Papilio Buddha Presskit

Short Synopsis
A group of displaced untouchables in Western Ghats of India embrace Buddhism in
order to escape from caste oppression. The film explores the new identity-political uprising
based on Ambedkarism, gaining momentum among the Dalits in the region, in the milieu
of an on going land struggle.
Long Synopsis
Papilio Buddha is the story of a group of displaced dalits in the Western Ghats of
India. Their struggle against the local powers and government is told through the eyes of
Shankaran, an educated youth, who is indifferent to the resistance movement runs by his
father Karian, a one time communist now feels betrayed by the movement. The film brings
into focus, an example of the epic land struggles, which are fought in various regions of the
state and all over India, and the oppression of indigenous people by the powerful political
and social establishments. It is also mapping the environmental degradation and abuse of
pristine mountain habitats by outside forces.
Trailers
www.papiliobuddha.com
http://youtu.be/fdb2UfHRv6Q
http://papiliobuddha.com/trailer.php
Filmography and Biography of the Director
Poet filmmaker Jayan K Cherian born in India, Graduated with honors from
Hunter College, BA in Film and Creative Writing and MFA from The City College of
New York in Writing Directing Film, and Cinematography. Papilio Buddha (2012) is his
debut feature film and he made several experimental documentaries and narrative shorts
such as: Shape of the Shapeless (2010) Love in the Time of Foreclosure (2009), Hidden
Things (2009), Soul of Solomon (2008), Capturing the Signs of God (2008), Holy Mass
(2007), Tree of Life (2007), Simulacra the Reality of the Unreal (2007), The Inner
Silence of the Tumult (2007), Hid-entity (2007), and Tandava the Dance of Dissolution
(2006).
Films were screened, BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2011, Short
Film Corner:Festival De Cannes 2011, Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival
2011, International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala 2011, Rhode Island
International Film Festival, Athens International Film Festival, Austin Gay&Lesbian
International Film Festival, San Francisco Shorts International Film Festival,
International Film festival South Africa, Coney Island Film Festival, Oaxaca
International Independent Film and Video Festival Mexico, Big Apple Film Festival at
Tribeca Cinema New York, Kenyan International Film Festival, CUNY Asian American
Film Festival, ViBGYOR International Film festival, Millennium Film Workshop and
Anthology Film Archives in New York City.
Shape of the Shapeless won: Silver Conch award at Mumbai International Film
Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films (MIFF) 2012, Silver Jury prize in
San Francisco Shorts, Honorable Mentions at Athens International Film Festival, East
Man Kodak Award for best Cinematography and Best Documentary Award at City
Visions 2010.
Published four collections of poetry in Malayalam Ayodhanaththinte Achuthantu
(Axis of Combat) (1996), Ayanam Vachana Rekhayil (Journey on the line of verse)
(1999) Polymorphism (2002), and Pachakku (Like it is) (2006). Received many Awards
for Poetry such as, Kerala Sahitya Academy Kanakasri Endowment Award (2003) for
"Ayanam Vachana Rekhayil" and Mathan Tharakan Award for "Ayodhanathinte
Achuthantu"(axis of Combat) 1996.
Cast Bio
Kallen Pokkudan
Kallen pokkudan is a prominent dalit rights and environmental activist of Kerala,
born in 1937, as a member of an untouchable family who were traditional agrarian slaves
owned by upper cast landlords. Pokkudan went to school up to second grade and forced to
work in the paddy fields in order to survive. In his teens he runaway from the field and
became an activist of Communist party of India, participated in the early peasant revolts in
Kannur. He was accused of killing of a rouge landlord and jailed for some time. Later he
left communist party, due to ideological conflict with the Party and the caste discrimination
that he suffered as an untouchable within the Party.
In late 80's he become an environmental activist, and lead a movement to preserve
mangrove forest of northern kerela. Pokkodan started a campaign to plant mangrove forests
near his home in Kannur. He planted thousands of acres of mangroves in different parts of
Kerala and educate people about the environmental importance of mangroves. He
published several eco-political books including his autobiography "My life among the
Mangrove forest". Papilio Buddha is his film debut as an actor.
Director of Photography : M J Radhakrishnan
MJ Radhakrishnan is one of the most acclaimed cinematographers in Indian Cinema.
His films have been screened at several prominent film festivals around the world including
Cannes, Toronto, Chicago, Rhode Island and Rotterdam. One of his works, Marana
Simhasanam ( Throne of Death ), won Camara d'Or in the Un Certain Regard at the 1999
Cannes Film Festival. He also won an award at the 2008 South Asian International Film
Festival, London for the film Bioscope and numerous awards within India including five
Kerala State Awards for best cinematographer.
Produced by : Prakash Bare and Thampi Antony
Prakash Bare is a theater and indie film enthusiast from India. He aims to create
quality media content of social and global relevance targeting audience around the world.
His first film production Sufi Paranja Katha (What the Sufi said, 2010), a period film which
showcases the native culture of religious tolerance, bagged four Kerala state film awards.
Second film Janaki (Daughter of Earth, 2011) won Best Children's rights film at Lola
Kenya festival. Megharoopan(2011), a biopic of popular Malayalam poet, is his latest
work. Prakash's recent theater productions are Godoye Kaatthu (2010), malayalam
adaptation of Becket's Waiting for Godot and 4Play (2012), based on the works of Anton
Chekhov and Jayaprakash Kulur.
Prakash, an engineer and entrepreneur by profession, has held various technology and
business positions in electronics design industry in the US and India. Currently he is the
Chairman of Agrata Technologies, a technology startup. Prakash holds a masters degree in
microelectronics from IIT, Kanpur.
Thampi Antony
Antony P Thekkek better known by his pen name Thampi Antony, is a Poet,actor,and
producer.He has played a variety of roles, most notably as a character actor in several
Malayalam, and English movies. Thampi, also the owner and CEO of several health care
facilities in Northern California ,produced few malayalm movies under his banner Kayal
films.
Credits
Written & Directed by
Jayan K Cherian
Dialogue
Jayan Cherian, P Surendran
Produced by
Prakash Bare,
Thampi Antony
Director of Photography
MJ Radhakrishnan
Sound Design & Recording
S Radhakrishnan
Sound Mixing
MR Rajakrishnan
Editding
Sujoy Joseph
Jayan Cherian
Art
Manu Perunna
Costume
Sukesh Thanur
Makeup
Jayachandran P
Original score
Sunilkumar PK
Lyrics
Saleena Prakkanam
Subtitles
Krishnanunni
Media Design
Think in wild Studios
Story board
Arun Ramraj
Production Stills
Jayan Trikaripur
Production Controller
Hari Venjaramood
Production Co-ordinator
Anilkumar Nambiar
Cast
Kallen Pokkoodan
Saritha
Sree Sreekumar
David Briggs
Kozhikode Narayanan Nair
Padmapriya
Prakash Bare
CD Sukumaran,
Hari Kanhangad
Ashraf
Sivadasan Palakkad
Sreejith Ramanan
Shona
Thasni Bhanu
Manojkumar IOTA
AmalrajSurabhi
Sujatha Kanjangad,
Prathapan,
Sumesh Chittooran,
Saji Nepolian,
Dr Haridas,
Vidya,
Sujatha Jananethri,
Vineesh,
Jolly,
Jain,
Ashokan Thevakkal,
Sivadasan Kannur
Thampi Antony
Sridharan,
Ibrahim Waynad,
TC John
Aravi Bakel
Rajesh Nambiar
Sudheer Babu,
Sakkeer,
Raju Madivayal,
Manivarnan
1st Assistant Directors
Saheer Ali,
Sivakumar Kankol
2nd Assistant Directors
Sudeesh Gopinath,
Praveen P Nambiar,
Nandajan KA
1st Assistant Cinematographer
Anil
2nd Assistant Cinematographer
Sharma Bhaskar
Guest Cinematographer
Kannan
Focus puller
S Shankar Patil
Script assistant
Jayadevan DS
Assistant Editor
Arjun KG
Asst Sound Recordist &Sound editor
Ajayan Adat
Boom operator
Bhavin R Patel
Asst Sound Mixing
Vishnu,
Arun
ADR recording
Krishnakumar,
Jubin,
Praveen
Foley Artist
Rajnish Monga.
Foley Recordist
Chandrasekar Sagade.
Makeup assistants
Arun,
Sudhi
Hair stylist
Selvi Palapazham
Costume assistants
Shaju Vallithode
Chitran Edappal
Art assistants
Shaji Alappuzha
Suresh,
Joshi
Monu
Gopu Anjumoorthi
Mani
Stunt Co-ordination
Saravanan
Junior artist co-ordination
Sivadasan
Production manager
Safeer
Production assistants
Ajeesh Thiruvallam
Vinod Thiruvallam
Sudevan Thiruvallam
Satheesh Thiruvallam
Sajeer Thiruvallam
Camera
24 Karat Post-One Hyderabad
Camera operators
Gittu V Thomas,
Surendar M,
Shamboo
Sync Sound Equipments
Girkar Brothers Pvt Ltd, Mumbai.
Mixing Studio
Four Frames sound company, Chennai
Unit
Anand Cine Unit, Chennai
Crane
Cine Tech Crane, Thiruvananthapuram
USA / INDIA 2012
Running time:108 mins
Aspect Ratio 2:39:1
Color HD
Negative Format: Red code RAW 4K
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
http://papiliobuddha.com
Contact
Tele:+001 718 831 1673 (New York)
E-mail : jayankc@aol.com
84 62 257 Street
Floral Park, NY.11001
USA