The distance from 2010 model Ritz TN 18 Z 0202 to 2023 model Kia Seltos is one quarter lakh km. A young man named Arun Verma has driven his mind this far to become a film director. Whenever I was afraid that the silver color Ritz would fall by the wayside with time, it was the office called Magic Frames that gave me the strength to hold on. This office in Kochi, which is considered like a second home, held the mind like magic when the Ritz’s lack of speed pulled back. Finally, the same office will give Kia instead of this Ritz. Before that, this office environment was conducive to flying as a Garuda.
When Garuda rises and flies, he is rewarded with a green Kia to fly down the road. This is a car race of friendship. A story of friendship that has not been heard much in Malayalam cinema. A friendship between a film producer and a debutant director.The chemistry between Listyn Stephen and Arun Verma, who owns a production house called Magic Frames.
This gift of Kia is not a gift given by the producer of the movie Garudaan to the director of that movie. Beyond that, it is a willing gift from the brother. Or should the young director Arun Verma not feel a friendship with the many people who came to tell the story? This friendship is borne out in Garuda’s still continuing theatrical successes. The car is the fuel that gives Arun the energy to fly higher.
Not a grudge or a grudge
Paka, Nerkuner..so many names have been thought of by the makers for this movie. But it always felt like it wasn’t enough. That’s when Listin asks ..Eta Garuda not enough..? Without giving a second thought, he stuck to Garuda. Arun Verma says that there are so many things that explain Liszt’s deep affinity with this film. The announcement that Arun Verma is the director of List’s next film is also a part of this. Close friendship with Listin starts from 2019. Magic Frame has about fifteen office staff. But for years Arun was the sixteenth non-employee regular presence. Being one of them, eating the food prepared there and interacting with them all the time. It was this association that came to Garuda.
Assistant to Major Ravi
Although Arun Verma’s family is from Palakkad, he was born and brought up in Chennai. Interested in acting since school days. degree in visual communication from Loyola College. It was a coincidence that he became Major Ravi’s assistant before completing his studies. Arun did an internship at Minnal Television as part of his college studies. When Ravi told his friends at Minnal that Keerthichakra needed an assistant, they immediately remembered Arun, a Malayali. Major meets and talks to Ravi when he goes to edit with the tape after the shoot of the Diploma film. This opportunity came when I was thinking of looking for directors to join as an assistant after my studies. Became an assistant in Major’s films from Keerthichakra onwards.
It was my father who asked me if working behind the camera is better than acting. Arun’s father reminded him of one thing even when he was running around the movie theater. If you don’t get the clutch within two years, you have to take a job and live. He started doing commercials from 2010 when the income started becoming a problem. Even then, the desire to do at least one good film was boiling inside. It was a race for that later in this Ritz car. This car is like a home for Arun who loves road trips. How many times have you fallen asleep in this car? If there was a fridge and a washing machine in the car, I would not have had to get out of it. Chennai – Kochi shuttle service was in this car. Most of the one and three quarter lakh kilometers were run in the last 4 years for Garuda.
Collaboration with Jinesh
The one line of the movie Garudan first came to mind in 2015, from my friendship with M. Jinesh, who prepared the story for the movie. He met Jinesh, a law college professor, through a mutual friend on social media. Later, both of them prepared the rough draft of the screenplay and the film. In the meantime, the movie got blocked due to many crises including the arrival of Covid. It was Jinesh who introduced Arun to Deepak of Magic Frames. Then executive producer Naveen listens to the story. Then to the list. After saying OK, the picture turns on. But again the thought comes that the script should be stronger. Mithun Manuel Thomas arrives at that stage. Kerala Police’s Garuda opened eyes with the strength of the excellent screenplay.
Now..?
The story of Garuda came about by chance. Arun Verma says that no more films of the same type of crime psycho thriller genre should be made. The goal is to do something completely different, regardless of the subject. It is said that it is blissful to continue making films beyond that.
Filmmaker Listin
Listin, a native of Kottayam Uzhavoor, became a producer at the age of 24 due to his desire to always stick to cinema. Started with the hit film Traffic in 2011. Then films like Chappa Kurish and Ustad Hotel. At the age of 36, he has acted in 23 films in Tamil and Malayalam. He has released a handful of films including the Kannada version of Kantara. The list will not disappoint anyone. Arun also says that this is why the list did not disappoint him as a beginner.
