Prithviraj's directorial debut Lucifer garnered loads of accolades for its technical perfection and of all the experts who put the movie together, it was cinematographer Sujith Vasudev who walked away with the bouquets. It was his visuals that breathed life into the movie. With his camera, Sujith got some of the finest shots which had viewers in raptures. Hence, the ultimate question that popped up was where those perfect locations were set.
Though viewers may have had a taste of those locations earlier and were familiar with the spots, they were packed in a special way by Sujith who shot them and highlighted them to perfection. Here’s a low-down on some of those very special places.
Ammachi Kottaram
The locked up godown which features in Lucifer is in reality, the Ammachi Kottaram that’s figured in many a Malayalam movie. The structure, once the royal resort of the consorts of the Travancore kings, stands in Kuttikanam, near Peerumedu. Though much of it is in ruins now, the grandeur of the palace cannot be missed. The over two centuries-old edifice was the summer getaway of the royal family of Travancore. As the rulers' wives were reverentially called Ammachi, meaning Mother, the palace came to be known as Ammachi Kottaram.
There's an other-worldly charm about Kuttikanam with its mist-clad mornings and drizzle-filled daylight. The lonely palace would easily remind one of a haunted house set amidst a verdant scenery, mist-wrapped even during peak noon. The palace was apparently built by J.D.Munro at the Glenrock estate. Though the structure enjoys the traditional vaastu of Kerala, the insides have a taste of Western style and luxury. The ceilings are of solid wood and the floors are paved with impeccable floor tiles.
The embellishments inside with their extra fittings, wall tiles, bathroom décor and other items of adornment spell class and many of them were sourced from abroad. There's elegance and aristocracy written all over the structure. The open verandah all around the building, the nadumuttam, bedrooms, attached washrooms, sprawling drawing room, dining quarters and kitchens, symbols of royal splendour, still stand intact to this day. Of special mention are two large halls, three bedrooms, kitchen and two passages. One of the passageways was used only by palace workers and staff to access the royal guests and their quarters and the other underground passage led to the Sree Krishna temple in Peerumedu.
The palace stands on a sprawling 25 acres. But it's pretty sad that the place is much neglected. Had it been maintained to present-day standards, the palace would have worn a totally different appearance. The land and the palace are now under the ownership of private holders. Ammachi Kottaram is just one and a half km away from Kuttikanam.
Kankakunnu Palace
Lucifer, which sees many plots and political confabulations taking place within the hallowed precincts of the VIP's residence is in reality the Kanakakunnu Palace in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. It's believed that the beautiful palace was built by Sree Moolam Tirunal. Though it was built for the royal princes, it soon became a place of rest for foreign dignitaries.
The palace is decorated with exquisite paintings and other artefacts. A wonderful specimen of vaastu sastra, the architectural beauty of the palace has been a high point of discussion. Standing 800 metres away from the city, the palace stands next to the Napier Museum. The Nishagandhi and the Suryakanthi auditoriums are set within the precincts of the palace.
Chengara Bungalow
The man character Stephen Nedumpally's residence features prominently all through the movie. The sprawling house in Elappara in Idukki features as Stephen’s residence and the destitute home as well.
Aristocratically and aesthetically designed, the house with its traditional and western combo stands alongside the hero wearing his halo. With its nadumuttam and the verandah running all around, the house is a visual delight.
