When? Ponman Arrived in theaters last week, this was a dream true for Jothish Shankar. Ace Art Director is noted that his direction is being talked about.

“I entered the industry to become a director. There was a plan to assist a filmmaker. But I got an opportunity to help an art director [in Thanthonni] And I picked it up, ”called Jothish. This was the right decision as he went to work in some Pathbreaking films in the Malayalam industry and received two state awards in 2019 – Kumblengi Nights And Android kunjappan version 5.25 And for 2022 Nana Than Case Kodu,

“But I did not leave my dream. It was eight years ago that I finally decided to make a film. I started searching for stories and a point came when I thought I should tell my story. Ever since I read his work, one of my favorite writers took me to GR Indugopan Beejabankile penkutty. The story I told was set in her hometown Kollam. I insisted that the native of a Kollam should write it and he agreed after he agreed. He became a novel, Nalanchu Cherupakkarkar And eventually the film, Ponman, “ He says. Ponman Scripted by Indugopan and Justin Matthew.

“Although I’m related to Kuttanad [in Alappuzha district]Once i get out of college [Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts, Mavelikkara, where he studied sculpture]I stayed in Kollam for a few years. A group of American friends formed a collectively Monayam. We lived in a lodge and events in the book occurred when I stayed there. I am one of the characters, ”he says.

Ponman There is a criticism on dowry and addresses it through a practice in parts of Kerala, especially between economically weaker sections. There are agents/brokers who arrange gold jewelery on the condition that the bride’s family should go towards the cost of gold during marriage. If the amount is reduced, the jewelery is not paid. “So, you will see people in the bride’s house, who are assigned to collect funds from visitors. They will also take their names down. It seems strange that neither is there any shame about the person who gives money and who receives, “Jothish says.

In PonmanThe bride is Stede (Lijomol Jose), which is fixed with Mariano (Sajin Gopu) and fixed dowry, which are 25 sovereign gold. PP Ajesh (Tulsi Joseph) is an agent that arranges jewelery (hence the title PonmanWhich means a man who behaves Pon Or gold). But when Stede’s family fails to meet the price of 12 sovereign, Ajesh asked her to return the jewelery. She refuses, so Mariano also because her family needs to sleep for her sister’s marriage. There the tireless discovery of Ajesh begins, which leads to the rapid conflict between her and Mariano to get gold back.

Basil Joseph and Lijomol Jose in Ponman
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“This happened to a friend when his sister got married. I am sure that this agent may still be around Kollam somewhere. I could not remember his name because it happened many years ago. Our team is keen to meet him! “Jothish says.

He says, “The message that the team wants to give against dowry is loud and clear. We are speaking for the score of women and their families, who do a lot to raise money as dowry. I am glad that people from all areas of life are associated with this subject. ,

Has been cast PonmanTalking points. “Basil read the book before coming on the board. I believe that he is now the most intelligent artist with us. I respect him for the person and professional who is he. After directing three films, he knows the challenges involved. So he was around to make me feel comfortable and assured me whenever I was worried. ,

As to Ajesh as Abil’s best character, Jothish says that he does not want to take credit for it. “This is all about him and how he contacted the character.” Especially the scene where Ajesh faced Steedi’s brother, Bruno (Anand Manmadhan) in a lodge with a long, intensive dialogue. “That’s all happened. I don’t know how to describe it. ,

The producer was Vinayak Ajit who suggested Sajin as some other difficult Mariano. “Role is very different from his comic character Amban [in Aavesham]Sajin gave all of her to become a character who works in one Chemmin ketu (Shrimp Farm). He learned to line up a country’s boat, went all around to get tan and by the time the shoot started, he was my Mariano. ,

Jothish says that Lijomol was the one who was with the team for the entire shoot. “She joined us 10 days before the shoot and was the last to leave when we were packed after about 70 days.”

Sandhya Rajendran, who played her mother, has also come for a lot of praise. Jothish says that he shares close ties with Sandhya, taking the legacy of her late father, experienced theater artist O Madhavan with her brother, actor Mukesh. “I have worked in his presentations before coming to films. He was the one who gave me money when I had to participate in my exam. It liked it to be in my first film. I also wanted the audience to see a new onscreen mother! ,

Basil Joseph in Ponman
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The film is completely shot as one of the main places with Munrothuruthu in and around Kollam. While Jothish is a production designer, Kripesh Ayyappancutty has handled art direction. “The production design sees a large picture in which art direction is a major component. In ArchakraimFor example, I was an art director, while Rathesh Balakrishna Poduval was a production designer. Some films require a production designer as it is in terms of BrahmagamWhich was called for a lot of research and references, “he explains, saying that Kripesh had set a lot PonmanLike Steedi’s house and motor shed where mud in the climax has a thrilling battle sequence.

Jothish revealed that the Battle of Basil and Sajin was shot in seven nights. “The film has many night sequences and I can’t thank Sanu Chettan [cinematographer Sanu John Varughese] They have enough to look raw and real. He is a technician who keeps his soul in each scene with his camera, ”he says. Jotish was an art director under the direction of Sanu, ArchakraimHe also mentioned how composer Justin Varghese raised the story with his songs and background scores. The film has a track dedicated to Kollam, written by Anwar Ali and sung by Race Satesh.

He said that for the first time being a director, there were challenges. “Disha is not something that can be learned by looking at the director at work. This is the vision of a person. Of course, you can pick up technical aspects from another director, but you will not get creativity. What I had benefited was that after being in the industry for some time, I knew about the challenges involved and to what extent things could be difficult. ,

Jothish Shankar in place of Ponman
Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In Malayalam, art is being discussed as before, considering that Jothish says, “This is because we now have some intelligent directors.” As long as there is no director who knows scope in art directing or production design, we will never find art directors to experiment. For example, Brahmagam If we don’t have a director, it would not be for me [Rahul Sadasivan] With that vision, “he explains.

Now that his film is out, Jothish is coming back under art direction with Rahul’s new film. “If an interesting story comes out, I will probably direct again,” he indicates.