'Olu' can thrill every generation of viewers, says Shaji N Karun

The

Shaji N Karun

directorial Olu, which had its intriguing trailer release recently, is all set to hit big screens on September 20. The movie, which has already been screened in major film festivals of the country and abroad, was the opener at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2019 and had also received a special mention at the 42nd Cannes Film Festival.

The director of the film that blends realism and fantasy, tells us, “I have always been fascinated by the works of T D Ramakrishnan, who has written Olu’s screenplay. It was he who inspired me to do this film.

Oolu

revolves around the concepts of love, dreams, man and woman.”

Viewers shouldn’t apply logic while watching this film, he opines. “Regardless, it has what it takes to thrill every generation of audience,” he says. The film also has many underwater sequences. “We have used VFX for these, and it was a long process,” he explains.
The director is happy about the recognitions the film has received. “While it was great to receive international honours, it is even better if Malayali audience watch the film in our theatres,” he says.

The director is all praise for the film’s lead actors Esther Anil and Shane Nigam and feels their innocent faces ended his quest to find artistes for the film’s central characters, Maya and a painter. “Esther’s face is very innocent, and she was apt for the role of Maya. She succeeded in giving life to the character.” The director is also effusive about Shane, “He is a big asset for Malayalam cinema. He has a large spectrum of acting, just like Mohanlal who had acted in my film Vanaprastham. Olu has him acting in the subtlest manner. He took the effort to go deep down into the role and perform it by experiencing the character’s true emotions.”

‘I see Oolu as a commercial film’
A V Anoop, who bankrolls the project, says he doesn’t see Olu as an offbeat film. “It has many commercial aspects to it.

For instance, we have only seen Esther as a little girl, so far. It is her first film as a heroine. Shane has also been doing films like Ishq, which have won acclaim.” He talks about the challenges of shooting a film that merges fantasy and reality. “The imageries of full moon, rain and seasons are important in the film and so, we have dealt with them in the most patient and creative manner. M J Radhakrishnan, who won a National Award for this film’s cinematography, is testimony to the precision and quality of the frames,” Anoop adds.