chameleons and millipedes — in their natural setting. One morning, when Chandran and cameraman Ramachandra Babu returned from their morning walk in Nelliyampathi, they brought with them a rare breed of millipede, which they found on their way. If earlier, I was bothered about how comfortable my co-stars are, this time around, all of us on the sets ensured that the animals and insects around had no hassles because of us," he says.[5] Kailash recalls the filming of once scene to describe how difficult it was to film various sequences involving the insects and others creatures. The film has a scene wherein the hero keenly observes an ant climbing up his hand. "Of course, the ant didn't come up my hand like we wanted it to. But the entire crew waited patiently for it do its 'act' and a long wait later, it finally rose to our expectations!"[5]
The film was shot digitally to reduce costs as it was required to film several insects and animals in their natural habitat. "You can make Mammootty or Mohanlal act, but not a tortoise. That will be a costly affair and one reason why we have to depend on digital film-making," says Chandran. Replying to a query during the 'Meet the Directors' programme at the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), Chandran described how difficult it was to get a tortoise look right or left as the script required. "It took more than a day for that particular shot and if the movie was made on reel film, it would have cost a bomb," said Chandran. However, pointing out the pitfalls in digital cinematography, Chandran says he would have preferred the conventional mode if he need not have to worry about the costs.[11][12]
Release
Bhoomiyude Avakashikal premiered at the International Film Festival of India on 27 November 2012.[13] The film was screened in the Indian Panorama section of the 43rd edition of the festival.[14] It was one of the two Malayalam films screened in the International Competition section of the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala.[15]
The film was an official selection for the following festivals:
- November 2012: 43rd International Film Festival of India - Indian Panorama
- December 2012: 17th International Film Festival of Kerala - International Competition
- December 2012: 10th Chennai International Film Festival - Indian Panorama[16]
References
- ^ Indiatimes.com. Archived from the originalon 15 December 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "ഇവിടെ എന്ത് മാറ്റം?". Mathrubhumi (in Malayalam). 30 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
- ^ a b c d e C. S. Venkiteswaran (4 October 2012). "All things bright and beautiful..." The Hindu. Thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "ടി വി ചന്ദ്രന് ചിത്രത്തില് ശ്രീനിവാസന് നായകന്". Deshabhimani (in Malayalam). 19 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ indiatimes.com. Archived from the originalon 15 December 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "Kailash's re-entry". Deccan Chronicle. 1 October 2012. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- IBN Live. 5 June 2012. Archived from the originalon 10 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- Indiatimes.com. Archived from the originalon 28 January 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "Bhoomiyude Avakasigal-Malayalam Movie-Scenes of Shankar". youtube. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ NR (15 July 2012). "TV Chandran's 'Bhoomiyude Avakashikal' progresses at Shornur". Nowrunning.com. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "Digital film-making: a director's dilemma". The Hindu. Thehindu.com. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ "ഭൂമിയുടെ അവകാശികള് അതിരുകള്ക്ക് അതീതം: ടി.വി.ചന്ദ്രന്" (in Malayalam). Kvartha.com. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ "SCREENING SCHEDULE for Second Week of IFFI 2012" (PDF). Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. International Film Festival of India. 26–30 November 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ^ "A Panorama of choice" Archived 20 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Khaleej Times. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ^ "Two Malayalam films for IFFK competition". Business Standard. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
- ^ Sudhish Kamath (3 December 2012). "Showcase of the best". The Hindu. Thehindu.com. Retrieved 15 December 2012.