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Vishnupriya P
Published: December 16 , 2024 06:09 PM IST
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Thiruvananthapuram: Inspired by a song composed by Jan Davis, 20-year-old Cyril Abraham Dennis has made his mark by directing Watusi Zombie!, a feature film that is being well-received by the audience at the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The film, made entirely by a crew aged 25 or younger, has drawn enthusiastic crowds, even during its second screening.
Cyril, a Communication Design student conceived the idea for Watusi Zombie! in 2021 and pitched it to his friends. “It was my friends who told me I should do it now. Because years later, when I’m older, I will have other responsibilities, like earning and stuff,” said Cyril while speaking to Onmanorama. The film, set in Kochi, follows Gabriel, a boy caught in the loop of an ugly rumour while navigating small people with big-city aspirations. As events take a dramatic turn, the story delves into the complexities of human relationships.
Initially, Cyril planned the project as a short film. However, the concept evolved, and the team decided to expand it into a feature-length production. “When we started, it was just a bare bones idea. But as we developed it, the film took its current form. We spent a lot of time rehearsing,” said Siddharth Rangan, who has acted in the movie.
The challenges were immense, particularly given the tight five-day shooting schedule. “Time was a major challenge. We lost sleep for 3-4 days and were in a zombie-like state during the shoot,” said Rohan Muralidharan, the film’s Director of Photography (DoP). “Now, we’ve learnt the importance of sleep, food, and rest,” Cyril added.
Interestingly, Cyril found the writing process to be the easiest part of the journey. “I finished the screenplay in two days. Rehearsals and post-production were also fun,” he remarked. The film’s production relied heavily on camaraderie, as most crew members were friends. “If we weren’t friends, I don’t think people would have bought into this project,” Cyril said.
The movie captures the spirit and ideas of the Gen Z generation and reflecting on the audience at IFFK he shared, “I think people attending IFFK already have an idea of watching films from a variety of cultures, generations, languages, and backgrounds. People are more open. Personally, a lot of older people have come up to me and congratulated me. They really liked the film.” He believes there is no such disparity in the IFFK. “Audiences are happy that people in Asia are creating such films and contributing to the art form.” ‘Watusi Zombie!’ will have its final screening at Ajanta Theatre on December 18.
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