KOCHI:
Continuing with its trendsetting initiative to strengthen the presence of female directors in over nine decades old Malayalam cinema, the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) today began work on its fourth film, being produced on behalf of the state government.
The women-centric movie, B32 Muthal 44 Vare, is directed by debutant Shruthi Sharanyam, and features six main female characters while majority of its crew in each department are also women.
The movie is being shot as part of the state government’s pioneering ‘Films Directed by Women’ project, which strives to support aspiring women directors by bringing into full play their cinematic abilities.
Actor-director and costume designer Cuckoo Parameswaran did the switch-on of the movie at an event held here. Shruthi and actor Remya Nambeesan clicked the first clap.
“We will try to avoid use of plastic materials during the shoot. We will use only those materials that are bio-degradable,” the filmmaker revealed. “Also, men and women in the crew will enjoy equal rights at locations.”
Besides Remya, the main characters in the film are Harish Uthaman, Anarkali Marikar and Zarin Shihab. Cinematography is by Sudheesh Elaman.
In 2019-20, KSFDC produced director Tara Ramanujan’s Nishiddho (Forbidden) and Mini I G-directed Divorce under the women directors’ project. Divorcewill be released next month. The switch-on of the third film in the list Inheritance, directed by Indu B.R, was held on March 8.
Nishiddho deals with the lives of migrants in an urban setting in Kerala and portrays the strengths of women. The two-hour movie was screened at the recent third edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes). It has been selected for the International Competition Section of the 26th International Film Festival of Kerala 2022 beginning this Friday and will also be an entry at the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival.
The 1975-founded KSFDC is the country’s first public-sector corporation for film development.
