Shaji N Karun a portrait of pain solitude and art
Shaji N Karun
often spoke of the unsaid and inexplicable pain, loneliness and human crisis through his films.
'It's the human crisis that I tried to dwell deep into, and I always tried to find an expression for the same through my craft,'' Shaji told me during our last meeting in Dec.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
As a young child, Shaji was fascinated by the visuals of
Ashamudi Lake
on the banks of which his grandparents lived. His family moved to
when he was in the seventh standard. He was enamoured of the quaint town and its architecture.
He used to join his neighbour-turned brother-in-law Krishna Warrier during his mountain expeditions and clicked catchy black-and-white photographs that impressed relatives and friends back home.
Had he not become a cinematographer, Shaji would have ended up as a medical practitioner. When he left for an interview at Pune film institute, his admission to Thiruvananthapuram medical college was already confirmed. 'I was too homesick.
It was a long journey to Pune. Homesickness overpowered me during my first long journey, alone. I wanted to get rejected as much as I wanted to study cinematography. But the darkness inside the film hall turned out to be the best company for the homesick youth,'' Shaji said sitting at his small officeat KSFDC during an afternoon ahead of the last IFFK.
He passed with flying colours.
Many used to wonder how a reticent filmmaker G Aravindan and more reticent cinematographer Shaji communicated with each other.
Those who watched them work used to say there was something happening between the two, but others could not decipher it. 'Our communication was a continuous process. We both had an idea of the scenes well before we started shooting. Formal communication was thus not much necessary,'' Shaji once said.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
It was a three-year suspension from KSFDC that came as a blessing in disguise for Shaji. During that period, Shaji moved out of Aravindan's shadow and worked with other directors. An astute craftsman, Shaji was known for his knack to extract the best out of actors.
On the sets of
Vanaprastham
, when Suhasini said she was unable to go blank as demanded by Shaji, he asked her what she studied in college. She said physics and Shaji asked her to just wait for the moment when the proton and electron of an atom were to meet, so that she can go blank.
Shaji never got due recognition in the state. When his debut film Piravi got national and international awards, including at the Cannes, the film was adjudged only as the second-best film. He told me the govt must have chosen him for the
JC Daniel Award
out of guilt.—
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Director Shazia Iqbal calls out industry's lack of support for Dhadak 2: ‘Do they feel the need to make socially relevant films?'
Dhadak 2 director Shazia Iqbal recently spoke about the film industry's lack of support for socially relevant cinema. Her debut feature, which addresses casteism in India, released in theatres on August 1. In a recent interview, Shazia criticised the industry's silence despite Dhadak 2, starring Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi, receiving widespread critical acclaim. During a chat with Zoom, Shazia expressed her disappointment over the Bollywood industry's unwillingness to support films that showcase caste politics. 'When a film makes Rs 500 crore, there's an instant noise; people want to explore that genre, like horror-comedy after Stree. But how much does critical acclaim matter to producers and studios when a film talks about caste in such a strong way?' she questioned. Also Read | Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi's Dhadak 2 seethes with the rage of filmmaker Shazia Iqbal 'How much does it influence them to come out? Do they feel the need to make socially relevant films and talk about caste loudly in our films? It hasn't even been there subtly. We have taken more time, but I hope it happens for the sake of storytellers and filmmakers,' the director added. Shazia Iqbal also expressed happiness at receiving praise from filmmaker Payal Kapadia, whose film All We Imagine As Light won big at Cannes. She said, 'The filmmaking community is really happy. I was surprised to wake up to Payal Kapadia tagging me in her Story, calling Dhadak 2 an important, landmark film. She is on the other extreme of it and such an important voice.' Also Read | Dhadak 2: Shazia Iqbal destroys ancient Bollywood Dharma in the best Karan Johar production since Jigra Dhadak 2 has earned only around Rs 20 crore in its first 10 days in theatres, facing stiff competition from films like Son of Sardaar 2 and Saiyaara. The movie, a remake of the Tamil hit Pariyerum Perumal, is produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Dare to wear Khushi Kapoor's form-fitting fishtail gown?
(Image Credits: Instagram) Gaurav Gupta's first-ever bridal couture showcase in Mumbai marked a milestone for the designer, as the collection was a conceptualised theatrical journey through a modern Indian wedding and looked almost surreal. With Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra taking over the ramp, Janhvi's not-so-little sister Khushi Kapoor was already making waves in a Gaurav Gupta couture creation, which requires your sincere attention. A fashionable spectator of the evening, Khushi Kapoor chose to look iconic in a sleeveless, form-fitting gown, picked from his 2024 couture collection, Jyotirgamaya. The alluring pearl gown featured a fitted high neckline that gave structure to the fluid silhouette and had a light mermaid-shaped hemline, giving the ultimate swish. (Image Credits: Instagram) The regal touch of hand embroidery, featuring vertical stripes of transparent and metallic silver bugle beads, was caught with a minimal movement, further elongating her frame. The detailing on the gown was so peculiar and proper, as the embroidery varied in density across the bodice and hips, giving a sense of contour to the body. Katrina Kaif wears 8-inch heel at Cannes (Image Credits: Instagram) Styled by Ami Patel, Khushi Kapoor kept all things minimal and wore a pair of large diamond studs with a single oversized ring from Raniek Jewels. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo Leaving her hair straight and open with a middle parting, she kept her makeup base soft and clean, with brushed eyebrows, and completed the sensual look with a peach-toned lipstick featuring a sheer gloss finish. Echoing the codes of looking absolutely ravishing from every angle, she added a new meaning to the designer's couture and spoke language of sleek craftsmanship with her unique sense of form. While she was not on the runway, she certainly looked the part.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Shazia Iqbal questions industry's lack of support after Dhadak 2: ‘Do they feel the need to make relevant films?'
Director Shazia Iqbal has opened up about the lack of industry support for socially relevant cinema following the release of her powerful debut feature, Dhadak 2, which addresses casteism in India. The film, starring Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi, released on 1 August and has since received widespread critical acclaim. Despite Dhadak 2's artistic merit, director Shazia Iqbal questions the industry's commitment to promoting such important narratives. Shazia expressed her frustration from Bollywood In an exclusive interview with Zoom, Shazia expressed frustration over the Bollywood industry's unwillingness to back films rooted in caste politics, despite their artistic merit and cultural importance. 'When a film makes ₹500 crore, there's an instant noise; people want to explore that genre, like horror-comedy after Stree. But how much does critical acclaim matter to producers and studios when a film talks about caste in such a strong way?,' Shazia asked. 'How much does it influence them to come out? Do they feel the need to make socially relevant films and talk about caste loudly in our films? It hasn't even been there subtly. We have taken more time, but I hope it happens for the sake of storytellers and filmmakers," she added. She also shared her joy at receiving praise from the filmmaking community, including Payal Kapadia, director of the Cannes-winning All We Imagine As Light, who called Dhadak 2 a 'landmark film.' About Dhadak 2 Dhadak 2 has earned just over ₹20 crore in the first 10 days of its theatrical run, navigating a highly competitive landscape marked by the release of films like Son of Sardaar 2 and Saiyaara. Adapted from the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal, it follows a poignant college romance between Neelesh, an oppressed-caste law student, and Vidhi, an upper-caste woman. Their love faces brutal societal backlash, portrayed through harrowing acts of violence and systemic prejudice. The script was co-written by Iqbal and Rahul Badwelkar, and the film is produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures.
