‘Bhimante Vazhi’ director Ashraf Hamza says he takes inspiration from regular people who lead a regular life
Director Ashraf Hamza is straightforward about the kind of films he wants to make. “I want to tell a story that can be told simply; One that eight out of 10 people will listen in a gathering,” he says. He sees himself as a storyteller. Bhimante Wazih, which released on December 3, is a story about a group of people in a village who are trying to negotiate a problem.
was his first film spectacle (2019) About a man battling baldness and a woman who is not bothered about what people think of her weight. The characters are imperfect, regular folk dealing with insecurities and complexes.
Such regular folk and their stories are their ‘comfort zone’ and the point of reference is always life. “These are easily available,” he says. I write stories about people I know and situations I’m familiar with.”
author of Bhimante Wazih Chemban Vinod Jose, friend, actor and producer [co-producer of this film too], Their friendship dates back to 2016 when he came to Kochi from Malappuram with writer-director-lyricist Muhsin Parari. Walking around in the same cinema circles brought him closer.
Ashraf says, Chemban is a very visual storyteller whose stories are full of details. “When he narrates an incident, he doesn’t remember anything. It may be an everyday thing, but it’s worth listening to to narrate it. And Bhimante Wazih Many of his stories have been taken from him. Chemban wrote the script for the now-iconic Angamaly Diary, He had also instigated Ashraf to make spectacle,
cast members of Bhimante… are also largely drawn from that circle of friends. A surprising choice is actor Jinu Jose as Kostep, a key character in the film.
“In fact Chemban suggested Jinu for the role of Kostape and I immediately agreed. We were confident that he would deliver, and he has. As an actor, Jinu is flexible and did not disappoint. His friends Built out of his relationship with him, Ashraf draws confidence and strength from him.
Equally amazing is the casting of Kunchako Boban as ‘Bhiman’. Kunchacko is considered a gentleman in the industry and by the roles he has played. Bhadda Bhiman is a departure, “Chamban and I met him for another project. During the conversation, Bhimante… came. Chakochan expressed interest in the film and Bhiman’s character. In my opinion, he is choosing roles in the kind of movies he wants to watch [as audience],
The gist of the story is how transparent the people are in it, he says. “We all have some ideas that we would not share with the world, unlike the people in film. Bhiman is also like that, as are others.”
Since he refers to being comfortable with familiarity, the story of Bhimante… is located in and around Kochi from where Chemban is located. While Ashraf hails from Malappuram. So, how did he find his comfort zone?
“Yes, but the film was shot in and around Ponnani, very close to where I am. So was the comfort of the familiar geography. I know the life there – what is the morning like and what are the activities during the day. Art director Akhil Raj has done a great job in creating the location on the vacant plot. The crew was looking for an area with narrow roads and railway tracks. The crew called it ‘Filmcity’ because art director Akhil Raj had built the entire city there. Since the story is about a road (wazi), the crew was looking for a location near a railway track and a water body, and so settled on Ponnani.
Choosing to release this film, which does not involve many big stars on the heels of the Mohanlal-starrer Marakkar – Arabikadalinte Simham It would not have been without its risks. But, Ashraf is confident. “There are people who showed their love for my first film, spectacle… I trust them now too,” he signs off.
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