Right move at the right time

Like the famous saying ‘You usually have to wait for that which is worth waiting for’, best things happen in life when it is time. That is exactly what happened with director Arun Bose, who is excitedly awaiting the release of his Malayalam debut Luca, which will hit the screens on June 28.

The movie, which has Tovino Thomas and Ahaana Krishna playing the lead roles, is the result of teamwork by a bunch of friends known among them as ‘Muvattupuzha Film Fraternity’. Intensely passionate about cinema, they have been working hard and waiting for a good opportunity. And for Arun, who has been making documentaries and short films so far, this is his chance to break into the tinsel town.

“I was in Chennai when the story idea sparked in my mind.  I shared it with one of my friends. We started working on it. Meanwhile, I met my school mate Mridul, who already was writing short stories by that time. The script is very much direct and we have tried to make it believable and relatable to  audience,” says Arun.

Though Luca is his directorial debut, he was working on another script when the production of Luca started. “When Luca came up, I had to put the other script on hold. Hopefully, I can start working on it soon. One of my first works is also ready to reach the cinemas, but we are planning to send it to film festivals  first,” says Arun, who has been doing short films right after his studies.

He also directed the Tamil underground movie Alaiyin Thisai (The Way of a Wave) in this span. Nithin, who plays a key role in Luca, appeared in the lead role in Alaiyin Thisai. “That is the only full-length character in it. It took us three and a half years to complete filming. So, I will also focus on sending it to festivals and all,” he adds.

When quizzed about casting Tovino and working with him, Arun says, “When the scripting was over, we did not have a particular actor in mind. But then Mridul showed me a photo of Tovino, and it really had an impact on me. So, we went and met him. The moment he gave us his feedback on the script and the storyline, I knew that he was the ‘guy’ to do this role. The best thing about Tovino is that he is aware of his flaws as well. That understanding is an important factor in an artiste’s career,” he says.

“Working with him and the entire crew was a great experience, too. I believe that the entire team worked hard. My philosophy was to give value to the opinion of everyone on the sets. I hope everything will turn out well on June 28.”