Cinematographer Nimish Ravi: 'Lokah will have more surprising characters...' | Exclusive

The young cinematographer expressed his enthusiasm for the next instalments of Lokah: Chapter 1-Chandra, directed by Dominic Arun, in an interview with OTTplay.

Nimish Ravi

Nimish Ravi is now on cloud nine with his latest work in Dominic Arun directorial, Lokah: Chatper 1 - Chandra. The film is receiving positive reviews from moviegoers worldwide and is breaking box office records every day. The young cinematographer expressed his enthusiasm for the next instalments of this fantasy thriller in an interview with OTTplay.

Nimish Ravi Interview

Did you ever anticipate Lokah would receive such a resounding reception?

To be honest, we didn't anticipate this kind of success. We undoubtedly hoped the movie would be favourably received by viewers, but anything that happened after the movie opens in theatres is a bonus for us. I first heard about Lokah more than four years ago, when it was described to me as a small independent film.

Santhy had been on board from the start. A lot of people, particularly from the industry, like Sameer Abdul, the writer of Rorschach Suhas, and Sharfu, were involved in the film's journey as it was meticulously constructed into a reality. Before it took shape, the process engaged many creative minds. I was certain from the start that the movie shouldn't be a small project. Since it was Dominic Arun's directorial after eight long years, I wanted him to make it big because he is a good friend of mine.

Every time you see Lokah, you will notice parallels with a lot of different films. When you were shooting, did you have any references in mind?

A reference to The Man from Earth was recently brought up by Dominic. Similarly, we may have unintentionally generated particular characteristics based on films we've already watched. However, we have made every effort to maintain the aesthetics and palettes that appeal to our audience as organically as possible. Every member of the team shared their opinions regarding the script, and those views ultimately shaped the final version of the movie.

The budget for Lokah was huge in terms of Malayalam industry, which was a significant challenge. How did everything turn out for you all?

I think preparation and hard effort were crucial. We wanted to see the money we were spending worth it on the screen. I'm not saying it was a flawless movie, but we did our best to prepare before the shootings, and that helped us know precisely what we wanted. It was a huge budget for Malayalam, and I have to admit that the production team was more concerned with bringing out a high-quality film than with getting things done under the allocated budget. We were lucky to have Dulquer Salmaan's support in particular.

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Was there a performance on-screen or during filming that surprised you?

Durga who played the younger version of Chandra aka Neeli in Lokah. She astounded us with each shot, despite being hurt on the first take. I was considering halting that day's filming because she was so much of pain, but the kid eventually came back after sometime. The subsequent scene that she performed after the injury is the one you see on the big screen. The fact that she really did it immediately amazed us.

Which character's potential in the upcoming Lokah sequels truly excites you?

I can't tell you now, of course! However, these installments will undoubtedly reveal more unexpected details and characters. Although I am definitely not allowed to discuss anything, I am more eager for the audience to see and learn more about them.

You've had the opportunity to collaborate on some notable movies with some of the top actors and directors in the industry. What would you say about the journey?

In a word, blessed! at the end, I think that I was at the ideal place at the right time, and that I was supported by many individuals in achieving my goals. I want to have more opportunities like this. In addition to Lokah 2, I am now filming Suriya 46 in Hyderabad with Venky Atluri, the director of Lucky Bhaskar.

Also Read: Lokah star Chandu Salimkumar: 'A Telugu producer approached me with a witty request...' | Exclusive

FAQs

Q. Who is the superhero played by Kalyani Priyadarshan?

A. Kalyani Priyadarshan plays a superhero character named Chandra in Lokah.

Q. Who is the producer of Lokah Chapter 1?

A. South star Dulquer Salmaan is the producer of Lokah Chapter 1.

Q. How is Kalyani Priyadarshan related to Mohanlal?

A. Kalyani Priyadarshan and Mohanlal are not related. Superstar Mohanlal and Kalyani’s father director Priyadarshan are friends and have collaborated on several hit films.

Q: When will Lokah release?

A: Lokah had a theatrical release on August 28.

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