People give a thumbs up to ‘Lock Down’

Kannur:

Lock Down

– a

short film

made with the participation of

prison staff

at Kannur sub-jail during the pandemic – covers a lot of ground in its seven-minute story. It reflects the

loneliness

of prison life while highlighting the

precautions

against

Covid-19

and the caring side of those donning the khaki.

It was shot in an hour, maintaining social distancing and all actors – except the two women characters – are prison department staff. It was released via Facebook pages of actors Mohanlal and Jayaram on May 9 apart from YouTube. It went viral soon.

The story begins with Hari, who is arrested for trying to kill a person who tried to molest his daughter. Lockdown is introduced using the soundtrack of PM’s televised address and Hari thinks of his wife and daughter who are alone at home. His wife visits him in jail and shares a concern that the supermarket in the neighbourhood would be shut. But, prison officials ensure their welfare by providing essential items though Hari didn’t ask their help.

The importance of social distancing and washing hands are part of interactions between characters and there is a comparison between lockdown in society and the ‘permanent lockdown’ in prison.

Director Gautham Pradeep, who wrote the script and acted in the short film said the aim was to focus on the loneliness of the prisoners and hence he developed the lead character as the one who landed in prison for trying to save his daughter. "My idea was to establish the concept of lockdown from life behind the bars while conveying the idea that the men in khaki and government are there to help you in such a situation," he said.

The response is amazing and over three lakh people have already viewed it, said regional welfare officer of the department, KV Mukesh, who also acted in the film.

"Within hours of the release on social media, it got an immense response and was appreciated by many, including CM Pinarayi Vijayan, health minister KK Shailaja and DGP (prisons) Rishi Raj Singh," he said, adding that Singh had thought about sensitizing people about Covid-19 and necessary precautions.


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