A journey from trauma to triumph

Thiruvananthapuram: Indu Lakshmi, a techie-turned-director, made waves with her second Malayalam feature film, ‘Appuram' (The Other Side), which premiered in the International Competition category at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). Indu's journey to this recognition was fraught with challenges and personal trauma. Her filmmaking journey began with ‘Nila', her first feature film created under Kerala State Film Development Corporation's (KSFDC) women's film funding project.The production, however, was riddled with delays and hurdles, forcing her to lodge complaints with state govt to ensure the film's release. Though Nila was eventually screened at the previous IFFK, the ordeal left her deeply scarred. "My mental trauma from the experience with Nila is reflected in Appuram," said Indu. "The film's protagonist, Chitra, battles psychological issues and superstition, mirroring some aspects of my own struggles. It's almost like a biopic in parts," she said.Produced by Indu and her father Ravi Sreedhar on a modest budget, Appuram was shot over just nine days at Venganoor, Thiruvananthapuram. The 72-minute film unfolds from the perspective of a teenager, Chitra's daughter, offering a poignant exploration of family and societal pressures. Veteran actors Mini IG and Jagadeesh played key roles in the film. Indu, a former Infosys employee, left her tech career in 2012 to pursue her passion for cinema. "I am overwhelmed by the response here at IFFK. Being part of the International Competition section is a dream come true," she said.Now settled in Germany with her husband, Indu's journey from personal struggle to artistic triumph is an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers.Earlier, Indu scripted the Malayalam feature film ‘Daayam' (2022), which was selected in the viewing room recommendations by National Film Development Corporation. She also wrote three books (‘Riddles of Time', ‘Smile of Buddha', and ‘Muses of A Movie Maker') and is also the writer-director of many national and international award-winning short films.