Malayalam director Tharun Moorthy: ‘Saudi Vellakka’ has been an emotional journey
The Hindu
Director Tharun Moorthy talks about his new Malayalam movie, Saudi Vellakka, which is being loved by the audience
‘I don’t know what is in store for the future. But I feel that I have done something in my life after making this movie.’ This is director Tharun Moorthy’s latest Facebook post about his new movie, Saudi Vellakka CC 225/2009. The filmmaker, who had a brilliant debut with Operation Java (2021), has struck gold at the box office with this heartwarming social drama.
“A film that connects with the audience seldom fails. We believe that has happened with Saudi Vellakka. If you love cinema, it will love you back. I enjoy the process of making a film. For me, Saudi Vellakka has been an emotional journey,” says the 33-year-old director.
The film, inspired by a real incident, is a poignant take on how cases get dragged for years in Indian courts and how this affects the lives of the people involved. The case in this film is 14-years-old and the cause is just a vellakka (baby coconut). Aisha Ravuthar, an octogenarian, beats her nine-year-old neighbour, Abhilash, in a fit of rage, which she regrets later. Instigated by a few people, Abhilash’s family files a case.
Tharun says that it was director Ratheesh K Rajan who showed him a newspaper report about a case in Thiruvananthapuram involving an old woman and a 22-year-old youth that had been going on for years. “I collected the details and met the policemen and lawyers involved in the investigation and trial. It eventually led to Saudi Vellakka, of course, with changes in the original case and situations,” says Tharun.
He wanted a new face to play the aged woman and the hunt began much before he wrote the script, for, it was important to “get the right face for the role.” The search ended in yesteryear theatre actor Gracy John or Saudi Gracy, who hailed from Saudi near Kochi. “I didn’t know that a place called Saudi existed until then. I located the film in Saudi for her. It was her first film and she was very excited about it. We even did the look test; unfortunately, she passed away due to COVID-related complications. I was shattered because I couldn’t fulfil her dream. However, her family wanted us to make the film for her,” Tharun says.
He had to find a new artiste, for which he met several theatre actors in and around Kochi. “Many of them were not in a position to do the role because of their health issues. At one point, I thought of casting someone familiar, like Urvashi chechi. However, my producer [Sandip Senan] said that even though her presence might bring in more business for the movie, we should keep looking for a new face since that’s what I had visualised. I don’t know how many producers would say that!”
He finally found his Aisha in Tripunithura-native Devi Varma, the surprise element of the movie, whose face Tharun accidentally saw in a friend’s WhatsApp status. “She was his grandmother. She is not an actor, does not speak the Kochi dialect and had serious health issues. She was reluctant to act. But I didn’t budge and she agreed. She even had COVID in between, but thankfully came back hale and hearty,” Tharun says.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”