I had to unlearn everything I had learned

SAY RIMA KALLINGAL AND THE CHARACTERS THAT POP UP ON YOUR MIND WOULD BE THE ARCHETYPAL BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL, NO-NONSENSE WOMEN. BUT BHARGAVI IN NEELAVELICHAM IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE -INNOCENT, VULNERABLE, NAÏVE - A WOMAN OF THE 1960S

- ASHA PRAKASH

Based on Vaikom Mohammed Basheer's short story Neelavelicham, the original 1964 film titled Bhargavi Nilayam had both terrorised and captivated an entire generation. And it was with great caution that director Aashiq Abu decided to reimagine the movie in 2023, with Rima playing the lead role of the dancer/spirit Bhargavi.

This time around, the makers have been able to retain the name Neelavelicham (blue light) as there are now options to show colour!

In a free flowing candid conversation, the dancer-actress opens up about how the film has been an almost life-changing experience, how it turned her to the path of 'unlearning' and much more.

To remake an iconic movie from another era would have been quite intimidating. How did all of you approach it as a team?

We have been discussing this project for quite some time now; whether we should we stick to the original screenplay (written by Basheer himself), or relook it from a contemporary space. But none of us liked the word 'remake'. Finally we decided we would 'reimagine' it in our way, with complete respect to the original.

And I think that was the moment we all relaxed, because the magnitude of the project did put some pressure on all of us in the beginning. Each person who reads the story would have a version in their minds and this movie is Aashiq's vision of the story.

Also there needs to be something new that we, as artists, should bring to the table, or else there's no point making a version of this movie after 60 years, of which numerous directors and producers have tried to buy the rights.

What about your character, Bhargavi? Did you read the short story and watch the original movie multiple times or did you decide to do neither?