On the bond between a boy and a tree

Thiruvananthapuram: Filmmaker Devaprasad Narayanan has brought out an environment movie for children Maram Paranjathu which revolved around a young boy and a tree.  According to the director, the message of the movie is that we don’t give anything back to nature, despite it being kind to us. The two-hour long film has been completed ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5. "Most of the children's films are based on city-centric themes. I have decided to base it in a village," said Mr Narayanan.

His earlier film Light about the life of Dalits in Kerala was released in 2014. The film that also wanted to address adult audience does not have any major actors in its cast.  It tries to explore the realities of environmental degradation.  "I tried to explore the personal relationship between a boy and a tree. The tree speaks to the boy in a voice only the boy can hear," he said. When the boy narrates his relation with the tree to people around him, they feel that there is something wrong with the boy. 

The only person who seems to understand the boy is the fish vendor.  He admits that the environmental lesson the tree tries to convey to the boy is relevant.  The story also has a subtext about the relation of the boy with a Tamil migrant labourer boy and the protagonist boy.  The Tamil migrant labourer boy though is of school going age has to find his living by working. Devaprasad’s son Buddhadev plays the lead role in the film. The other actors are Prajitha, Manu, Vasanthan and Ambidas Karette. 

Jerin James handles the camera, and Sujesh S. is the editor. The lyrics, music, script, direction and production are by Devaprasad.  He has also included some kids from a school at Pathanapuram, after providing them with a week’s training. The story revolved around areas in Kollam, Pathanapuram and Ponmudi.