At a time when India is under the limelight for its dark side, a group of youngsters is all set to make a feature film that chronicles the bright side of the country. Titled Namaste India, it is an international love story unravelling through travel. “But, this not a road movie,” director Ajay says. “It is a mythological travel movie that develops through the eyes of an Israeli woman, who comes to see the country. It is a romantic story. At one point she meets a guy, who is in search of folk songs of India. And they travel together,” he adds. The role of the Israeli woman is played by Elena, a Hollywood actor. The male lead is portrayed by Jishnu Nambiar, a newbie.
It is Ajay’s debut feature film. He has earlier made a short film — 6 to 60. Ajay says the story of Namaste India stemmed from travel. “We had a totally different thread in mind when we kicked off our journey. As our travel widened, we came across different cultures of India, which changed our mind. Our nation has diverse cultures, languages and a harmonious nature. Right now, the harmony part is slowly changing. Then we thought, ‘why not expose a positive India?’,” recalls Ajay, who set out on the journey along with Rahul Menon, cinematographer, and Josy Kanjirappally, producer of the movie. The music of Namaste India is composed by Akhil Raj.
“It is an attempt to show our generation the secular nature of our nation and tell them not to lose it. We depict an India we all want to see,” he explains. Ajay spent three years for this movie. Now, the team is waiting for September 15, the day when the first schedule begins at Taj Mahal. “Then, we will travel to places such as Agra Fort, Manali, Rajasthan and the Himalayas,” says Ajay. The climax will be shot at a place in the Himalayas that stands 18, 600 ft above.
