Among all the Indian titles unveiled at the Marche du Film–Festival de Cannes, Iravin Nizhal stands out. A 100-minute, single-shot film with a non-linear narrative is a phenomenal cinematic achievement.
On Sunday, Tamil actor-writer-director Radhakrishnan Parthiban was featured in the India Pavilion in the International Village of the 75th Cannes Film Festival. Irvin Nizhal (Shadow of the Night), his 16th directorial effort, won him instant acclaim.
Among all the Indian titles unveiled at the Marche du Film–Festival de Cannes,Iravin Nizhal stands out. A 100-minute, single-shot film with a non-linear narrative is a phenomenal cinematic achievement.
Parthiban’s daring labor of love takes place on 50-plus sets spread across 64 acres and follows a deeply flawed man over the course of 50 years.
“I’ve composed music for dozens of films in South and North India, but I’ve never worked on a film like this one.” “There is no precedent for Iravin= Nizhal,” he said.
Parthiban, who is in Cannes with his budding filmmaker-daughter Keerthana Parthiban Akkineni and one of Irvin Nizhal’s producers, Dallas-based Ranjith Dhandapani, admits that the film was a huge logistical challenge.
He explained, “We had to do it 23 times before we got it right.” “Despite numerous surprises and setbacks, the team triumphed through improvisation and creativity,” he added.
Parthiban says that casting himself in the lead role in the films he directs makes things easier for him.
It is challenging to find actors who can give one of my films their undivided attention for a period of several months at a time.
He points out that Irvin Nizhal was shot nonstop for 90 days, and he needed an actor who was always available.
Parthiban has a long history of Tamil chart success. He has built his filmmaking career on National Award-winning films that aim to break new ground. His previous film, Otha Seruppu Size 7, a solo act starring the director, won a Special Jury Prize at the National Film Awards in 2019.
His film Housefull won the National Award for the best feature film in Tamil in 1999.
