When siblings Khalid Rahman and Jimshi Khalid decided to take up cinema as their career, their role model was their elder brother — filmmaker-cinematographer Shyju Khalid. Rahman, two years younger than Jimshi, chose direction when the latter focused on cinematography. Now both of them have become independent with Biju Menon-starrer Anuraga Karikkin Vellam, which is getting good reviews from the releasing centres.
Jimshi, who has assisted Shyju and Alby Antony, says he was not planning to start with this project. “In fact, I was not supposed to wield the camera. Anuraga Karikkin Vellam was planned as Rahman’s debut project and I was also with him from the initial discussions also. Rahman was planning to assign Alby chettan as the cinematographer and thus approached him with the script.
Though he was ready to crank the camera, owing to date clash with King Liar, he had to step back from the project. It was how I became the DOP of my brother’s film,” says the cinematographer.
It was while assisting Martin Prakkat in Dulquer Salmaan-starrer ABCD, Rahman got acquainted with its co-writer Naveen Bhaskar and it was that relationship which helped him come up with this film penned by Naveen. “While planning my debut film, I was adamant to make it equally appealing for all types of audience. More than that, I was not interested in a complete commercial film. That was how I landed on this project. Now I am really happy that the audience have accepted this small film,” says Rahman.
Jimshi says the script of the film was almost completed two years back. “Even when Rahman was working as an assistant director, he used to dedicate time to sit with Naveen for the scripting. It was during the production of Prithviraj-starrer Sapthamashree Thaskaraha, in which Rahman was assisting Anil Radhakrishnan Menon, he narrated the story to producer Shaji Nateshan. He liked the script and August Cinemas agreed to fund this project,” Jimshi says.
So will Jimshi operate camera for Rahman’s next project too? “I cannot comment on it right now. That will be decided when a project gets on. Rahman has some plans for his next. If everything falls on the right track, we will team up again,” Jimshi sums up.
