Photographer
Photographer, the first directorial venture of Ranjan Pramod who made his mark as a script writer with memorable hits like Meesa Madhavan, Manasinakkare, Achuvinte Amma and Naran, is one of the most eagerly looked upon films in Malluwood. Ranjan who always stays different whether in the ways of story telling or in the case of theme selection is expected to create trends with his first outing into direction.
The very first thing Ranjan Pramod did after the announcement of the film was, to set up a site for the film. Messages poured into the site in lightning speeds, mostly enquiring about the film and rarely asking for involvement in societal issues.
Ranjan was amazed on how the Kerala people conceive a press photographer as a man who could ignite interest on specified subjects and social happenings.
But in the film, Mohanlal is not playing a press man, but a nature photographer who love to be at original un- corrupted natural settings for his work. So he is now at Wayanad, the most beautiful land in Kerala, the abode of adivaasy settlements in the state.
Mohanlal plays the role of Dijo John who is married to Sathyavathi after a long love season. Dijo John being a Christian and Sathya a Brahmin, has to face much societal chaos before they planned to settle together. They now have a son called Saran.
The film tells the story of love, loses, pain and various incidents that take place in the life of an ordinary man.
The film is based on the Muthanga incident that happened years back in the state where innocent adivasis got killed in police firing. Nature photographer. Dijo, on an assignment for an international firm happens to be in the interiors of Wayanad when the agitations for the land and amenities by adivasis take place. Amidst his schedules he gathers a liking towards the life of the men of the forests and plans to place his camera towards them, for the empowerment of them.
And when the firing takes place on the agitation's and press people are forced to take a leave from the arena of misshapenness, Dijo becomes the only person from the outer world who knows the actualities of the misreported incidents.
Kannada actress Nithashree makes her debut appearance in Malayalam as Sathyavathi in this film. Ranjan Pramod's son Sowgandh plays the role of Saran. The other highlight of the film is that Mohanlal appears in a double role as Dijo John and as a farmer in the film, which is kept as a thick secret from the media. The others in the acting crew include Biju Menon, Manoj K Jayan, Mamukoya, Murali and Venu Nagavally.
Based on the script by the director himself, the film has a good technical crew which features Azhagappan in camera, Premachandran in art direction, S L Balaji in sound design and Jyothy in editing.
After a big gap, Johnson is making a comeback with this film. He is giving his liltating music to the lyrics penned by Kaithappram. Produced by Howly Pottur in the banner of Dream Team productions, the Shooting of the film is progressing in Wayanad and parts of Calicut.
The film is slated for a release during Ramzan.