Waited for 12 years to fulfill this dream, says Finals director PR Arun

Starring Rajisha Vijayan in the lead role, latest movie Finals tells an inspiring tale of survival. This small movie amazingly captures the struggles and passion of a young cyclist in the most relatable and authentic way. It took 12 long years for debutant director PR Arun to finally fulfill his dream of making this film happen. The rousing applauds that rock the theaters are the reward for this young film maker who has been waiting for more than a decade with a finished screenplay.

Arun opens up about the grand success of his debut movie and also about a heart touching real life story which inspired him while writing the screenplay.

“The story of Finals has been formed by tying together countless experiences in the lives of many talented sports persons. Though it is a work of fiction, the inspiration for the story came from a news paper article. I hail from Manjeri in the Malappuram district. It was during a cycling championship that was held in Malappuram that the state champion Shiny Silas, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, had died after being hit by a car. That incident shook me and that is how the story of Finals began growing in my mind. Though the film is not based on Shiny’s life, it is dedicated to her memories,” reveals Arun.

“Shiny’s death wasn’t big news then. She had struggled a lot to reach that stage in life. With her death, Kerala has lost an impeccable athlete. Later, I met Shiny’s mother as part of my research for the film. She told me, ‘At least there is someone to remember my daughter’. The pain I saw in that mother’s tears could be felt in Finals as well,” notes the debutant director.

12 years of preparation

The director had prepared the screenplay after meeting lots of professional cyclists and understanding more about their lives. Arun had been waiting with the completed script of Finals for 12 years. Though he approached many directors with the script, nothing had worked out in his favor. Meanwhile, he quit his job and became active in full time film and theater works. He formed a theater group called the ‘Fifth Estate’ and had been busy with its activities. Besides, Arun was also eager to learn more about the theater. “Rajisha had acted in one of my plays. That is how Rajisha knew about the story of Finals. Soon after that, Maniyan Pillai Raju called me up and asked me to direct the movie. He even agreed to produce it. That is how this project switched on. You could say that I had to become a director for this movie,” says Arun with a smile.

“In the first few days, there weren’t any crowds in the theaters. Those who watched the movie began saying great opinions and this drew people to the theaters. Now, most shows are running on full house,” Arun can’t hide his excitement.

Arun, who is actress Muthumani’s partner had been working in the media before making his entry into the movies. Finals, which is running into packed theaters garnering great reviews stars Rajisha Vijayan, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Niranj Maniyan Pillai in the pivotal roles.

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