June 25: An experimental project capturing the monsoon in its various moods on film will be launched by film maker Jayraj soon. The low budget untitled Malayalam film to be shot in different parts of India will feature at least nine music directors who will celebrate the rains in their own way.

The scenes of the first monsoon showers will be woven around a love story. The cast is led by Malayalam film superstar Mohanlal, who plays the role of the singer. Hariharan, Vanraj Bhatia, Pandit Raghunath Seth, Illayaraja, Bobin Hansai and a host of others from the southern film music industry will provide the score to the film.

``My main aim is to show viewers the various moods of the monsoon and its effect on the lives of the lovers,'' says Jayraj of his unusual venture.

Rains have always been a favourite season for the director. But making a full length movie out of it on a shoestring budget of Rs 25 lakh seems to be a big experiment.

``I like experimenting,'' says the director. His past record bears out his statement. Deshadanam cost just Rs 25 lakh because, according to him, the artistes were not paid their full fees. Instead they were made shareholders and given a share of the profit made from its run in movie halls.

"The artistes in my films are usually paid nominal amounts, if any, as fees. Mohanlal, a superstar down south, is a partner in this venture, not a paid artiste," he says.

Making films at absurdly low costs like these seems to be Jayraj's forte. New Generation Movies, a film banner of which he is the proprietor, seeks to make academic subjects into commercial successes.

Deshadanam told the story of a young boy who is sent to a mutt to become the next head of the organisation. His forthcoming film Kaliyattam is an attempt to make Shakespeare's Othello in Malyalam using a folk art called Thaiyyam to narrate the story. The film narrates the story of a Keralite who becomes a famous ghazal singer in Mumbai and who later travels back to Kerala to trace his roots.

His movies have always had their share of controversy. Paithrukam, though a technically acclaimed film, bombed at the box-office because it was accused of encouraging superstition. Deshadanam earned him the sobriquet `Hindu activist'.

But Jayraj claims that controversies have always helped in the publicity of his films. True to his nature, the script of this film is being written by Professor Sara Joseph, a renowned feminist and social activist. "Her ability to express her emotions, whatever they be, is phenomenal. I admire that quality of hers," he says.

The film is expected to be ready by September.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.