Firoz Azeez's short film '69' takes a look at a world where the male–female roles are reversed
Kochi: A filmmaker can be likened to a painter; both have their points of view and opinions and both are often seen staring into the empty canvas. Most often, it is real life incidents that set the stage for an engaging story on canvas. The filmmaker gives a twist to an otherwise normal setting. This creativity is what is showcased in the short film 69, which is trending on YouTube with over three lakh views so far.
Directed by Firoz Azeez and team, the film takes a look at a world where the male–female roles are reversed. About the title, he says, “Six and nine are two digits with two values, but need the same amount of ink; one is straight and the other inverted.”
Firoz has attempted to reverse roles and put men at the receiving end of situations where men usually take the dominating role. So we have a boy lighting the traditional lamp, a man being the victim of physical abuse by a drunken wife, an elderly woman smoking beedis while her husband recites the Ramayana, a young boy sexually abused by a elderly woman, a young college going boy being eve-teased in a bus and ultimately being raped in a moving bus by women.
Speaking about the film, Firoz says, “I like to involve myself in various social issues that are revealed through the media. I try and visit the survivors in the hospital and share their sorrow and listen to their stories. These incidents affect me and I want to bring them on screen. The Nirbhaya case affected me profoundly, but already a lot has been written about it and I wanted to do a satirical take on that and hence thought of a role reversal subject. The short film 69 has threaded 12 major real life incidents and some untold stories in a span of 19 minutes.”
Making the film also proved to be a big challenge as role reversal called for some illogical situations that did not have a reference point and so meticulous research was done. The camera was cranked by Mahadevan Thampi with whom Firoz has an association of eight years. Firoz has received compliments from Sangeeth Sivan, Anoop Menon, Lal, Mythili and other artists. What is the biggest compliment? “My mother gave me a big hug and kiss after watching the film.”
His next will be a full length film.
( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story
