Moothon wouldn’t be what it is if not for Nivin Pauly: Geetu Mohandas
Recently, we had reported that the shoot for Nivin Pauly’s Moothon got wrapped up in Lakshadweep. The movie directed by actress-turned-filmmaker Geetu Mohandas went on floors in May, last year. Shoot for the movie happened in multiple schedules in Mumbai, Kerala and finally in Lakshadweep. Geetu has written a note on her official social media handle thanking all her crew members for the efforts they put in for Moothon. Her post reads,
Now that Moothon has finally wrapped up. These past few days have got me reflecting on my journey. It started with submitting the script for the Sundance lab. I chickened out the last minute because my dad was in his last days and I just couldn’t concentrate. It was Acha who eventually sent it for me. I remember it being a half baked script but it was accepted because my mentor Paul Federbush refused to give up on me. A week later Acha left me and with a heavy heart I went to the lab with Moothon. The lab helped me focus to polish my script. Then enters my incredible dream team. My producers Alan McAlex Ajay Rai, Vinod who allowed me to explore Moothon the way I want without ever asking me who is your target audience. Rajeev Ravi, my teacher, who had to be first convinced before agreeing to shoot my second feature. Anurag Kashyap who is like my big brother just walked along with me through the process of writing the dialogues. I felt like a student watching him at work. Ajithkumar Balagopalan my favourite editor who’s eye changes every scene. Aabid Tp my production designer who gave mood and character to Rajeev’s frames, Kunal Sharma and Ajayan Adaatt who did magic with sync sound in kamattipura, Maxima Basu, Sagarika, Niharika who brought my characters alive in costumes, Vikram Dada and Sajeev korotty in makeup department, Kshipra Jain the commando in charge under whose guidance my schedule wrapped up in time. Sanjay Maurya, my dear friend and the best teacher helping my actors with diction. Sreeja Sreedharan, the backbone of Moothon who wrote the Lakshadweep dialogues and also made sure I never lost my sanity. My direction team, and to all other departments, thank you . Lakshadweep boys, thank you for welcoming us. Atul Mongia who guided my actors through intense workshops. My unbelievable actors Dilish Pothen, Shashank arora, Roshan Mathew, Sujith Shankar, Sanjana, Harish Khanna, Mellisa, Shobhita, Mini, thank you.
And finally #Nivin Pauly … Moothon wouldn’t be what it is if not for you. On behalf of our entire team I want to sum up our association with you … Salute Sakhave !!!! (sic)
Moothon is the story of a man called Mullakoya, hailing from Lakshadweep. The movie is centred around his journey to find his brother. ‘Moothon’ is actually an island slang for elder brother. Geetu Mohandas’ story of Moothon won the global filmmaking award in Sundance Film Festival 2016. Nivin Pauly’s character in the movie is said to be one of his most challenging till date. He is sporting a new look for the movie with a closely cropped hair. In the first look poster, Nivin can be seen in a rough avatar with a shaven head and a pierced nose.
Moothon has some of the country’s leading technicians associated with it. Geetu Mohandas’ husband and renowned cinematographer-turned-filmmaker Rajeev Ravi is cranking the camera. Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap is making his entry to Mollywood by collaborating with Geetu Mohandas in writing the Hindi dialogues. Thaikkudam Bridge fame Govind Menon is handling the music department.
Moothon is funded jointly by Bollywood filmmaker Anand L Rai’s production house Colour Yellow Productions and Jar Pictures. Eros International will be presenting the movie.
