BILLBOARD
MAKING WAVES
SHORT TAKES
SOUTHERN SPICE
REVIEWS
ROUGH CUTS
MEMORIES
ARCHIVES
MOVIES CHAT

'What will I do if I come to India?'

Murali Nair. Click for bigger pic!

It all began in Murali Nair's head -- a sketchy outline involving an old man, political intrigue, economic compulsions and a World Bank-funded electric chair. That soon fleshed out into Marana Simhasanam -- a film about Krishnan, a poor labourer in a Kerala village accused of having stolen a pair of coconuts.

Before Krishnan can recover from this blow, he finds many other crimes -- including murder -- pinned on him. Finally, he attains the status of a cult hero -- the local politician makes speeches praising Krishnan for the unique honour that he is bestowing on the village by being the first person to be sentenced to death on its first World Bank-funded electric chair, and promises that a statue will be erected in his honour.

This budget-strapped, sharply ironic film went on to earn the prestigious Camera d'Or award for Best First Film at the Mecca of all film-makers, Cannes.

Not that this was Murali's first stint there. His third short film, Oru Neenda Yathra (A Long Journey) was screened in the short film section at Cannes in 1996; the first Indian short film to be awarded that honour. And his earlier short films, Coronations and Tragedy Of An Indian Farmer, were screened at the Berlin and Leipzig film festivals. The latter went on to win a national award -- the Silver Lotus.

Marana Simhasanam is a proud moment for the post-graduate geologist, who worked on an oil rig for a while as he attempted to make it as a film-maker. He enrolled at Bombay's Xavier's Institute of Communication, a course he could not stomach for long. But he met Pawan Kaul (the husband of his batchmate) there, and assisted him on Chor Aur Chand. "It was a good experience," he says, "but hardly my definition of a good film".

Besides working as an assistant director on the popular teleserial, Chandrakanta, he also assisted Mani Kaul on Cloud Doors.

Born in Anandapuram, Kerala, 33 years ago, Murali, his wife Preeya and 17-month-old daughter, Maya, are now based in London. They have set up their company, Flying Elephant Films, and supplement their income with a series of programmes for Channel 5, UK.

In the meanwhile, they dream of their next film, which will again be based in India.

Murali Nair chatted with Savera R Someshwar in cyberspace last week.

What made you select this particular subject for your first film?

I had this idea in my mind -- I can't really say how it came to me -- and I was playing around with it for some time. Eventually, when I actually decided to shoot Marana Simhasanam, I still did not have a proper script ready. Yet, we wrapped the film last March. It was very quick; everything was done in four months...

A still from Marana Simhasanam. Click for bigger pic!

How did you go about the funding?

The film was totally funded by my wife and me -- I could not find any other way of making it happen. As for the equipment, I bought an old camera that had good lenses. And I chose locations close to place where my writer lives. Which is why we shot in Vypeen, an island near Cochin, Njarakkal (a place in Vypeen) and Manjanakkadu, a small island off the cost of Njarakkal.

All in all, the film cost me nearly £ 40,000. This includes the cost of making the final print in Europe. I had, of course, a quite a few hiccups on the way...

Could you elaborate on that?

Well, whatever could possibly go wrong went wrong. One of my more terrible moments began when the camera started running at a different speed without my knowledge. This created a problem later, but my sound recordist, Madhu Apsara, sorted it out.

The final straw was when the print with the English subtitles, which was on its way to the Cannes festival, got stolen in Paris and I had to replace it. Believe me, making a print is not a joke in Europe, especially for someone who was as strapped for cash as I was.

Don't you think Marana Simhasanam is too grim a debut for someone who is only 33 years old?

Once you see the film, you will find out that the subject is not as grim as you think. Anyway, age shouldn't have anything to do with the films you make.

When will Indian viewers get an opportunity to see Marana Simhasanam?

I have planned a few screenings in India at the end of August and the beginning of September, though I haven't figured out the dates yet. Though there will be one screening in Bombay, one in Delhi and one in Trivandrum, I am not sure if the film will be theatrically released.

How did you come up with a World Bank funded electric chair? Has this actually happened anywhere in the world?

Yes. The problem with the World Bank is that all your future generations will have to starve to pay back the loan. Look at what is happening in almost all the Latin American countries. I am not sure how much in debt any newborn baby in India is...

What made you decide to enter your film at the Cannes festival, considering you had to do everything yourself?

Click for bigger pic!

One of my earlier short films had been screened at Cannes. Even at that time, I had found it to be a very good festival that blends the art and the business aspects extremely well. Also, it is an ambition of any film-maker to show his film in Cannes. So, even though it was pretty difficult doing everything on my own, we managed... And when we won, I was really shocked!

Does the fact that Preeya, your wife, is also your producer help you in your work?

Yes, we work together. She is a graduate from a film school in England. Sometimes she produces films and I direct. Sometimes, it is vice versa.

Whose reactions to your film have you enjoyed the most?

Le Monde (the French newspaper) gave the film a very complimentary review. I don't have most of the write-ups but the film has generally been received very well.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a film festival in Finland where Costa Gavras watched the film. He really liked it. We got talking and, eventually we discussed various issues for nearly five hours. Costa talked about the problems he had to face when his film was released... How he felt... How he reacted... Various other things! We ended up discussing the present political situation. I really had a great time!

Do you feel there has been an adequate response to your achievement from India?

Yes, I am very happy about the response from India...

How do you feel about your film being invited to the Edinburgh Film Festival? And that you have managed to sell it in France and Belgium?

It was really good, I feel quite happy. Festivals are always good. I enjoy them. It will be going to festivals in Vienna, Torino, Toronto, Pusan, La Rochelle, Lapland's Midnight Sun Festival and the American Film Institute Film Festival in Hollywood.

The 30,000 pounds from Kodak must have been a big relief, considering the amount you spent on the film. Were they any other prizes? How much of a difference has the money and the international recognition made?

There were no other prizes besides the Kodak Prize. That itself was a big relief. Now I am confident that I can make the next film. The international recognition has certainly made a huge difference in terms of getting support for the next film. Now people are approaching me whereas, earlier, I had to go to them in an effort that was mostly unsuccessful.

Who are the people who have approached you?

Since I haven't made up my mind on what projects I will take up, I don't think I should talk about this yet. But I will say this: I am trying to find the right funder, someone who believes in minimum interference.

Click for bigger pic!

You did try to make it as a film-maker in India. How long did you have to struggle? Why was it that your effort was never appreciated despite winning a national award?

Yes. I should say it was pretty difficult for me despite winning a national award and despite the fact that my short film was screened at Cannes in 1996. If I remember correctly, I won the national award in 1994. Yet, NFDC rejected one of my scripts and I was totally in debt. Ever since I came to this field, it has been a struggle. I don't know why it is so difficult, the people who can make it easier are making it complicated...

Yet, you were approached for a project like Unicorn. What was assisting Pablo Caesar like?

Unicorn was a co-production between India and the National Film Institute of Argentina. Someone else was supposed to co-produce it, but it didn't work out with the director. Then he contacted me and I agreed. Working with Pablo Caesar was good, he has his own way making films.

How did you make the transition from short films to full-length features?

Well, the transition from shorts to feature is quite normal. Everyone who dreams of making a feature makes shorts first.

Why, in your opinion, is India is not making a serious contribution to world cinema despite the fact that our film industry is one of the largest in the world?

Even if one has the necessary finances, it does not mean one can make a good film. Our industry is structured in a totally different way. The taste of the audience is totally different. I understand it is very difficult for people who work in mainstream cinema to make a different type of film.

Does successful cinema have to be glamorous and escapist? Why do Indian films always tread the same path?

Good cinema doesn't have to be glamorous at all, but it has to be sincere in every aspect -- from making to acting to editing...What we see in most of the films is ACTING, not living.

Indian cinema will continue to tread the same path unless somebody tries to change it. Maybe, with the acceptance of foreign money in the film industry, Hollywood will do it. But it can be dangerous: our stars will go and we will become the slaves of Hollywood. That will be the end of our cinema.

Keep in mind that there are only a few countries that have been able to withstand Hollywood, India and China being the main ones.

Yes, but Nagesh Kuknoor succeeded with Hyderabad Blues. And Santosh Sivan's The Terrorist has evoked a lot of interest. Do you think Indian film-makers are scared of moving away from the beaten path?

I haven't seen any of the films you mentioned. It needs a lot of courage to move away from the beaten path. But I am sure that time will also come.

Click for bigger pic!

What is your definition of good cinema?

I think good cinema is something that comes out of the necessity of the film-maker -- a necessity to express, a necessity to communicate.

What kind of films -- Indian and non-Indian -- do you watch? What inspires you in your work?

I don't normally watch a lot of films, I don't need films to inspire me. I read sometimes. But what inspires me the most are the happenings around me in the world, the huge drama happening in Kosovo, all these things that are happening in India and Pakistan... If you are a sensible human being, how do you think you can rest??

What do you feel about what is happening in India at present?

I don't know very much it, at least not enough to comment on it. Whatever I gather from the papers here are not the right version.

Political leanings?

For me?? Not at all...

What was the catalyst that drove you to London? Has it worked out for you? Are you satisfied with the kind of work you are doing there? Do you plan to return to India at some point?

What will I do if I come to India? I need to work and I am getting lots of work here. It is television work -- and I am not really satisfied with television work -- but it pays. The reason I left India was that I was not getting any work there. I was totally in debt when I left.

Your future plans?

First, I want to finish off a serial I have already started for a television broadcaster here in London. In fact, I am just leaving for Russia for that very reason. Then I'll try to attend some of the festivals and take a break. Then, it's on to my next film, Arimpara (The Wart)...

When do you plan to begin shooting for Arimpara?

I have a few offers for funding and I am planning to shoot by the middle of next year. It is based on a short story by the celebrated Malayalam author, O V Vijayan. It has already been published by Penguin in, I think, a collection of modern stories.

Are you planning to made a Hindi film? The commercial kind? With stars and songs? Who are your favourite actors?

I just don't have any favourites at all... And I'm not planning to make a commercial Hindi film.