Ashanth Shabu is on cloud nine. A Special Jury Mention at the 48th Kerala State Film Awards for his performance in Biju Bernard’s Lalibela wasn’t something he expected. The Class VI student was at his best in the movie, which, interestingly, is his second film.
“I was very happy when I heard that I got a Special Jury Mention at the State Film Awards. I am very thankful to everyone who supported me,” says Ashanth, whose first film was Jayaraj’s Ottaal. His friends and teachers at RLV School, Tripunithura, are all thrilled at his achievement.
Lalibela, directed by Biju, revolves around the life of a boy and his father and the horrid condition of the drought-hit Bharathapuzha. Throughout the film, the connection between man and nature is emphasised. Due to incessant sand mining for over 30 years, the river has dried up and those living on the banks have lost their livelihood and water source. In the film, Ashanth plays Thambu, a boy who is very well-aware of the river’s plight. To put up a convincing show, Ashanth had the support his co-actor Gokulan with whom he developed a special bond.
Biju, a friend of Ashanth’s father Shabu, chose the boy for the role after he was impressed by his performance in Ottal. Ashanth, however, had no idea about the plight of the river when he set off for the shooting. “The director had told me that we were going to shoot a river and I was thrilled at the thought of playing in the water. But when we reached there, I stood at the river bank and felt really sad and asked – is it a river or a desert?” he recalls.
The film has been an eye-opener for the little boy. “Now I know why our rivers are getting dried up. It is very sad and inhumane to destroy the nature,” he says.
