Mediaperson-turned-filmmaker Vidhu Vincent made a sparkling entry into the world of cinema with Manhole, which won her a clutch of prestigious awards such as the Kerala State film award for best director, the best debutant director award at the 21st International Film Festival of Kerala and the FIPRESCI award for best Malayalam cinema.
She is back with her second film, Stand Up, starring Nimisha Sajayan as a stand-up comedienne.
Her struggles
“It is about her life, her sorrows and happiness, her anxieties and angst, her friends and family and so on. The movie is about the drama in her life that is unveiled through her acts as a stand-up comedienne,” says Vidhu over telephone.
The poster of the film featuring Nimisha was widely shared by cinephiles and fans of the actor and the director. “Although stand up comedians are not all that popular in Kerala, we have always had art forms like Chakyarkoothu, which was all about satire and wit revolving around contemporary events. Moreover, in a way, artistes like Jayaraj Warrier and Ramesh Pisharody are akin to stand-up comedians though we don’t call them as such. We use stand-up comedy acts as a tool for story-telling,” explains Vidhu.
Vidhu Vincent | Photo Credit: S GOPAKUMAR
Elaborating a little more about the theme, Vidhu says the stories of the comedienne’s brother and his lover are entwined with her story. “She gets caught in the middle and their ups and downs and tiffs affect Nimisha’s character profoundly. However, deep and intense incidents happening in her life are unfolded through her acts,” adds Vidhu.
The film, produced under Prakash Bare’s banner of Silicon Media, will start rolling in June. According to Vidhu, most of the shooting will likely be in Kochi and Kozhikode. Rajisha Vijayan will also be playing a significant character. Umesh Omanakuttan, who has done the script for Manhole, is doing the script for Stand Up “but the ambience and background are completely different.”
This film, she says, is set amidst the backdrop of urban youth. Well, with three state award winners joining hands, all eyes are bound to be on the film.