Filming in the intersection of street light
‘Two Men’ is the first Malayalam road movie shot in the Gulf. The shooting was in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah. The planned shooting of 25 days was completed in 20 days due to the immense cooperation of the authorities and friends in the UAE. The filming took place in deserts like Al Madam and Tahil. The film is about two people traveling by car one night through the desert with single line traffic. Abuka and Sanjay Menon playing Irshad. The shooting will start after 6 pm. It will last till five o’clock in the morning. Siddharth Ramaswamy captured our journey very naturally in the light of street lights and so on. The light source on the side where Irshad was sitting was the street lamps and on the side where I was sitting was the cut from the speedometer. For the shooting, technologically advanced equipment was used, including an ultra-modern Sony Venice camera that can shoot in low light. The truth is that there have never been other shooting days that have brought so much joy to the mind and infused such positive energy. This city gave me enough support to keep acting.
‘Hand-to-hand combat’ with Irshad
A screenwriter I brought into the field pitched a subject to me and Soubin Shahir during Covid. Maybe because there was no market, I was later dropped and another director who was doing comedy roles was cast in it. That’s when K. who was my assistant director before. Satish tells this story. Both Irshad and I liked the story as soon as we heard it. I gave the name ‘Two Men’. It stars Donny Darwin, son of producer Manuel Cruz Darwin. Another son, Danny Darwin, is an associate cameraman. The ‘learned actor’ of Irshad, who has been in the acting field for more than two decades, helped the ‘Patacha’ actor in me a lot and was able to handle each scene with ease. Due to the ‘give and take’ between Irshad, who came from directing to acting and Irshad, who came from dramas, our chemistry has come out well in the film.
Kamal Haasan made his film debut
Nishad had a dreamy debut as a child actor in the movie ‘Anthiveilile Ponuri’ starring Kamal Haasan, Jagathy and Kalpana. Even while studying at Mar Ivanise College and TKM Engineering College, cinema was on his mind. Therefore, Malayalam cinema has to give a handful of socially responsible films. It can be said that Nishad is a filmmaker who studied directing. Produced films like ‘Oraal Sallani’, ‘Dreams’ and ‘Thillana Tillana’. He directed nine films including Tamil. The first film he directed was “Pakal” which was released in 2006 on the theme of farmers’ problems. In 2007, he wrote and directed ‘Nagaram’, which tells the story of people who have to live in the middle of the city’s garbage dump. He is also the director of films like ‘Ayudham’, ‘Vairam’, ‘Best of Luck’, ‘No. 66 Madurai Bus’ and ‘Kinar’. Sujith S. Nair is returning to the acting field with the film ‘Oru Korian Padam’. Dr. as a guest star in ‘She Taxi’ and ‘Ore Mukhak’. Nishad was later seen with the Supreme Court lawyer in Biju’s ‘Viliya Kupulla Bukchikali’. He won the Film Critics Jury Award for Best Actor for his performance in the movie ‘Walk’, directed by Sujith himself, written by Madhupal. Nishad also featured in ‘Choolam’ from the anthology ‘Lessons’ and ‘The Name’ directed by Sohan Seenulal. He has signed a contract for about seven films that will be shot in a year. ‘Kinari’ won the State Film Award for Best Story. Five Film Critics Awards, J.C. Nishad has received Daniel Foundation Award, Fokana Award, UAE NRI Welfare Committee Award, Singapore Malayali Association Award etc.
Will come with ‘Iyer Kanda Dubai’
Although he has acted in so many films, Nishad says that directing is his favorite field. ‘As a socially responsible film maker, I have only two or three commercial hits to my name. Like ‘enmity’ and ‘weapon’. Times have changed now. We have to adapt to the changing times. That is why the system has been put on hold. What is going to be done now is to be a mature commercial. At the same time, something will also be stories to interact with the community. A film called ‘Iyer Kanda Dubai’ is being planned in the background of Dubai. Four projects are script ready to direct. He is also acting in the movie ‘Second Half’. Hope to direct two films in a year’ – Nishad says that he will never give up directing.
‘Acting has changed to behaving now. So I am confident that I can do it if I get a good character. I don’t see acting as a profession. But if he gets a chance to act, he will not leave. Directing and acting are things that require good preparation. Both have their own difficulty. But for me, acting is more challenging. It is a risky job. You can’t leave after doing something’ – says Nishad.
It is the attitude, not the existence, that is greater
Nishad is also active in social media. Many of Nishad’s comments about filmmakers have been met with controversy. ‘He is the one who likes to say what I have to say then. To say what the conscience feels is right. Many people approach many things strategically because they worry about tomorrow. I have no such fear. What to say will be said without fear. Then naturally many will feel dislike and intolerance. I am very secular. He has always clashed with those who travel with fascist thought and those who support communalism. He has also fought strongly against some evil trends in the film industry. And it will continue. Nishad says, attitude is not important for me.