Filmmaker Prasanth used a hand-held camera for his upcoming film Daayam
Prashant Vijay’s Daayam serves as his second film, with his debut, Summer of Wonders, previously screened at both the Mumbai Film Festival and IFFK in 2017.
Following its premiere at the 2023 Mumbai Film Festival, Daayam is set to make its appearance at the IFFK. Directed by Prashant Vijay, this serves as his second film, with his debut, Summer of Wonders, previously screened at both the Mumbai Film Festival and IFFK in 2017. While Summer of Wonders revolves around a nine-year-old boy dealing with paternal loss, Daayam shifts focus to a seventeen-year-old girl coping with the loss of her mother. The director mentions that the new film can be seen as a sequel to the first.
Filmmaker Prasanth used a hand-held camera for his upcoming film Daayam. But cinematographer Rakesh Dharan convinced him otherwise, pointing out that the script, centred around characters entering rooms, didn’t align with such a filming technique. Prasanth, adhering to his style, expressed, “I did retain my trademark of letting the camera stay still for long minutes while the characters were sitting or standing or talking”.
The 81-minute short film Daayam centres on the relationship between seventeen-year-old Kalyani and her father. The narrative is exclusively focused on this duo. The film Daayam penned by Indu Lakshmi, is rooted in her personal experiences, serving as the narrative’s foundation.
Prashanth has presented the story from a woman’s perspective.
Working with a relatively new cast, Prasanth acknowledges the risks inherent in being an independent filmmaker. Recognising the industry’s demand for established stars, he sees limited prospects for a theatrical release and potential challenges with OTT platforms. Emphasising the importance of investment, support, and online hosting for independent films to succeed, Prasanth notes that despite increased discussion about the challenges, the landscape hasn’t significantly improved. Daayam was produced by his wife Jessy, an IT professional.
Unlike commercial films, his approach is notable. Although emotionally resonant with Malayali audiences, limited festival screenings prove disappointing. The lack of well-known stars poses a hurdle to commercial or OTT release.
Prasanth’s third film, Ithiri Neram, is currently in post-production, navigating a middle ground between mainstream and indie cinema. Starring Roshan Mathew, the film is touted to be a romantic comedy. Zarin Shihab is featured as one of the protagonists. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release next year.
