The Score Magazine - Archive February 2009 issue! | Page 11

cinema

09 te

It isn ’ t quite uncommon for filmmakers to tread the road less traveled as far as mainstream Tamil cinema is concerned ; directors ’ being the creative sorts they usually are . It does come as a refreshing change , though , when these off-beat offerings carry the conviction of commercial success and not merely the markings of an artistic product that may occasion critical acclaim ; a conviction beginning with the cast and crew for starters . A conviction that stems from the toil and tales of Anita Udeep , who is amongst the few accomplished female multi-taskers in the filmmaking fraternity , at present . Almost half a year ago , publicity material featuring a youthful bunch attired in classic hip-hop garb , essaying various poses began to flood the media , with a single explanatory tag of ‘ Kulir 100 ’ and the fact that it was an Anita Udeep movie splashed across them . Not many made much sense of the weird title nor link it to the vibrantly colourful visuals accompanying them . Only chance spotting by a detail-savvy acquaintance enlightened me of the tiny superscript circle representing temperature . Kulir 100 degrees it now read . Demystifying the intrepid title and the movie behind it should have been a snip after a chat with Anita , who is going beyond the ominous trinity of story-screenplay-direction and producing the movie herself . No mean task for someone who hasn ’ t really explored this aspect of commercial Indian cinema . “ It took three years to understand this industry especially when you study abroad and come back , it all seems completely different . To get the hang of the society , crew and technicians was quite a deal , really ”, she reflects . Essentially there is a world of difference between youthful movies and youth-centric movies . So what can compel a person to foray down a path where ‘ Five Star ’ floundered and ‘ Boys ’ drew loads of flak and attempt a story that isn ’ t quite universal in terms of appeal ? “ It is a subject I ’ ve always wanted to explore . I wanted to learn from the process and not make a film I already knew about , or something I had done .” Evident , from her earlier choice of subjects ranging from ‘ Gulliver ’ s Travels ’ to ‘ Knock , Knock …’ So getting straight to it , we did venture queries about the nature of the plot and the basics of her movie , something