Light of Life - Short Film

This short film is based on a Vedic concept written and directed by myself(Rajesh Nanoo). It describes the way life unravels until it reaches the spiritual ecstasy. It is about how life transcend to a spiritual journey. Every one born into this world has to undergo this journey at one time or another, a few will tread fast while others take it slow and that speed marks the difference between them.

This short film portrays the life of a modern executive who is depressed by the way he was living. He renounces his ties with the world in search of peace, and then he begins to understand that peace cannot be fetched just by renunciation. He has to dive deep to get hold of the inner truth and slowly he gains the insight of peace in its true color. When he finds it within, then all his doubts vanish and his true nature is unraveled by the grace of omniscient nature.

The short film is of 15-20 minutes duration. Greeneries and beautiful landscapes, and deserts in  Dubai, Alain and Rasalkhaima are the major locations. There is only one main character (between the age of 40-45) in this film, and he is represented in every scene. I am using a few cinematic visual methods to convey the message much more convincingly... by using few fantasy visuals and also natural visuals as an added plus to the dialogue sequence. The lighting pattern using natural light is a character in the whole film. The musical visuals that portray the cosmic light depicting the character’s inner thoughts are other highlights. Musical vibrations that synchronize with the Vedic chanting are used in the beginning and ending to enhance the concept to a sublime plane.

The film otherwise contains different forms of nature and music. It also contains CG (computer graphics) scenes.

A sample presentation of this short film can be viewed on youtube videos. The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lODr4NZ_zm0&feature=player_embedded

Anyone interested in associating with this project can contact me vvishwaraja@gmail.com.

Thank you.

My aspiring 5 Projects

(a discussion with my freind rafe)

Dear rafe.

Since i dont have much time to write, i will write a very small write up about all 5. i am only working on and trying to make a one line during my shoot interval which starts from this Wednesday, so, some among these 5 have a proper form and some are formless in my mind. all the projects are in English and subtitled to other languages.

1. Ehsaan(you are watched) is about a journalist trying to make a film based on a real incident with the help of a master. the master and journalist are seen only in a scene. the real incident is-A boy is coming to join the school. Head master is having conversation with him. The boy says that his parents are from different religion- Hindu and Muslim. Head master ask about his religion. He says he don’t have religion. And when he becomes mature he will study all religion and choose one among them. Now the religious fraternity in kerala says that, this chapter is anti-religious and creating mass protest. Christian pontiffs, Islamic imams, prominent Hindu sect are all creating chaos regarding this issue. They say the government’s attempt is to teach kids socialism and debar the religion, thus there wont be any religion for the future generations, so govt has vested interests. The political groups like-Congress and BJP has also joined the issue and making huge rallies in protest against communist government. In this row an innocent school teacher lost his life.

when she discuss this issue with master, master advice her that, everything happening here is due to ignorance. he try to make her understand who is a devotee as per hindu/christian/musilm teachings. in the end he concludes that, a real devotee is hard to become and not by birth but by deeds he gets devotee qualification.

this film have at least 15 short films intertwined together with the main theme. and each theme discuss more than 15 concepts, so one short film for one concept is the way am making it. it will have commentaries, narrations, sublime and thematic visuals to present the idea..

2. Reflections(working title)

this is one of my film project, which i dont discuss vedantha directly. i choose it to blend it with social issues. this film is focused on 3 levels.
1. how we behave to nature and our selfish nature to cultivate our benefits
2. how we are treating our ancestors, and the consequence of such behaviors
3. the relationship between a husband and wife in a net savvy world.

all the three persons are taught a lesson from their own respective field, which in turn is an outlook forwarded by rishis on the respective aspect.
this films are very much intertwined as single film than 3 films.

3. shravanam(working title)

this film is about the listeners. a master is giving a lecture to crowd and he is teaching them highest philosophy. people are hearing it with keen interest. after that the camera is following 10 listeners and capturing the pictures of what they are doing after the speech.. are they really listening? are they understanding? are they behaving as per they heard? or they cheered while hearing the speech was hypocrisy?

in this film am using a zen and a sufi story in which i give a different dimension. or you can say that, am interpreting them in different way than its heard and said. and there will be other hilarious moments that listeners often do after hearing such speeches. i just mean to say what impact a speech can do with listeners as per their mental state.

4. guru(working title)

in this age, everything has become modernized and commercials. in this age majority have 2 faces and spirituality is degraded as commodity and the master are sellers. in this scenario how can an aspirant find a living guru. its easy to have a universal guru, coz greats like Sri.Ramakrishna,Swami Vivekananda,Ramana Mahrishi has sojourned this world only a few years back. if you try to travel back, then you can find buddhas, christ, mohammad, kabbalist, jinnas, sufis, taoist,nanaks, etc. they are all passed away making their words alive for centuries.

so how can we get a guru that can be perceived by eyes, can we sit in their feet and learn from them, who are not sellers? or do we need a guru to realize the truth? these are the things am inquiring.. and this films concepts have roots in ancient Indian Scripture. or u can say its an interpretation from that ancient book in the modern context.

this theme demands lot of visuals, but i dont think it can be limited to a film due to its length. so either i have to write it as book or as tv serial which consist of many episode.. so the format of this theme will be finalized upon the fund and the promoters who are ready to do this project as per the ideas am putting forward.

4. guru(working title)

in this age, everything has become modernized and commercials. in this age majority have 2 faces and spirituality is degraded as commodity and the master are sellers. in this scenario how can an aspirant find a living guru. its easy to have a universal guru, coz greats like Sri.Ramakrishna,Swami Vivekananda,Ramana Mahrishi has sojourned this world only a few years back. if you try to travel back, then you can find buddhas, christ, mohammad, kabbalist, jinnas, sufis, taoist,nanaks, etc. they are all passed away making their words alive for centuries.

so how can we get a guru that can be perceived by eyes, can we sit in their feet and learn from them, who are not sellers? or do we need a guru to realize the truth? these are the things am inquiring.. and this films concepts have roots in ancient Indian Scripture. or u can say its an interpretation from that ancient book in the modern context.

this theme demands lot of visuals, but i dont think it can be limited to a film due to its length. so either i have to write it as book or as tv serial which consist of many episode.. so the format of this theme will be finalized upon the fund and the promoters who are ready to do this project as per the ideas am putting forward.

5. Timeless Wisdom

knowledge have different levels, what are they? its basis, its structure, its aftermath is the theme of this project. i am discussing about 12 levels of knowledge and the way its unfolded to an aspirant. i have not worked much on this project, other than forming the concept. may be i write this as book than a film, not yet decided, coz i have not made a one line, so i cannot choose a format that best suites for the theme.

normally my writing style is. form a concept and then make a plot based on that concept and develop it as per the concepts development. so what i do is reverse than other writers normally do.. they try to develop a plot and incorporate a concept to it, which i don’t do normally.

my films are mirrors. i am making films as reminders to oneself. they are indicators in which you can look yourself and frame an opinion about the way you lived. after seeing this film you will fall into- one among this categories.

1. I live like this concept
2. I live more than this concept
3. I have not lived as per this concept
4. I should live as per this concept
5. I don’t agree with this concept,even though am not sure its true or not.

the concepts am saying is as old as hill but as fresh as sea breeze now.. so they are something that should be taught and followed, other wise life itself is waste..

As Holy Quran reminded:

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages),
Lo! man is a state of loss,
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in
the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.

Note: i will just write one line for all these 5 and wait till an investor comes forward and gives me things that are needed. so if there is any one who reads this(or readers friends) are interested in any of these project and will give me the full freedom to write and direct as per my understanding, are most welcome.. they can either mail me or call me in my mobile numbers..

vvishwaraja@gmail.com
0091-9037-325835 or
0091-9895-369280

Regds
Raj

De Nova - 'The road less trodden'

"He was Reluctant, &

She was Reflective, soon
A Spritual saga Unfolded"

Note: once again the name(Vichaaram/Reflection)

was changed and this name is confirmed, shoot starts from dec 15. in kerala/calicut. original in malayalam and subtitled and dubbed to english/arabic/farsi/hindi. It has 5 songs, sung by Yesudas, Manjeri,Venugopal, CR Nath. actually its more like poems than songs..

Synopsis
(There can be a few alteration from original script, coz its team work.. )

Everyone in the world inevitably has or had to go through tragedies at some point of their lives. How do they overcome these tragedies? There are lots of ways to tackle them, and the way they choose for overcoming them depends upon their persona. Some choose simple methods, some choose complex methods and some uses spiritual methods. Those people who try to overcome them by spiritual methods, normally can be satisfied with rituals and ceremonies than diving deep into the spiritual ocean and collecting gems. This film is about a family who tries to overcome their tragedy through spiritual redemption. They fathom deeply than be satisfied in the surface.

Khalid (35), who is the hero of this film, works with a reputed television channel as a program producer. This young man is a portrayal of the modern youth who believes that celebration is life; he uses each and every moment solely for entangling in enjoyments. His wife Zainb (28) is serene and wise. Along with her house hold chores, she has also found time to study Islamic literature, Sufism and Zen. There is no wonder in her interest according to her spirituality because her father was a reputed Sufi scholar. He taught her how to lead a moral life by escaping from sins and temptations of this colorful world. But at some point, she has forgotten that precious wisdom and allured in the glitters. They have a kid whose name is Farhan(8). Both the parents have deep rooted relationship with their kid.

As time goes on, the family faced a tragedy during the 'dul hajj' month. Khalid was unable to come in terms with it, eventually becomes melancholic. He has become absent minded and hallucination caught him. Zainab becomes restrained after a couple of months, starts the soul searching journey towards the truth, finally understand the meaning of life. After knowing it, she tries to help her family to surpass the tragedy. But things start to go out of her hands, so she compels them to do Hajj. They start the holy pilgrimage and performed all the sacred rites in mecca and Madina. During the tour, her heart beyond religious confinement became broaden that the whole universe is encompassed in it. But her family has not been that broad, so they fall into depression again and again, even after such a sacred pilgrimage. She then takes a powerful weapon from her spiritual armory and shoots directly to their heart.

The ignorance which used to cover the hearts is cast off, because darkness cannot prevail when light enters the arena. She shows the way to the family, by portraying the concept that 'life itself is a sacrifice for truth' by leading her own life. Gaining from that spiritual reservoir, the new khalid now decides to rewrite his life and career. In that endeavor, he faces professional challenges and in the end he asks a few serious questions to the television media, which cannot be answered that easily by the TV media which celebrates its 50th anniversary. Finally with the help of Zainab, his spiritual transition blossoms to lofty heights.

Thus, this film is a sacred journey from worldly enjoyment to philosophical ecstasy. Even though Zainab transcends her role from house wife to a Spiritual Master, she never renounces her house wife title.

I choose such a theme, mainly for 2 reasons. There is common notion that woman have less spiritual powers than Men. I don't believe in that notion. I believe that truth is genderless and religion-less, so who ever seek truth, will find it, irrespective of gender and religions they hold. So this is the first reason for me to choose a female master. Second one is, there is another common notion that, one cannot find truth by doing their own duty. I want to say, anyone can find truth even while they perform everyday duties of life. So this film simply shows the stardom of Zainab who acquired the intellect from the family lineage. And without some sort of lineage, wisdom is impossible.

There are only very few characters in this film, because it deals mainly with overcoming depression. So we might confine the scenes mainly on that topic and evaded other areas. It’s just a panoramic view of Zainab and her family in spiritual realms. I have tried 5 cinematic methods to convey that philosophical realm for the audience. So the treatment of the film will be through the following:

1. Visuals,
2. Subtle movements,
3. Surrealism
4. Chanting
5. Scenes that have meanings beneath its surface.

I don't think am the only one using these techniques, so there is no claim whatsoever. The only message am delivering is- shower applauds to my masters, & upload drawbacks into my shoulders .

I don't want to write a review/merit/demerit of this film, which I am almost sure that this will be decided by the audience. I just want to write what I have written and the way I have written and conceived it. I hope to have conveyed the message in a simple way as possible without much melodramas and glitters in this film.