‘Mareechika’, a short film directed by Indu VR, deals with aspects of motherhood

Even as Jude Anthany Joseph’s Sara’s’ makes waves because it tackles the topic of being pregnant, decisions and a lady’s physique, techie and author-turned film director Indu VR’s short film Mareechika (Mirage) deals with an equally complicated theme.

This short film focusses on totally different aspects of motherhood, societal stress on younger ladies to decide on motherhood over every part else, how ladies are affected by it and the bond between a mom and her baby.

When Indu determined to make her second short film, she centered on a topic near her coronary heart. “I have been subjected to it for 11 months after my marriage. During that relatively short duration, I had to answer questions on why I was not pregnant, got unsought advice on whether we should be consulting specialists and so on. I have not forgotten it even after years.”

Indu says she had additionally seen many ladies who needed to bear the brunt of probing questions from inquisitive relations, buddies and acquaintances.

A self-taught filmmaker, Indu had made her mark with her first film Utharakadalasu, which dealt with suicide and went on win awards at numerous film festivals.

Mareechika is a sensitively-made 17-minute film that unfolds totally different aspects of maternal love with out melodrama. Four most important characters depict the theme. “There are three aspects I have featured; adoption, societal pressure on women to have a child, its repercussions and how a woman copes with the loss of a child,” explains Indu.

Shot throughout the lockdown in September 2020, Mareechika, filmed in Indu’s home, has a easy narrative that has a shock on the finish. Indu concludes her film with a punch that’s certain to play on the minds of viewers.

Fleshing out the characters

As the lead character is a psychiatrist, Indu frolicked with a practitioner to know the challenges of the job and the varieties of issues they needed to deal with on a day-to-day foundation. Indu says that her “internship” proved to be of immense assist in fleshing out the characters and their portrayal on display screen.

As Devika, a disturbed younger lady struggling with infertility issues, Smitha Ambu depicts her delusions and coping mechanism with out changing into maudlin. “As I had seen patients like this, it was easy to communicate what I wanted from the actor. I was confident about the character,” explains Indu.

As psychiatrist Dr Vasundhara Devi, poet-actor Meera Nair is a image of composure and empathy. Techie Kanakan Nair, producer and Indu’s husband, seems as Devika’s husband. Indu’s daughter Nandana additionally has a position within the film.

The success of Mareechika lies in its relatable characters and empathetic narrative. Filmed by Sibin Chandran, the situation sound has been performed by State award-winner Sandeep Kurissery. Music by Mikku Kaavil and enhancing by Sandeep Fradian have helped Indu in her narrative.

Nevertheless, it was not all straightforward going for Indu. One of her crew members acted troublesome with his mansplaining. Among many profitable film administrators in Technopark, Indu occurs to be the one lady. One of the ladies administrators chosen for a workshop carried out by Kerala State Film Development Corporation to mould ladies filmmakers, Indu hopes to direct her maiden characteristic film quickly.