“Terrible,” says Rima Kallingal. This was her first reaction when she was cast as Bhargavi in Aashiq Abu Nilavelichamremake of the classic Bhargavi Nilayam,
The heroine of the debut script penned by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Bhargavi enthralled the audience in the 1964 original. Almost 50 years later, Reema Kalingal has reinterpreted the character without losing the essence of that character.
Speaking over the phone from Kochi, Reema says initially the team behind making Nilavelicham He was concerned about the task he had taken up. However, as actors, they were more excited by it, the literature, the sheer passion and romance of the characters, the surrealism in the film…. “We knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she says.
Rathina takes Reema as a dancer
Reema’s next role is a contemporary role of a dancer, a series that is being directed by PuzuDirected by Rathina Pt. “That is for Hotstar. The script has been locked and we can start shooting in May,” says Reema.
they decided Nilavelicham There will be a tribute to the magic of Basheer – the soundscapes, landscapes and characters he created. “There is a version that Legends did, which ticked every box as a film. We decided that we will do our version of the script and try our best while we are doing it,” explains Reema, outlining the thought process behind the remake.
Reema Kalingal as Bhargavi Neelavelicham.
, photo credit: R Roshan
Still, before the shoot, Rima wondered if she would be able to understand a woman in her 60s. To his relief, when he read the script, he realized that Bhargavi was a woman of her own mind, a woman who lived life on her own terms even within the constraints of the conservative society the story is set in. She bares her soul, be it in romance, in the way she wants to live and even in her pain and vengeance. He inspired me,” says Reema.
Pointing out that actors rarely get to play such characters, Reema says that most of the time, there is a story and actors are part of a story that is being told. In Bhargavi Nilayam, Bhargavi’s presence – seen or unseen – is present in every scene. “It is all about Bhargavi, be it the writer’s relationship with her, her romance with Sasikumar, her misery or her vengeance. He is important to the story.
Reema Kalingal Inn Nilavelicham
, Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
From a technical point of view, the team wanted to use all that was available to recreate the background in which the story is told. “We wanted to use the best of technology to achieve what he has written. But, before the shoot, I was quite apprehensive as an actor as it is a period film. Bhargavi Nilayam It was a contemporary film when it was made but we were doing a period film by recreating the sixties,” explains the actor.
However, the cast and crew were struck by the timelessness of Bashir’s story and his characters. Before shooting began, he had a reading. “At that time, my mind was in turmoil. Everyone had their own opinion on the story and characters. Aashiq removes the first hurdle by reminding us Nilavelicham We had our thoughts on Basheer’s script. right or wrong, it’s about how we feel Bhargavi Nilayam, It created a space, a sense of peace that allowed us to move to the next level.
A week-long theater camp was organized and the actors read their lines. “We wanted a 50-year-old script to connect with contemporary audiences. There were challenges about how the dialogue delivery should be. Without losing the poetry and romance in the lines, we wanted to connect the characters and their emotions with the current audience,” she says.
After a fair amount of experimentation, he arrived at a narrative that was natural; The terminology did not last until the 1960s in dramaturgy. The actors decided to change their body language to suit the nature and pace of life in another era.
To understand Basheer’s mind and times, the actors read his works and “the whole element of Basheer’s story was ‘Anuragathinte Dinangal’, the nuances of which we borrowed for the Sasikumar-Bhargavi romance.”
“It seemed that Basheer had modeled the romance on the basis of his experiences with Saraswati Devi. We took creative license to think of Saraswati Devi in the visuals. For example, there is a scene in which Bhargavi requests Sasikumar to write a speech for her. In ‘Anuragatinte Dinangal’ also Saraswati Devi requests the author to write a speech for her. This cannot be a coincidence!”
Reema Kalingal and Roshan Mathew Nilavelicham
, photo credit: R Roshan
The shooting took place on a 14-acre plot in Thalassery with a two-storey building. “Every day, as soon as we entered the gate, we found ourselves transported to another era. Of course, the costumes, makeup and music helped create the right atmosphere.”
Which was the scene that was difficult for him to enact? “Oh, the scene where Bhargavi professes her love to Sasikumar without seeing him because there is a wall between them. I had to remove all the emotional shields I had to live in this world and reveal my feelings Bhargavi is bold and vulnerable at the same time. What else is that if not courage? The songs and the music took hold of me and took me into Bhargavi,” says Reema.