Birds With Large Wings

Plot

The film is a partially fictionalized representation of the environmental disaster caused by the misuse of endosulfan pesticide in Kasaragod District of Kerala in India. This disaster was caused by nearly two and a half decades of endosulfan use on government-owned cashew plantations. The film explores the disastrous environmental and public health consequences of the pesticide misuse. It also concentrates on those health-related effects of endosulfan misuse, that persist to this day.

The film depicts the after-effects of the pesticide spraying through the eyes of a photographer. His first visit to the area was during a rainy season in 2001, and his photographs revealed the shocking state of the numerous victims to the world. Endosulfan-induced misery gained worldwide attention due to this exposure. When the photographer visited the area again in summer 2006, many of the young victims he had photographed during his earlier visit, had died. Even now, children are being affected with strange and debilitating diseases. In 2011, the Stockholm Summit of UN on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) recommended a total ban on endosulfan. India was the only country that opposed this decision. A year later, in 2012, the photographer returned to Kasaragod. He realized that apathy and indifference to the plight of these unfortunate victims persisted, and that the survivors continued to suffer.

Realities

The main character is based on the experiences of reputed Mathrubhumi Press photojournalist Madhuraj, whose 2001 expose shed light on this tragedy. To maintain authenticity and depict events accurately, Dr. Biju consulted Madhuraj and other activists associated with the Kasargode issue. It took nearly a year for the director to conduct this research. In a bid to give a voice to those oppressed by this man-made environmental crisis, the characters that appear in the film are played by the real-life victims.

Kasargode is a reminder to Kerala and the rest of the world about the grave injustice that has been perpetrated on a people by its government. It is the story of twenty-five years of blatant disregard for the well-being of a community, and of sacrificing lives in the pursuit of greed. In spite of the overwhelming evidence, the Indian government has not completely stopped the usage of endosulfan. To add insult to injury, the victims have not been provided access to proper treatment or allowed due compensation. Although the United Nations has banned endosulfan, the decision to ban this pesticide in Kasargode fell to the Supreme Court of India. During the time of the decision-making, the production company, crew, and actors joined hands in a strike for justice.

On his decision to take the lead role, actor Kunchacko Boban stated, “It was such a sensitive script, to which no actor could have said no. The shoot was a moving experience, and for the first time, I cried without glycerine on the sets. What we have read or seen about the ordeal of Endosulfan victims is nothing when you meet them face to face and hear them out. It was too traumatic and emotional. Never did I undergo such trauma while shooting."

Cast

Technical Crew

Production

The film was produced by Dr A.K. Pillai, under the Maya Movies production house. Pillai is a practicing pediatrician currently living in Florida, USA. Pillai obtained postgraduate degrees from UK and USA, and worked for the US Government for few years before starting his own private practice. His passion for making realistic and meaningful movies led to him joining forces with internationally renowned contemporary artistic filmmaker Dr. Biju. The film is co-produced by Padma Pillai.

Filming

The shooting schedule lasted a year in Kasargode and Canada, in order to capture the turn of each season with all of its nuances. The first scheduled shoot began in June 2014, in Kasargode, to capture the monsoon season. Many of the children who were the real victims of the Endosulfan appeared in the film at this time.

The second shoot was completed at Kasargode, in September 2014, in the spring season. During the shooting, people continued to strike, demanding justice from the Government for the Endosulfan victims. Protests were also recreated with major participation from mothers and children.

The third shoot was completed in Ottawa, Canada, in December 2014, during the winter. CanEast films (Biju George and Satheesh Gopalan) in Ottawa, Canada, coordinated the Canadian part of shoot. The film commission Ottawa extended support for the production crew. Nearly 100 local actors were called upon to bring to life the UN conference on POPs, including actor James Bradford, who played the role of a French environmental scientist. The film crew struggled to shoot most of the outdoor sequences in wintry conditions and minus 20 degree weather. Despite the harsh climate, shooting was wrapped in less than two weeks due to the overwhelming support from CanEast Films, the local crew and Film Commission of Ottawa.

The fourth shoot took place in Kasargode to capture the summer season in February and March 2015.

Release

The world premiere of the film is planned for September/ October 2015 at a major film festival outside India. The Indian and Kerala release is scheduled for November 27, 2015.

Award Nominee

Selected for official competition in the coming Asia Pacific Screen Awards (November 2015) .

Post film activities for the victims

After the completion of film shoot, the film crew will continue their activities for supporting the Endosulfan victims. The local people and activists started a charitable organization called SNEHAM for the support of victims, with support from the crew. Actor Kunchacko Boban, along with SNEHAM volunteers, participated in the popular television program “Kodeeswaran� to raise money for the organization. In addition, the producer, director and technical crew are continuing to support the cause, and aim to build a rehabilitation village to support and care for victims.