It's almost an early Christmas gift for Catholics, especially those in Kerala. And it's also a miracle of sorts. On Thursday, comes abiopic of Sister Alphonsa, the nun who put India on the world map of religious tourism.
It was two years in the making. Money was tight and the director duo of Saint Alphonsaa (as they spell her name in the movie title), were desperate. But they had a "miraculous" bailout when Kerala-based realtor Jose Kishore decided to finance the project.
For a saint to hit the silver screen is often a good story. But what makes the film particularly interesting is the immense faith invested in it. It will be released just ten weeks after Sister Alphonsa became India's very first woman saint. The directors insist they've created an "honest" biopic, not hagiography.
Roopkala, who directed the film along with Jayendhra Sharma, says the film encapsulates the tales he heard over the years from locals in Bharananganam, southern Kerala, where the nun is buried.
"I approached the subject as realistically as I could," he says, denying comparison with other glowing biopics. He refuses even to admit any comparison with the critically-acclaimed 1983 G V Iyer film on Adi Sankaracharya.
"I am simply telling a story of a very divine, humane person, a saint who lived among us very recently. It is a challenge, but I have stayed faithful to the narration and am confident that the real-life story will hook all audiences," says Roopakala.
Saji Kadamala's screen play for the movie starts with a priest narrating the story of Alphonsa to a group of children who visit her tomb in Bharananganam. It progresses in that story telling pattern.
Accordingly, Malayalam actor Mahima, who resembles the nun, plays Alphonsa and the film was shot at Idamattam, Chundachery and Bharananganam, where the saint lived.
The film, which was cleared by the censor board recently, has already cost more than 10 times its scheduled budget of Rs 3 lakh.
Producer Jose Kishore says the no-nonsense portrayal and "revival of Christianity now (has meant) the film is coming at the right time". He says the film steers clear of religious riots, piecing together the saint's life with the help of books and people who were associated with Alphonsa.
Kishore plans to screen the movie at the forthcoming International Indian Film Festival, which is held in Goa every year. But it is far from clear how the film will be received by less reverent, non-Catholic communities.
Source
It was two years in the making. Money was tight and the director duo of Saint Alphonsaa (as they spell her name in the movie title), were desperate. But they had a "miraculous" bailout when Kerala-based realtor Jose Kishore decided to finance the project.
For a saint to hit the silver screen is often a good story. But what makes the film particularly interesting is the immense faith invested in it. It will be released just ten weeks after Sister Alphonsa became India's very first woman saint. The directors insist they've created an "honest" biopic, not hagiography.
Roopkala, who directed the film along with Jayendhra Sharma, says the film encapsulates the tales he heard over the years from locals in Bharananganam, southern Kerala, where the nun is buried.
"I approached the subject as realistically as I could," he says, denying comparison with other glowing biopics. He refuses even to admit any comparison with the critically-acclaimed 1983 G V Iyer film on Adi Sankaracharya.
"I am simply telling a story of a very divine, humane person, a saint who lived among us very recently. It is a challenge, but I have stayed faithful to the narration and am confident that the real-life story will hook all audiences," says Roopakala.
Saji Kadamala's screen play for the movie starts with a priest narrating the story of Alphonsa to a group of children who visit her tomb in Bharananganam. It progresses in that story telling pattern.
Accordingly, Malayalam actor Mahima, who resembles the nun, plays Alphonsa and the film was shot at Idamattam, Chundachery and Bharananganam, where the saint lived.
The film, which was cleared by the censor board recently, has already cost more than 10 times its scheduled budget of Rs 3 lakh.
Producer Jose Kishore says the no-nonsense portrayal and "revival of Christianity now (has meant) the film is coming at the right time". He says the film steers clear of religious riots, piecing together the saint's life with the help of books and people who were associated with Alphonsa.
Kishore plans to screen the movie at the forthcoming International Indian Film Festival, which is held in Goa every year. But it is far from clear how the film will be received by less reverent, non-Catholic communities.
Source
St Alphonsa's 'miracle' Movie debut
![St Alphonsa's 'miracle' Movie debut]()
Reviewed by Kerala Home Design
on
11:10 PM
Rating:
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment