Tale of a teen in agony

It’s an overwhelming time for Christo Tomy whose Kamuki recently won the National Award for best short film as fantastic comments are pouring in from all quarters. A native of Kottayam, film was all around him since his schooldays. Slowly, film making became his ambition and soon after his graduation from Mar Ivanios College, he packed his bags and moved to Kolkata to join the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute.  During his second year at the institute, his debut film Virgin bagged the National Award for Best Debutant Director in the Non-Feature section. And this time, he has done it again with Kamuki!

Kamuki tells story of a girl who has been deceived by her boyfriend and how she withstands all the agonies the relationship offer. Christo has succeeded in filming the true dilemmas of a teenage girl and her willfulness. The director has truthfully captured the complex emotions and mental postures of a female.
It wasn’t a cakewalk, he says. “Casting was a tough job. We tried many artists but none of them impressed me. Eventually, we found Krishna Padmakumar, a state award-winning actress from Ernakulam, to portray Kamuki.” The entire film was shot in Kolkata and the city's wistful ambience contributed a lot to create a mood of anguish for the film.

So, when will we get to see his first feature film? “I am working on the script. I give myself some time before the next step. Film making is not an easy job; it requires time, techniques and potential. I would work as an assistant director for quite some time and then go independent,” he reveals.

However, Christo is a bit disappointed at the movie watching culture in Kerala. “We worship Aravindan and John Abraham, but how many are ready to watch their movies in theatres,” he asks. And it's a relevant question. He has submitted a proposal to the Kerala Film Development Corporation on assistance for nurturing film makers to find their place in the industry.