04-18-2007, 05:49 AM
<b>For this CPI MP, a film is âmore powerful than 1,000 speechesâ</b>
: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 0000 hrs Print
New Delhi, April 17 : In any crowd, not just among Parliamentarians or communists, Pannian Ravindran will stand out for his shoulder-length hair.
When Daivathinte Vaal (The Sword of God), a feature film, is released later this year, the Thiruvananthapuram MP will be more visible than ever.
<b>The CPI leader is playing the role of a âGandhian communistâ in the Malayalam feature film, directed by Madhu Parthasarathy, an alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. </b>
The movie, Parthasarathyâs debut venture, tells the story of how extremist elements are trying to exploit the unrest among tribals, a result of the loot of tribal welfare funds by middlemen, politicians and bureaucrats. Ravindran plays Velutha, the tribal leader who helps people see reason.
The MP is clearly swayed by the power of the medium. âActing in a film is equal to giving 1,000 speeches that I have been doing as a political activist and peopleâs representative,â he says.
What does his party think of it? âIt should not be a problem with my party. I havenât taken any money, itâs a meaningful role and hasnât affected my party work in any way,â says Ravindran.
The MP had a two-day packed shooting schedule in Wayanad. âThe location was a tribal area on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Itâs serene, apt for the storyline,â he says.
The director, a Wayanad native, thinks the MP fits the bill in more ways than one. âHe is a genuine artist,â says the director who also wrote the script and screenplay.
âThe character of a Gandhian communist suits Pannian. When I was writing the script, his was the only face that came to my mind. And when I approached him, he agreed,â he says.
: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 0000 hrs Print
New Delhi, April 17 : In any crowd, not just among Parliamentarians or communists, Pannian Ravindran will stand out for his shoulder-length hair.
When Daivathinte Vaal (The Sword of God), a feature film, is released later this year, the Thiruvananthapuram MP will be more visible than ever.
<b>The CPI leader is playing the role of a âGandhian communistâ in the Malayalam feature film, directed by Madhu Parthasarathy, an alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. </b>
The movie, Parthasarathyâs debut venture, tells the story of how extremist elements are trying to exploit the unrest among tribals, a result of the loot of tribal welfare funds by middlemen, politicians and bureaucrats. Ravindran plays Velutha, the tribal leader who helps people see reason.
The MP is clearly swayed by the power of the medium. âActing in a film is equal to giving 1,000 speeches that I have been doing as a political activist and peopleâs representative,â he says.
What does his party think of it? âIt should not be a problem with my party. I havenât taken any money, itâs a meaningful role and hasnât affected my party work in any way,â says Ravindran.
The MP had a two-day packed shooting schedule in Wayanad. âThe location was a tribal area on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Itâs serene, apt for the storyline,â he says.
The director, a Wayanad native, thinks the MP fits the bill in more ways than one. âHe is a genuine artist,â says the director who also wrote the script and screenplay.
âThe character of a Gandhian communist suits Pannian. When I was writing the script, his was the only face that came to my mind. And when I approached him, he agreed,â he says.