The film narrates the story of a 100 YO man who seeks divorce from his 97 YO wife after learning about her alleged affair in her prime years.
'Pookkaalam' director Ganesh Raj. (Supplied)
Pookkaalam, the latest family entertainer directed by Ganesh Raj, is receiving a good response from the audience. It deals with a subject less heard of in Malayalam cinema.
In an exclusive interview with South First, the filmmaker speaks about his movie, filmmaking concepts and the choice of actors in Pookkaalam.
Q. Pookkaalam has a unique theme but there is a stigma related to relationships before marriage even though we talk about reforms. Was there a fear while dealing with this factor?
A. I had no fear of dealing with the issue. There was a news article that was shared even in Kerala that a 100-year-old man in Italy had approached for a divorce after he knew about a love affair his 97-year-old wife had 50 years ago. There was a curiosity in this case.
At the same time, there is a stigma as you said regarding divorce and extramarital affairs. I wanted to explore this stigma and that’s how I started working on the script.
Ganesh Raj on the sets of ‘Pookkaalam’. (Supplied)
Usually, the issues of youngsters aged below 20 and elderly people aren’t taken seriously. Even in Pookkaalam, Ittoop’s family doesn’t take the issues seriously. But Ittoop and his wife Kochuthresiya have feelings of their own and I wanted to explore those feelings.
Q. There was a seven-year break after your debut movie Aanandam?
A. I tried to do a film in between and invested two-three years. But it didn’t work. Then, I started working on Pookkaalam. But when we were ready to start the shooting, the pandemic played a spoilsport.
Q. Why did you choose Vijayaraghavan and KPAC Leela as the lead characters?
A. Vijayaraghavan sir was my first choice. I believe that he is an under-utilised actor. But whatever role he does, he gives it his best. If given a full-length character, I was sure that he would execute well.
We searched long for the female lead as we lost some senior actresses in our industry recently. Then I came to know about Leela ma’am (KPAC Leela) and her remarkable work in films released during the 1950s-1960s and also director Jayaraj’s Roudram (2018).
Q. KPAC Leela has a background in theatre. How did it help the movie?
Ganesh Raj with Abu Salem on the sets of ‘Pookkaalam’. (Supplied)
A. Both Leela ma’am and Vijayaraghavan sir are stage artists. Leela mam worked in theatre for about 15 years. She has vast experience in acting and it did help us.
I like to work with stage actors. Their experience in acting is different and gives extra quality to the work.
Several other actors In Pookkaalam, including Annu Antony (Elsy), Arun Ajikumar (Guinness), and Radha Gomathy (Rosamma), have been working in theatre.
Q. How did veteran actor Suhasini Maniratnam enter the movie?
A. Suhasini ma’am did a key role (Clara) in the movie. I wanted someone who has no similarities with the other family members for that role. Clara leaves the family a long time ago and there is no need for her to evolve like other family members.
It is a serious character. My first choice was Suhasini ma’am as she is an experienced actress. We were happy when she agreed to do the film.
Ganesh Raj with teh twin actors of ‘Pookkaalam’. (Supplied)
Q. Why wasn’t Jagadeesh’s character not shown later in the movie?
A. I wanted it that way because my focus was on the central characters. I felt that if Ittoop and Kochuthresiya were willing to forget their past and move on, that would be good.
Q. How did you craft the characters of the twins?
A. That again was intentional. I am not a person who prefers realistic films. That doesn’t mean realistic films are bad. I like to entertain the audience when they are inside the theatre.
The basic plot of Pookkaalam itself is quirky. So, to make humour out of the subject, elements like twins and other factors were added.
Q. Did you cast Vineeth Sreenivasan and Basil Joseph for the commercial value or did you feel they were apt for the roles?
A. To be frank, there were two factors. Vineeth Sreenivasan and Basil Joseph have a good fan following and add commercial value to the project. But the fact is that they can’t replace the character played by Vijayaraghavan.
When you watch the movie, you understand that Vineeth Sreenivasan and Basil Joseph are apt for their respective roles. Vineeth Sreenivasan’s PL Ravi is an eccentric character. Basil’s Jikku Mon is eccentric and vibrant, too.
Q. What were the inputs given by your mentor Vineeth Sreenivasan?
Ganesh Raj with Vineeth Sreenivasan. (Supplied)
A. He was involved in the movie from the beginning. I discuss everything about movies with him. He and Basil Joseph gave me inputs for the script and even improvised their characters.
For example, we intentionally wanted Vineeth Sreenivasan’s role as a judge to be eccentric. There was no use placing a realistic judge.
Q. Can you elaborate on the screen aspect ratio used in the movie which is shown differently in different periods?
A. While writing the movie, I decided to have a different aspect ratio for different periods.
Usually, filmmakers use different gimmicks like changing colour during flashback scenes. But I was firm in using the aspect ratio consumed by mass media during that period to show flashback scenes.
In Pookkaalam, I used the 1:1 aspect ratio for the 1930s sequences and the 4:3 aspect ratio for the 1950-60s sequences.
During the flashback scenes in the 1970s which had Jagadeesh’s character, we used a widescreen anamorphic view (70MM). We shot it with an anamorphic lens that was prevalent then.
Finally, for the present-day sequences, I used the aspect ratio of 16:9 which is mostly consumed in smartphones.
Ganesh Raj on the sets of ‘Pookkaalam’. (Supplied)
Besides, a major part of the movie is shot in a house. So, I chose to have taller frames to give importance to the central characters and capture their emotions.
Q. Tell us about your association with cinematographer Anend C Chandran.
A. Anend and I are friends for 15-16 years. We know each other since our college days. I discuss my story ideas with him and start writing the script after we both reach a consensus. He was there with me from the initial stages of Pookkaalam.
Q. Were you tense as films like Pranayavilasam had a similar story idea?
A. I wasn’t tense because both movies have two different ideas. I believe that if the content is good, they will work in theatres.
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