Malayalam movie starring expats ready for release

Cast and crew of the Malayalam movie, Poottu, which was entirely shot in the UAE, during the first screening at Bollywood Cinema, Al Quoz Mall, Dubai, on Saturday.

A Malayalam movie, starring 30 Indian expatriate actors, had its world premiere in Dubai on Saturday afternoon.
The movie Poottu or Lock, shot in Dubai and Fujiarah and completed within 13 days, was screened at Bollywood Theatres in Al Quoz for the jumbo team of expat actors, technicians and their families.
All the UAE-based actors and technicians behind the movie - based on a short story Koodaram by the noted Malayalam writer UK Kumaran - were thrilled after watching the first show.
The movie, as told by a security guard, Sivan, played by Gopan Mavelikkara, a Dubai-based actor and real estate manager, is the story of 50 residents of a high-rise residential building in Dubai.
Rajeevnath, director of Poottu, said: "The movie is about residents of a high-rise building in Dubai, who get stuck in their apartments, due to simultaneous jamming of the electronic locking system. Six families are desperate to get out of their locked apartments and the theme is centred around their agony."
"There is no hero or heroine in this movie. Almost all the characters have important role to play. Many of the actors are first timers. The movie unlocks their lock into a new world of cinema," Rajeevnath told Khaleej Times.
The actors ranging from government employees to media personalities have presented a reflection of the Kerala community life in the UAE.
'We have adjusted the working hours of the stars by dividing the crew into six shooting units and the movie was completed within 13 days and nights. It was a challenging work because the movie was shot completely inside the locked flats without light," said Anil Eswar, a budding cinematographer from Dubai.
"This is my first movie and I feel happy to have worked with a senior director like Rajeev Nath, who has got many Indian and international film awards," said Raju Thomas who acted in the film.
Except three actors all the stars in the movie are new comers selected through an audition in Dubai, said Albert Alex, the project designer and casting director of the movie. Each artist has contributed to the financing of the film.
Poottu can be called the first expatriate movie from Dubai, as almost all the artists in the movie, except the director and playwright, are residents of UAE.
The entire team, which is actively promoting the movie on social media platforms, is awaiting the audience review now.
Praveen Mangalath who has edited the movie said: "My first movie was Kalyanism and Poottu is my second movie as an editor. I used to do a number of Bollywood movies and this is my sincere effort to make a come back into mainstream film industry."
satish@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai