Talent coupled with perfection and down to earth thinking best describes Amal Neerad. This movie icon of Malayalam film industry began his career soon after schooling from Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata and Berlin Film Institute.
Amal Neerad has proved his excellence in direction, cinematography and scriptwriting in both Malayalam film industry and Bollywood. He has associated with Ram Gopal Varma in the making of ‘Shiva,’ ‘James’ and ‘Darna Zaroori hai’.
Malayalam movies to his credit are ‘Black’, ‘Big B’, ‘Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded’, and ‘Anwar’. Recently he played the role of lens man, wonderfully capturing a song’s beauty in the movie ‘Tournament’.
Could you please share about your family with our readers?
My family consists of father, mother and sister. We live in Cochin.
According to you where has Malayalam film industry reached in comparison to World Cinemas?
I would tell that Malayalam film industry is in its adolescence. While talking about our industry the factors such as budget, professionalism, competence etc should be taken into consideration. We have our own strengths and weaknesses.
We have 50 percent of real good competence. The other 50 percent accounts to our limitations like, small industry with relatively less professionalism, less budget etc.
We are appreciated in terms of having good story, actors and locations. But when it comes to garment suiting the theme, we are no where to be seen. What is your opinion about this?
During 80’s we had normal and nice clothes that matched our theme and characters. Later our industry was in the trial of wanna be bollywood, tamil or telugu movie styles. As a result we dropped on our style and standards. Also we could not become like them.
Is slow motion your signature?
I am a fan of super natural heroes. I love watching movies based on super natural heroes and action. To me slow motion is super natural and I enjoy that teenage excitement in watching such movies. Also when I watch a movie I expect a ‘Larger than Life Image’ from it. So I try to give the same to the audience through my movies. I won’t say that I would stick on to slow motion forever. After 10 years I might get carried away with other techniques. But I confess that I am a big fan of the super slow motion movie ‘300’.
You are known for your versatile camera angles and shots. Do you think that Malayalam film industry has welcomed it as you deserve?
I would say that the industry has welcomed and appreciated it more than I deserve. If they have not, then I would not have had chances to do these many movies here.
Could you please share your ups and downs in this field?
Cinema is like every Friday everything changes. In such a field the blessing is that I always have a next film. So I don’t think that I have faced anything like ups and downs. I don’t think that my movies are great. I can never watch my movies with the same thrill that I have while I watch other movies. When I watch mine I feel very unhappy, embarrassed and scared. I always feel that I have to improve a lot and learn more to do a good movie.
You are gifted with amazing sense of colour and fashion. What is the inspiration behind this?
Look at me, I am fat and huge, I usually don’t get clothes that fit me. So I am left with no much option. But I take pleasure in clothing characters. I try my best to clothe my characters holding strictly to the theme.
What are your new projects?
I have not thought about anything yet. Usually I take a break after every movie. So now I am enjoying and relaxing that break period.
Could you please share about your Tamil project with Surya?
Nothing has been finalized yet. The project is in its discussion stage.
As you are a hardcore fan of Quentin Tarantino, can Malayalam expect a movie like ‘Kill Bill’?
A story should be portrayed in a believable way to the audience. Even if it is a fantasy or a reality, audience should find it logical. So when I can present ‘Kill Bill’ kind of a movie in a believable way to my audience, for sure you can expect one like that. I always fantasy doing a chic action movie.
Would you like to comment on the issue between you and Raj Zacharias?
Raj is claiming that he has some proofs to withstand the allegations that he is throwing. I would request him to show the proofs soon.
Rapid Fire:
Role Model: No one as such
One word that describes Malayalam Film Industry: Survival of the fittest
Dream Hero / Heroine to work with: Nobody in particular
Your Style Icon: Quentin Tarantino
Direction \ Cinematography: Both are my passion
Photo Credits: Ashwin Koushan
Gud interview. author with nice style & substance.
The claim that Amal has proved himself in various field of film making cannot be accepted.
Except for cinematography, Amal is still an amateur.
Big B was a total copy of 2005 movie “Four Brothers”.
The story and objective of “Sagar Alias Jacky-Reloaded” still needs to be explained.
His latest film “Anwar” confirmed Amal’s lack of knowledge in international terrorism and its objectives. The flavours of the 2008 movie “Traitor” was also visible in “Anwar”
It is apparent that Amal never experiments with story telling techniques or other innovative movie making techniques. None of films has interesting stories.
Slow motions and music video style ramped editing might fool few, but in long run, Amal would be forgotten.
By the way, if Amal is obsessed with Slow motion (over cranking), he should use “Phantom HD Gold camera” which would give a 1000 fps,
(1 second of normal footage would play back in 42 seconds, and Amal would go ecstatic!)
Amal is certainly a good technician and should remain that way. His writing and direction capabilities are questionable.
i like amal’s style.
AMAL NEERAD’S FILMS ARE ALWAYS WELCOMING SLOW MOTION.BUT IF THE SITUATION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THAT SCENE,THEN WE NEED TO ACCEPT IT.ME AND MY FRIENDS,FAMILIES ARE ACCEPTING TILL HIS FILM,WAITING NEW PROJECTS.THANK YOU BROTHER AMAL NEERAD TO SAVE US FROM A LONG TERRIFIC FILMS(EVEN THOUGH GOOD FILMS WE ACCEPTED ALSO) WE WATCHED BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL.
i like movies of amal neerad only beacause of his brilliant cinematography. recently i saw anwar. and i must say what a poor packaging. the first half has a fast song and the the second half has two songs back to back with not even a small gap. what sensless filmaking is this. but i liked the climax sequence of the movie.. if amal neerad reads this please follow these suggestion.
1. film is not about only slow motion
2. there should be a message to convey( what is there is saj??)
3. there must some freshness in film ( see cocktail )
4. for a film to be a huge sucess there should be something for every audience … i meant for the whole family..
100 % support for Jesudas Puthumana comment.He has told the truth. Since common malayaales dont watch much english mobies does not mean that he can copy paste.Well as slow motion is concerned it looked briallant on Big B..ok ok on SAJ but since repeated on Anwar boring. Hope that he learns something,
jesudas, i just would like to say one thing to you “suck ma ass niga”.
and that piece of shit who supported jesudas, the bastard. for many long years malayalam movies are the most boring ones. it,s only few years back that some change was seen and the full credit goes to AMAL NEERAD.
And akshay sreekumar if you are so fuckin confident about your views why dont you direct one , i bet the very next day that theatre is going down.
last of all, rajesh, you rock dude.
AMAL YOU ARE THE BEST. and i also heard that you were moving on to bollywood , please dont do that. we need you to keep up our name.
@ Edwin
I have no clue why you are using abusive language in this discussion. Your abuse or challenge will not change how Amal is. You have confirmed the “standard’ of the fans of Amal.
@Edwin
Well Mr.Edwin its your culture… its what you have learnt from your dad and mum which you have shown in that comment.Well as for the fact is concerned the truth remains truth..
Amal Neerad is a visual craftsman. But same time he excels in telling stories without a soul. I think he should leave the story/screenplay part to other talents and concentrate only on direction and cinematography. Thank God his ground level shots are bit reduced in Anwar compared to Big B and SEJ Reloaded. But to extent I like his innovative camera angles. Expecting some fruitful stuff from Amal in his next venture.
Heard amals havin an affair with jyothirmayi
Amal go home.watch some english,german,french films. using your great slow motion shots, put it for mallus to watch.And Later crusify those poor producers . nice creativity.
Amal’s movies hav style and pannache. If he concentrates more on the story, den he wud b GREAT director 4 sure!:-)
Diana, I guess the Jyothirmayi divorce is due to this illicit relation ship. I guess most of them in the industry are not because of their commitment, looks like there is no other job they could do so just screw around. Look at the likes of directors and actors around the world. They produce quality stuff, unlike Indian industry. Forget the hindi industry. I guess few good movies were produced in Tamil.
Better stick to tom & jerry, thats more entertaining!!!
Amal broke up with his live in girlfriend becos of jyothirmayi
Diana and rajan:
leave it guys, its their personal life…:-):-)
HE HAVE TO IMPROVE ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT……………….in direction…….
anyway i like amal neerad ,because of his camera technigues.but he is not good in screenplay.he is having a variety which attracts youth.but i am sad to say that his bachelor party is a big flop.but camera was stunning.hats of to you & love u AMAL NEERAD
I luv amalneerad chettan……..am a big fan of u new trend in wat i say ‘KALAKKI’
Just because one borrowed the “plot” of the story, we cannot say that the film is a copy. It is the composition of frame that matters, to be specific, the “Mise-en-scene”. Amal Neerad’s BIg B had a firm root and echoes in Indian scenario just like it had in a US scenario. The various identities of the brothers, the presence of “Sayippu Tony”, etc. The film should also be viewed as a reaction to the “Ranjith” model movies of that terms. The film as a text speaks volumes… In terms of the stylistics.. Big B could stand with out shame among those stylistic action movies of the world.
It was twenty years back that Rodriguez did El Mariachi (1990) Desperado,(1995) etc. We also have seen the stylized action movies of John Woo, with stylized slow motions and shoot outs. It was only in 2009 that we had an AMAL NEERAD to do a stylized action movie. And he had done it well. Ask a film maker and find out if there is any “lack of work” in borrowing the plot of the movie. Of course not. In kerala we celebrate a film as “Copyadi” as if the the film will come out of bottle so easily.
Film Theory is now easily accessible to any body. try to find out what is “Mise-en-scene” before going after “copiyadi” procession.
Amal Neerad, go ahead. Take Care
I dont agree with you Maria Rose
Copying a story is just eating someones Flem.if any script found it to be a “substantial reproduction” of a different film and the storyline was identical is called plagiarism.
Technically, in any field copying someone’s Technical stuffs,story,code,scripts or anything will NOT be a big challenge for a person who is into their respective technology.
If he comes with a good story, originally own by him and with his own creativity we will accept him.
U ROCKZZZZZZZ