Chaayam - Shoot, Day 1
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Morning dawned and we scheduled the work and allotted tasks to the crew. The locations were, aalthara, tharavad and okkanaamkode madom . Unfortunately, it rained heavily at seven am and everything got topsy turvy. Hakkeem Bai and light-man, Ananthu came at 9am. Priyanka, the heroine was accompanied by her mom. Mithun was in charge of the food, transport and producion control. Nithesh, Vysakh, Nambi and Rahul helped on the location. We started the shoot by breaking coconut at Kakkayurappan’s feet. ‘Thala’ arrived at 12pm; his experience in the field and unique style of coordinating the crew eased the tensed situation and brought us back on schedule. Sabeesh ettan, Yadu, Kannan and Mani ettan joined us at noon and the shoot soon became an enjoyable experience.
Hakkeem Bai was exceptional in his camera work - his spontaneity, flexibility, friendliness and professionalism put the actors at ease- It was he who actually directed the film, apart from filming it. Swami muthassa did the art works and paintings. The project which started off with 3 people in the morning had almost 30 people working on it by evening, apart from the onlookers. On the first day, we shot all scenes involving the actress including the climax and the intro scenes – the aim was to finish her part off. We wrapped up the shoot at 7:30 pm. Ganesh Bai’s confidence, Nithesh’s silent hardwork, Mithun’s dedication and last but not the least, Hakkeem Bai’s stunning Camera work made the day’s shoot 10 times successful beyond expectations. We retired at Ranthetta’s den, completely exhausted.
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Chaayam - Shoot, Day 2
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Today’s shoot was amzing,funny and long – Kunchi muthi rocked the show; her performance made us awestruck. Swami muthassa did his parts perfectly, most shots were OK in first take itself. Meenakshi was cheerful and played around, lightening the location. Hari kuttan has always wondered me, with his emotional maturity. Abi, Sreeju, Vasu etta , Sunu etta and the whole aalthara gang was there, extending their unflinching support. Rajesh etta and Priya chichi were accommodated in the last moment; Hari etta brought his car for the shoot at short notice. Since Ganesh Bai didn’t have big roles today, he helped me behind the camera. At night there was a cheruman character at aalthara, by Mithun which was flawlessly executed and a ‘haunting ghosts‘shot at tharavad. Shoot wrapped up at 10pm!! Me, Ganesh Bai, Mithun and Sabeesh Bai chilled out at aalthara, vented our tensions, woke up Rajesh etta for his car at 12am and went to thathamangalam to put up the set there. We slept together at 3:30 am.
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Chaayam - Shoot, Day 3
Monday, August 2, 2010
The ‘painting’ shots and solitary shots at tharavad and outside were shot. After lunch, the shoot dragged . Lack of sleep and fatigue caught up on us and we had to call off the shoot at 4 pm. As on today, 70% of the shoot stands complete. All of us need to take a well deserved rest and lift our energies and spirits up! The Bangalore trip needs to be made somehow and the finances are tight...
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Chaayam - Shoot, Day 4
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Heavy rains disrupted shoot. The aalthara shot got postponed since guys went for football and heated arguments on the issue ensued. So we got just 2 hours of shooting time. Shot the starting ‘dream and telephone conversation’ at Manoj Palliyil’s house. We thank Shubha chechi for all the help extended to us and to little chinnu for letting us use her room. KRC had conducted an eye camp today and they sponsored food for all crew members today. Mr Optimism’s performance today was splendid and was above the range of a novice. I would say, flabbergasting!
PUTTING THINGS IN PLACE!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
We spent almost the entire past 2 weeks at Girish’s place. We had converted a room and the entire adjacent house into our workshop. Ganesh etta’s parents accommodated me (and sometimes members of the crew) for 2 full weeks. Whew! ! Radha Valiyamma joked seriously that she’s changing the house name to Radhavilas Hotel. The poster designing, trailer making, budget discussions, launch plans, sponsorships, publicity etc were all chalked out from there over sleepless nights and black teas. Ganesh Bai arranged Chetana studio, one of the leading studios of kerala for the post production, via his contacts. Balakrishnan Sir of Desabhimani and Shibu from Manorama were our media advisors. Balakrishnan Sir’s whole hearted support and guidance was a big boost. Meanwhile we got sponsorships from Alukkas, Big Bazaar etc. A huge 'issue' which resulted in the chaayam launch and the NSS onam celebrations being separate functions, in separate venues at different times, occurred on 10th August.
The biggest development was the support from the Kakkayur Recreation Club. After presenting the idea at several of their meetings, they decided to back us. They elevated the concept to an entirely different level. Sunil Uncle, Vasantha Sundareswaran, Krishnanunni etta and Attoor Unni etta were the frontline supporters and provided us with immediate fund for our working. Gireesh, our PRO, met Octopus unni etta c/o Vakkiyil Suresh etta and sponsored the entire print/flex board/ notice/ poster charges amounting around Rs. 8,000. The Chaayam team would forever be indebted to him. Omana Kuttetta and Prasad etta kept calling us at each stage and gave timely advices and assistance. Several Kakkayurites pledged support. Anil Sir’s prize coupon initiative was a huge success and brought in some revenue. Ajay etta was exceptional in organising the launch and in supporting us morally and financially. The shoot and the launch together was pegged at a budget of Rs.85,000.
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SHOOT – DAY 5, BANGALORE
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Me, Mithun and Hakkeem Bai left for Bangalore from Palakkad on Friday 13th evening at nine pm. Hakkeem Bai ’s a saint I suppose, to accompany a pack of crazy kids to Bangalore! We reached Madiwala at 5:30 am on 14th morning. Ganesh Bai arrived half an hour later, from Kochi. Went to ‘Moksha’ – Ranthetta’s & Sunuetta’s place. Sreeju, Neenu etta etc were there. Ganesh Bai took his uncle’s Safari and picked Sreeja Chechi and Valiyamma. We finished indoor shoot by 1pm. The outdoor shots were risky, since we didn’t have the permissions and since there was a heavy security cover in view of the Independence day celebrations. It was guts, ingenuity and brains from the part of Hakkeem Bai, that made the street shots at Brigade Road and MG Road possible. Without the locale knowledge and driving skills of Mithun, we would have been standing in Madiwala itself. Dinner was great – thanks to ‘thala’. We left, completely burned out and exhausted at 10pm on 14th night – It must have been terrible for Mr Saint – Hakkeem Bai , coz of the Ramzaan fasting.
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SHOOT - DAY 6
Monday, August 16, 2010
On Monday(16th) morning we arranged the aalthara and the pond shots – amidst the school assembly. Fortunately, the rain Gods blessed us and provided light showers which gave us the chance to take the rain shots. Shoot wrapped up at 11 am.
Thanks a lot - Saint Hakkeem Bai!!
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POST PRODUCTION
Monday, August 23, 2010
Me and Ganesh Bai went to Thrissur, Chetana Studios on 17th morning. Met and befriended the cool but able editor – Sajeesh Namboodiry. Did the DV conversion and cuts till evening. I stayed at a lodge, explored the city and food joints over the night. On 18th, we finished the rough edit of the film, which was 80% correct. Wrote it to DVDs, went to Kochi and stayed with Nithesh. On 19th, I was too tired and caught high fever and hence couldn’t attend Ranthetta’s marriage; But me and Nithesh went over to Jecin’s place and did the music programming and mixing. By 20th we could make the music 80% ready. Ganesh Bai arranged the flutist – Devdas and we took live recording at CEE – DEE studio. On the same night, we finished the entire background score.
On 21st Nithesh, me and Ganesh Bai came to Thrissur for the sound recording and mixing. Idea Star Singer fame, Nidhin Lal sang the two songs splendidly. Manu and Jecin joined us to perfect the narrative script and bg score respectively. Girish ettan Sopanam, came at 11am, gave several ideas and dubbed the film superbly. Some of his narratives, especially the different styles of expressing it left everyone wonderstruck. Girish and Mithun, meanwhile designed and printed the posters and organised the Kakkayur guys to paste it – Nambi, subin, especially Gangadas etc. Ganesh Bai returned to Kakkayur to organise the launch and the rest of us took a lodge at Thrissur. On 22nd (ie second onam) we added the SFX, credits etc and wrapped up the editing, though incomplete by 9pm – We couldn’t afford to spend more time!! Reached Palakkad at 2 am. Guys were putting up posters in the town, roaming in the gypsy – We joined them and spent the entire night putting up posters and dodging the police. Thanks to Dilip bai, Ganagadas (thanks macha), Mithun, Giri etc. We still had a deficit of Rs 25,000 and that was least of our concerns!!
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SETTING THE STAGE
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Gopi mama and Unnietta extended full support to us. On 23rd, Thiruvonam day, Gopi mama, as he had promised, arranged for the huge pandal to be put up, for the stage arrangements, for refreshments and even for expenses. Without him, his organising skill and unconditional support, the Chaayam Launch would never have taken place in such a grand scale. Attoor Unni etta, Swami muthassa and Anil Sir with their vast experience, previewed the film on 23rd itself and together approved almost every idea we put forward. Attoor Unni etta’s rational thinking, practical approach and cool head was a learning experience. All the guys were in high spirits and contributed their maximum in putting up posters and helping in small ways. The whole night of 23rd was spent at Anil Sir’s house. Anil Sir was the Lighthouse of the Chaayam Launch team. The ideal teacher was our biggest guide and critic. His meticulous planning and motivation was the life of the launch team.
24th August was the busiest day in my life. A lot of errands, auto announcement, finalising the script and agenda for the launch, the musics to be put, making the momentos, flexes, volunteer cards, inviting the guests .... Headquartered at Anil Sir’s place.
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