Every week, news channels air the news about Indian fishermen going missing and protests taking place among fishermen communities. The issue never seems to end, even with all the promises being doled out by political leaders.
Iyanar, a short filmmaker from Chennai, has decided to take the issue as the central subject in his short film Meenaai Ivan. The film, which talks about the plight of fishermen, sees it from the perspective of an educated youngster, who loses his fisherman father.
Talking to DC, Iyanar says, “Young filmmakers concentrate much on doing short films based on love or friendship. I wanted to do something which would resonate a social message. While themes like agriculture have already been dealt with, I wanted to take up the fishermen’s cause.”
Meenaai Ivan, Iyanar’s 18th short film, has been shot with the help of 18 cameramen in 18 locations, including the controversial Indo-Sri Lankan naval border. Most of the locations are fishermen hamlets including the ones at Kasimedu, Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi.
“I wanted to prove a point that shooting short films is something everyone can attempt, and hence chose to shoot it with a mobile phone! Although many films have been shot on a mobile phone, we have done it fully in the panorama mode, giving it a wide angle.”
Talking about shooting at the border, Iyanar shares, “We ventured to the naval border during the season when fishing is banned. The seas were rough and many of my crew members fell sick during the three-hour journey, but we shot a crucial scene there and the output has come out well.”
The purpose of the short film, as Iyanar explains, is to make the common people understand the seriousness of the issue, and that each fisherman, who loses his life be recognised as Indian and not just a Tamil — like how most media report it to be.
