Watched the malayalam movie - Virus.
Writing about a movie for the first time.
No spoilers. Not many suspense elements anyway, since the movie is based on true events. This is not even a review. It's just a note of appreciation and respect to the cast and crew of the movie.
Writing about a movie for the first time.
No spoilers. Not many suspense elements anyway, since the movie is based on true events. This is not even a review. It's just a note of appreciation and respect to the cast and crew of the movie.
I felt I should be vocal about it this time because...
Because I am a Keralite who is proud of my people and government machinery whose wisdom, determination and efficiency could contain and control efficiently what could have lead to an unimaginable death toll.
Because I am a native of Kozhikode where the Nipah incidents happened and have several friends and former students in the Perambra and Medical College area with a few of my doctor friends practising in Kozhikode Medical College. After hearing the related incidents first hand from them and now seeing it on screen, the respect for the ones who combated the dreadful circumstances multiply manifold.
Because I am also a proud Manipal-ite. The role played by the researchers at Manipal Centre for Virus Research(MCVR) in testing the sample and confirming of 'the virus' was a breakthrough in dealing with the epidemic. Though not from that department, from a few student friends of mine from that centre Swathi Gururaj, Oliver D Sa, I had heard about how it was a real "testing time" for them - the security measures taken, the quarantine they were put into. I had witnessed, both online and offline, the awareness activities they undertook. And today it was a proud moment to see the Manipal Centre appear on screen in a malayalam movie, especially while watching it with a group of non-malayalis from MCVR. Cheers, usually reserved for the entry of macho heroes, was this time louder for a research centre and that's a good sign - of giving due credits to science and rationale and not just for superheroic stunts.
Because I saw on screen, the craft of a talented lot. Everything from the script to casting to BGM is to be applauded. One can easily see the enormous amount of research and homework that has gone into the making of it. Hats off to the impeccable casting; even the tiniest role was in the safest hands. Delved in some personal pleasure seeing the branded ones - the feminichis - and new gen actors (not stars) proving it out there that nothing can stop good cinema from happening if backed by grit and gift.
Of course, nothing is flawless. Nothing is perfect. Not science or medicine. Not any movie either. Life and nature keep throwing at us, perils and predicaments. But, nature has also equipped us with the tenacity to fight, the resilience to start afresh. Doing it jointly-hand in hand - assures success - be it life or a movie.
Picture Courtesy: Onlookers Media
