Rima had to spent hours atop coconut tree just for the right shot: 'Theatre' director Sajin Baabu

Director Sajin Baabu’s latest work ‘Theatre: The Myth of Reality’ is out in theatres now. The film is headlined by Mollywood actor Rima Kallingal who recently won the Film Critics Award for her portrayal of Meera in the film. In a recent conversation with Onmanorama, Sajin praised Rima for brilliantly capturing the essence of the film and successfully shouldering a physically demanding role with remarkable dedication.

“I don’t think any other actress but Rima could have portrayed Meera with such perfection,” said director Sajin. “The role was physically demanding. She spent over two to three hours atop a coconut tree, just so we could capture the perfect shot. There were multiple retakes for the introductory scene, which required her to climb down the tree and sit in a particular posture as she gazed at her home. She had several bruises, but she hardly complained. I was particularly impressed by how she approached each task without fear,” he said.

While climbing the coconut tree and rowing a boat were difficult enough, Sajin said the most demanding scene for Rima came during the Sarpam Thullal sequence, a traditional ritualistic dance. “That scene required her to sit and perform a specific style of dance for several minutes at a stretch. It was exhausting. We spent four nights shooting just the climax. Since it had to be filmed at night, the cast and crew would begin work at 6 pm and continue till 6 am.”

To ensure authenticity, Sajin consulted ritual practitioners and visited several places to study the Sarpam Thullal in depth. “We filmed the entire ritual, although only a portion of it made it into the final cut.” Interestingly, Sajin initially approached two other actors for the role of Meera. “They did not respond after reading the script. Perhaps they were put off by the physical demands of the role.”

One of the most compelling elements of the film is the relationship between Meera and her mother. “The story is inspired by a real-life incident from an island village, where a mother and daughter lived in isolation, relying solely on each other. A friend shared the story (which was published in a leading newspaper) with me, and I found it incredibly moving,” he says.

Veteran actress Sarassa Ballussery plays Meera’s mother in the film. “I consider myself lucky to have worked with two such powerful performers. Sarassa chechi is 80 years old, and though she was initially frightened while getting into the boat, she showed immense courage and dedication. The chemistry between Rima and Sarassa, as well as among the rest of the cast, was beautiful. I won’t take sole credit for this film—this was very much a team effort,” Sajin said.

With this project, Sajin sought to explore the theme of unpredictability in life. The film also touches on complex subjects such as the influence of social media, and the ongoing tension between faith and science, all presented in subtle and relatable ways. Interestingly, compared to his previous film Biriyaani—which shocked audiences with scenes like Kani Kusruti’s character mixing a feast with a fetus—Sajin’s treatment in this film is more restrained. “As a filmmaker, I prefer to treat each film differently. I’m now preparing for a commercial film, and we’ve already finalised some key aspects,” he shared, adding that he’s also interested in exploring films in different languages.