For quite long there has been a clamour over how great literary works are not longer adopted for the silver screen in Mollywood.
But that’s easier said than done. No one would know it better than filmmaker Blessy. For, the challenge is two-fold; staying true to the original work and adapting it well to match the sensibilities of the medium of cinema. When it’s a seminal work like Benyamin’s Aadujeevitham , the challenge would be that much stiffer.
No wonder the award-winning director admits that it is nothing short of the ‘biggest artistic challenge’ in his career. “To make it precise, it would be a real visual challenge. I know the expectations would be sky-high,” Blessy told The Hindu on Friday. However, Benyamin’s faith in him coupled with his view that the filmmaker enjoys the freedom to interpret the literary work in his own way has taken off much of weight from Blessy’s shoulders.
“Yes, I will be writing the screenplay for the movie. But we will have regular discussions moving forward,” said Blessy on his fruitful association with Benyamin. A multi-lingual, Aadujeevitham will have Prithviraj re-creating the life of Najeeb, the central character of the novel. The movie, which is expected to have a long schedule, will be shot in the 3D format.
“The 3D technology will really help in elevating the overall mood. The desert wind, a small movement of the goat, the loneliness of Najeeb… the 3D tool will help in capturing these emotions and transforming it to a different aesthetic level. The challenge is to evolve a cinematic narrative that would help me come up with a meaningful shift from the text to the screen,” said Blessy.
Tinsel Town has learnt that the filmmaker is expected to take up a major work before starting on his ambitious Aadujeevitham project. “I am in Bihar now as part of the research on the film. It’s too early to divulge further details on this movie, which I am planning to complete before Aadujeevitham ,” the filmmaker said.
Scoring a hat-trick at the multiplex
He is about the most complete package as a hero in Malayalam cinema today - young, talented and handsome, with an excellent voice to boot. And now Prithviraj is enjoying back-to-back successes at the box-office, something which he richly deserves.
Anarkali , his latest release, has been declared a hit, even as Ennu Ninte Moideen and Amar Akbar Anthony continue to charm viewers. Not many actors have had in recent times the privilege of having three successful films at the multiplex at the same time.
The year also saw Prithviraj giving one of the best performances of his career, in Ivide , directed by Shyamaprasad. “He more than lived up to my expectations in the role of Varun Blake,’ says the director. “He was excellent in the first film I did with him, Akale , over a decade ago. I knew that he was going to make it big.”
He says Prithviraj gives the viewer something even in a bad film. “His performance would never disappoint you,” he says. “He is passionate not just about acting, but the entire process of film-making. As an actor, he has proved that he is versatile.”
Reporting G. Krishnakumar
and P.K. Ajith Kumar
