Exclusive! I believe art and artists have a bigger role post Coronavirus pandemic: Director PR Arun

Mollywood has come to a standstill following the Coronavirus pandemic. With releases called off and temporary halt of shoot, the industry is also going through its toughest times. As the uncertainty continues, PR Arun, Mollywood director who marked his debut last year with ‘Finals’, says he has hopes, both about the world and his world - the cinema.In an exclusive chat with ETimes, the director voices his take on the current crisis and also shares his thoughts on why art and artist are important in the coming days.
“I don’t have a huge lifestyle change after lockdown. Being a scriptwriter and director, I used to spend most of my time watching movies, working on my screenplay and reading books. I am doing the same now. What I miss most during this lockdown is meeting my friends,” PR Arun says sharing that he doesn’t see much of a change in his day-to-day activities during the lockdown.
“But emotionally yes, a lot have changed. I feel drained. I feel low at times, because the world around us is suffering a lot. The film industry is going through its hard times. A lot of my friends’ movies have been called off the shoot. Many have lost their income and jobs. So that sort of upsets me,” Arun adds confessing that the lockdown definitely has had an effect on him mentally.
Although the talented director feels emotionally drained at times, he is super optimistic about the coming days. “I have hope! Humankind has always made a strong come back after going through suffering and tragedies. And art plays a big role in that. I believe art and artists have a bigger role post the Coronavirus pandemic,” the filmmaker emphasizes with enthusiasm.
The director stresses that a society cannot withstand without art because the void of art will create an emptiness, which is dangerous. “Initially, people won’t spend to go to the cinemas, because their first priority will be the basic necessities. But art is also an essential part of society. So once we overcome these challenges, things will be back to normal and cinema houses will be filled with movie lovers!” Arun sounds confident while he shares that the brighter days are not far.
Arun, who marked his debut with ‘Finals’, has also completed his second movie, which is yet to be announced. Helmed by Arun, the movie is backed by Sandip Senan. The post-production works were completed and the movie has also completed the censoring process. “It’s a small budget movie. And it isn’t a commercial one. It’s a love story happening in Thiruvananthapuram. I have a Kochi-based drama troupe ‘The Fifth Estate’. So all of us together made the movie. We are sending it to the film festivals,” Arun says revealing the movie will be announced soon.
Meanwhile, the director is currently busy scripting his next. “I have almost completed the script. It’s a social drama. I have had discussions with producers over the phone,” Arun says adding that they are yet to finalise the cast. The director signs off on a positive note that the crisis will soon pass and art will help in the coming days in soothing the trauma.