We had broken the news that Amala Paul would be seen playing the role of a forensic surgeon for the first time in her career and the title of the film is out now. Directed by Anoop Panicker, the forensic investigative thriller has been titled Cadaver. A surprising development is that the Raatchasan actress has turned producer for the first time.
Amala, who commenced shoot of the film on Monday, speaks to DC, “Cadaver means a dead human body that is used by medical students, physicians and other scientists to study anatomy, identify disease sites, determine causes of death, and provide tissue to repair a defect in a living human being. I am essaying a pathologist, a character totally new to me. Even as I listened to the entire narration, I was worried as how to crack this challenging role. And if you notice most of the real life forensic department heads would be around 35 to 40 years and wanted to prepare properly for the matured character.”
So what were her preparations like? “I did a lot of research on internet besides taking hands-on training with a popular doctor and a pathologist. I was travelling with him for few cases and just observed and followed them. In fact, the film is based on a real life investigative case handled by former Kerala police surgeon Dr B Umadathan. I also got in touch with him and discussed it.”
Is there a romantic angle, we ask. “Oh! No! I only romance dead bodies in Cadaver.” She added, “I resolve a complicated murder case and there are lot of layers in it. And most of my shoots are in mortuaries and hospitals.”
On turning a producer, she reveals, “The script came to me four years ago. Anoop and his team were working on it for three years and it took so long for them to make it possible. My manager Pradeep was following it up with them and one day he came and told me that he wanted to somehow produce the film, as he didn’t want to let it go out of our hands. I also felt this is the kind of film I wanted to do and believed in. Considering the kind of large canvas, I took a call and decided to bankroll it myself. And this is the way I give back to the industry where I have grown.”
Made in Tamil, it’s one of its kind in Indian cinema. Amala also plans to produce films with young and talented people with innovative creative ideas.
