Kochi: Killing smoke, saving lives

Kochi: Standard VIII student of Bhavan’s Vidya Mandir, Eroor, Sreehari Rajesh is basking in kudos from peers, teachers and top cops alike over the short film Killing Smoke he made against drug abuse. The Elamkulam native in Ernakulam has not only made the story, screenplay of the movie, but has done editing and direction of the film apart from wielding the camera. IG P Vijayan who is in charge of the Student Police Cadet (SPC) has directed to screen it in all SPC units across the state and also in all police camps.

“I planned this film after seeing the problems over drug use among school students. I could see drug addicted students who are from Standard V. So I thought it’s high time to spread awareness among students and parents about the menace. Film is a passion for me and I discussed the idea of making it with many police officers in Kochi who also encouraged me,” said Sreehari.

He said he first made the base story with Jishnu as the key character and added some public issues in the story. “I conceived it in 2016 and could start the shoot only in 2019. Those who came forward to act didn't know how to dub sound.Then we decided to do live sound recording. We completed the shooting in a month and completed editing in a week,” said Sreehari adding his short film is a zero budget short film.

The cast included his friends, relatives and police officials, Adithya, Ajayakumar, Rajesh, Gir-eesh, Vibin, Anilkumar, Geetha, Shyamala, Dinu, Sreehari, Akshara and Dinu. The lead character Jishnu is portrayed by Sreehari’s classmate Adithya. The film also shows the working of a child-friendly police station. The short film was launched by IG. P Vijayan the other day in Kochi.

“The story of the film revolves round Jishnu. Jishnu's father usually doesn’t let Jishnu to go outside and play. However, when father is not around, Jishnu goes out to a ground nearby where he turns friends with drug addicted students and  get addicted to drugs. Then the film shows the life of drug addicts. The police come to know about his drug use and takes him to better life through counselling,” says Sreehari about the storyline of the film.

Sreehari says the drug mafia of Kochi traps children into addiction. “They tell some children to transport the drug packets to other places, giving them chocolates, soft drinks and junk food,” he said. Sreehari’s next project is a documentary named 'Ente Nagaram'.