Light at the end of the tunnel
Rohini Kumar’s first feature film nabs four awards at the World Film Awards 2015 in Jakarta.
HAVING been in the film industry since the 1970s – after graduating from the Institute of Film Technology in Chennai, India – Rohini Kumar Nair directs his first feature film. The experience he gained from working as assistant directors on various projects in India and Malaysia, as well as producing commercials, music videos and documentaries over the years has paid off handsomely. His film titled Shadow Play has received four awards at the World Film Awards 2015 in Jakarta last month.
The four awards are Golden World Award for Best International Film, Golden World Award for Best Director ( Kumar), World Award of Merit for Cinematographer ( Kumar) and World Award of Merit for Best Actor ( Ashay Arya).
In an e- mail interview with Kumar, the director said that he wasn’t looking at winning awards when he was making the film. “So when it did win – it won four awards when I wasn’t even expecting one – of course, I was exhilarated, to say the least.”
This is not the first time he has won awards, he said. His commercials have raked in accolades in the past – “but I can’t really remember any of them because they were all team effort.”
Shadow Play stands out because Kumar has so much invested in it and it’s a project that’s personal.
He explained: “The film is entirely self- funded. I had to wear many hats such as a writer, director and cinematographer.”
Due to Kumar’s juggling act, the film took longer to produce. Luckily for him, his cast and crew were accommodating to his schedules.
Shadow Play explores the relationship between May ( Joanna Soh) and the foreign man she saves. What starts out as an act of kindness turns into something deeper. But then slowly, it turns into something horrific as May suspects there might be more to the man who now lives with her.
In the role of the foreigner is Ashay Arya who is originally from Iran, and has been living in Malaysia for six years. Others in the cast include Khaz Shamia, Brindha Devi and Frankie Lee.
Kumar shared that his daughter helped him set up a Facebook account meant for casting purposes. While he found his actors this way, Kumar got Lee to participate in his film because he is an old friend and colleague.
“I had him in mind for the role right from the start. And this was just before he became a star through The Journey.”
As of now, there is no release date of Shadow Play in Malaysia as Kumar has just started marketing the film here. But he has plans to take the film international market.
“Now that there is some recognition attached ( to Shadow Play), we should strike while it’s hot,” said Kumar on his strategy in getting the film sold.
It was on a fellow director’s suggestion that he submitted
Shadow Play to Asia Pacific International Film Festival to be held in Jakarta. However, according to Kumar, the organisers passed the film to their sister festival, the World Film Awards.
When asked what it means to have Shadow Play recognised at the festival, Kumar answered: “Recognition is, of course, what every artist lives for. Now that I’m working towards my next film, it’s like a shot in the arm! I’m enthused to do a better job.”