Malayalam cinematographer-director Venu needs no introduction.
Recipient of three national awards and four Kerala state awards, Venu has worked in Hindi, Bengali, English, Tamil and Telugu, besides Malayalam. If his debut directorial film Daya fetched him both national and Kerala state awards, his second film, the much acclaimed Munnariyippu, brought back the performer Mammootty, whom we’d missed for a while.
Carbon, his third, comes with great expectations. The film released in Kerala on January 19 and reviewers have applauded it for its brilliant performances and visuals. Fahad Faasil’s performance has received much praise.
Faasil plays the lead character of Sibi Sebastian, an ambitious man with fancy ideas.
“But he is not understood by people around him,” said Venu. “One day he proves himself right.”
When Sebastian embarks on a treasure hunt into the deep ravines of a forest, the experience there becomes a self–discovery.
Accompanying Sebastian on this trek is Sameera, played by Mamta Mohandas.
Venu describes Sameera as a wanderer and one who is a contradiction to Sebastian’s nature.
“She is a mellowed person who does things for her personal satisfaction. She is not the everyday woman but more realistic and fuss-free.”
The supporting cast includes talents like Soubhin Shahir, Manikandan R. Achari, Dileesh Pothan as well as veterans such as Nedumudi Venu, Spadikam George and Vijayaraghavan.
Carbon was shot in the jungles stretching from Idukki to Wayanad. The team braved difficult terrain, bad weather conditions and strenuous work situations. Fortunately no one was injured, added Venu.
Vishal Bharadwaj has composed music and Bijibal the background score. K.U.Mohanan’s visuals are splendid going by the trailers.
Carbon with its tagline ‘Ashes and Diamonds’ is produced by Sibi Thottupuram and Navis Xaviour.
It releases in the UAE on February 1.
