The shooting took place during the off season at Sabarimala which would be otherwise crowded with lakhs of pilgrims during the pilgrimage season. Several junior artistes were cast as pilgrims…reports Asian Lite News
Cinematographer Jithin Stans excitedly recalls the eventful shooting experience of the film Thattassery Koottam. After watching the movie ‘June’, actor Dileep had reached out to him to do the camera for the film.
“It was a great experience working with Dileep and his brother and director Anoop”. Jithin said that while shooting at Sabarimala, he was trapped in the flood from the Pampa river. The scenes which involved climbing mountains were shot very risky and shot with high caution.
“The days of shooting the film Thattassery Kootam was intense and full of adventure”. Dileep had invited him to do the camera for this film. Jithin’s debut film was June. It was at an event of celebrating June’s victory that he met Dileep’s younger brother Anoop, who then hinted him about working with the team of Thattassery Kootam. Anoop was impressed by Jithin’s craft which had made June a superhit movie. He was on cloud nine when he received a call from Grand Production. He was familiar with Arjun Ashokan with whom he had worked in June. The screenplay of the movie is penned by Santosh Echikkanam. The shooting had started way before in 2019 before Corona had brought the world to a standstill.
All the scenes from the climax of Thattasserikootam were shot at Sabarimala. The crew had to tread up and down the hill several times. It was an arduous task. There was a scene which involved a running sequence down the hill. He recalls how he went up the hill for the first time to visit the location, and then he lost count of the number of times the crew had went up and down the mountain. The shooting took place during the off season at Sabarimala which would be otherwise crowded with lakhs of pilgrims during the pilgrimage season. Several junior artistes were cast as pilgrims.
A few scenes were shot during the Sabarimala season, for which Grand Production had taken the permission. “While shooting was going on at Sabarimala, heavy rains had lashed the place and there was a flood and we got caught in it”. The entire crew was trapped uphill for two days. The scenes involving Dillep were shot later, during which he was very cooperative.After Thattassery, Dileep had once again sought Jithin for an upcoming movie called ‘Voice of Satyanathan’. “It was a mind blowing experience working with Dileep. It never occurred even for once that Anoop was directing a film for the first time. The debutant gad done his homework well and has proved his mettle like an experienced professional. He knows exactly what he wants for his film. Thattassery has been released after a prolonged wait. I am happy that the film has been well received by the audience,” says Jithin.
‘June’, ‘Madhuram’, ‘Voice of Satyanathan’ and ‘Airathonnu Nunakal’ which was selected at IFFK are other films from Jithin’s oeuvre . The US schedule of ‘Liger’ was shot by Jithin. Jithin’s next film is “Enkil Chandrike” produced by Friday Film House. Jithin is currently working on a web series.
