We have seen people who are passionate about their profession and those who seek challenging conventions to give meaning to their work. When it comes to filmmaking, the intensity somehow goes deep down because it is a niche where everyone crafts their dream, films their vision and foresees their future in subtle success.
This story is about a man who envisioned his dream through lenses and took a road that not many people have travelled. Talking to Sajeed A, the Mumbai-based television producer, filmmaker screenwriter and the mastermind behind many hit series on MTV including the renowned ‘Girls’ Night Out’ had been working on his eldritch Malayalam project ‘Vadakkan’ a movie which is capable enough to leave an indelible mark on the Mollywood film industry. In fact, there are times when you get through plights where the actual essence of the narrative has to be explored by your compatriots sans losing its actual meaning.
Sajeed (Director)
The ‘Vadakkan’ movie went down the same road, Sajeed has been working on this project since 2008 so that the eerie narrative could explain nuances of paranormal sequences that haven’t been very much explored in the industry. However, his vision to make the film meticulously with infrared lighting and advanced camera techniques wouldn’t seem available at that time and was not sure about adapting the techniques into movies.
Later, the right time occurred when his breakthrough in the MTV series with modern lighting and camera paved the way to gradually lay the foundation for his dream project. But the challenges were heftier in the long chase, Talking to him, Sajeer said: “The narrative concept was too far-fetched at that time when I met actors and producers, so I waited long that I wanted this to get be uncurtained in a perfect way.”
When the unprecedented pandemic hit everyone hard, Sajeed started prepping his work and discussed it with his friend and movie producer Jaideep Singh through phone calls and Zoom meetings. Later, in the same year, he gave a slight narration of the movie when he was randomly dining out with the renowned writer Unni. R.
Unni. R (Screenplay) Sajeed. A (Director)
Sajeed said “ When I narrated a trifle, Unni ‘chettan’ (brother) took pause for some time and denoted the next moment: “I will write the screenplay and dialogues” There started the birth of this supernatural thriller ‘Vadakkan’ (The man from the north).
For Sajeed, it has been a challenging yet interesting journey that he wanted to pull off the movie in such a way he manifested. He then started seeking apropos to evince all indelible characters in the film. After too many discussions and meetings, Actors Shruthy Menon and Kishore G came on board to play the grave characters, precisely after they heard a bit of the story.
What makes the movie more interesting is the cinematography, a thriller based on ancient Dravidian folklore and mythology was wholly crafted through the camera lenses of a Japanese Cinetmeatographer Keiko Nakahara. Keiko’s cinematography was unlike anything typically seen in films. The unconventional camera angles and movements were remarkably distinct from the movies we have seen so far.
Keiko Nakahara (Cinematographer)
Talking to Kalesh Ramanand, a renowned actor who is known to all of you through Hridayam, Neeraja and Varshangalku Shesham, who had also been one of the characters in Vadakkan said: “I was amazed at the film’s photographic style that crafted a distinctive visual narrative. So much so, that the camera itself became nearly invisible, blending seamlessly into the scene. When I sought the camera, it wasn’t there, sometimes I see a GoPro in my hands, that’s how Keiko’s cinematography did wonders.”
Kalesh Ramanand (Actor)
When it was dark everywhere, because darkness was indispensable for the movie narration, Keiko excelled in her camera techniques that captured a unique visual language. “It’s been fantastic to work with an exceptional team, I gave my heart and soul to make it visually impactful, I attempted to be as wild as it demanded, Keiko reminisced’
Director Sajeed & Dop Keiko Nakhahara
When Sajeed packed up the first schedule in 2022 November in Wagamon and nearby misty abodes, he then planned to complete the further scenes in Finland. However, he became busy with his creative work assisting in the Hindi Remake of the Malayalam movie Joseph. He took a break from his ‘‘Vadakkan’ yet it was processing inside him. In 2023, he resumed the remaining schedule in Finland and then Bombay and had begun post-production already.
Most of the team who were part of ‘Vadakkan’ recognised that they were all contributors to this film which was essentially Sajeed’s brainchild. His dream, his story, and his vision were the driving forces behind the project and were all proud that they supported and brought his unique vision to life.
Talking to Unni. R, said: “This cinematic endeavour is unequivocally Sajeed’s child which was executed from inception to culmination under his creativity. His vision, narrative, and artistic sensibilities have been imprinted throughout and my contributions were merely whetting the edges of his gifted craftsmanship.”
While going through the journey of ‘Vadakkan’ it is a fact that the movie truly deserves an open hand from the Malyali audience as the movie has already won accolades and recognitions from across the world including, Fantastic Pavilion held at Marche Du Film, Cannes Film Festival 2024 (The only Malayalam film selected as one of the seven gala screenings), officially selected in its work in progress category at Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF, venue for horror, thriller, Sci Fi) and Fright Night Film Festival in America.
With a bunch of prominent creatives, sound scores by Resul Pookutty, Music by Bijipal, produced by Offbeet studio and a talented cast including Shruthy Menon, Kishore G, Kalesh Ramanand and Maala Parvathi who brings the story to life, Keiko’s captivating cinematography and Zeb Bangash’s original rendition, Frost fx‘s VFX (Frost FX of Estonia alongside IVFX & Coconut Bunch), ‘Vadakkan’ truly deserves an impactful welcome among the Malayali audience who always show no reluctance to magnificent crafts.
Since Sajeed’s one of his dream projects ‘Vadakkan’ is set to hit theatres in November 2024, let’s be ready to witness the cinematic ‘experience’ the movie truly offers and also for the birth of an unconventional, supernatural horror flick in Mollywood that has not been experimented in recent times.
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