Detective Ujjwalan's cinematographers Sraiyanti and Prem Akkattu: 'A lot of Dhyan's actions are animated in a way...' | Exclusive

Renowned documentary filmmakers and cinematographers Sraiyanti and Prem Akkattu made their Malayalam debuts with Detective Ujjwalan, starring Dhyan Sreenivasan. The pair's camera work best conveys Plaachikkaavu's natural beauty and its people. They spoke about their experience working on Detective Ujjwalan in an interview with OTTplay, highlighting how the Varshangalkku Shesham actor, in particular, captured their interest on screen.

Most of the frames in Detective Ujjwalan looked like pages from a comic book. What inputs were provided to you prior to the shooting?

When we initially read the script, we were mindful of the imaginary place known as Plaachikkaavu. It has its own universe, and we knew it needed a unique attribute to make an impression. At first, we gave people characteristics like various colours. For example, scenes involving Dhyan had a warm undertone since Ujjwalan was afraid of the dark. As a result, we added additional light-filled day scenery. On the other hand, the boogeyman is considerably darker. Because of the scope of the fictitious space, we were able to give the movie any weather, colour contrast, and tone. Ultimately, the performances were what fuelled Detective Ujjwalan's imaginative storytelling technique.

Did you two hint at any specific approach while shooting Detective Ujjwalan?

We did not want the camera work to dominate our performers. We only needed to add a few cinematic effects to the narrative. Since the story takes place in the 1990s, you'll notice that films from this era have more vivid colours. Films these days tend to have less contrast and saturation in their visuals, but we felt Detective Ujjwalan needed something fresh. Depending on the weather, we did make some impromptu choices about which scenes to capture.

Did any performance in Detective Ujjwalan surprise you while filming?

To the extent that it contributes to the fictitious world, each actor knew their assignment. Many of Dhyan's acts are, in a sense, animated. The Malayalee From India star's subtle facial expressions and body language made it enjoyable to watch him perform in his most natural style. The performances of the other members of the cast, such as Kottayam Nazeer, Rony, and Siju, were also compelling.

How did Gargi influence your view of filmmaking?

Whether it's a commercial, documentary, or other kind of film, every movie is an experience. Having a documentary background, many factors have shaped the way we create our visuals. Our experience working on non-fictional projects taught us how to create more room for performances, get candid reactions, and be less invasive while working with Gargi. We were able to give performers more space to express themselves in Gargi. Detective Ujjwalan taught us to embrace darkness and not be scared of it. The majority of cinematographers grow weary of it, especially when they are filming digitally. It is simple to become concerned about how shadows may seem on various screens.

There is still some reluctance among women to pursue a career in cinematography. In your opinion, how has this thought changed?

After all, it takes some getting used to being surrounded by a lot of masculine energy, therefore it is a legitimate fear. Women's reluctance is quite natural because not everyone wants to do so. However, more women have entered this field in recent years, and numerous organisations, such as the IWCC, are supporting them. More women, in our opinion, need to contribute creative influence to sets and tell stories.

Your upcoming projects?

We are in talks for two Tamil projects and the production will begin late this year. Our top objective is making films, whether they are independent or commercial productions. Additionally, Prem is in charge of the camera for the short documentary "Auto Queen," which I am directing. It will be scheduled for a film festival run.

Also Read: Detective Ujjwalan review: This Dhyan Sreenivasan film is the perfect addition to the intricately crafted cinematic universe