Kaliyattam writer Balram Muttanur to turn director with Crime and Punishment adaptation

Scriptwriter

Balram Muttannur

is set to turn director with the adaptation of Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky’s much-loved philosophical drama,

Crime and Punishment

. The writer, who had earlier adapted Othello to Kaliyattam, directed by Jayaraj, and Hamlet to VK Prakash-directorial Karmayogi, says that this will be a contemporary version of the story, set in a Christian ambience in

Fort Kochi

.

“This is a complex work, and I worked on three drafts over nearly 18 months, before I was happy with the result. I have brought a surprising and very innovative element while adapting it as a screenplay, which I believe will be the strength of the project. Dostoevsky is a favourite of mine because, more than any other writer, he examines human emotions and weaknesses with amazing depth,” says Balram, who has also authored 18 books.

The shoot is scheduled to start on June 5, with the monsoon as a key motif in the film. The writer says that the actor playing the main character of Raskolnikov - Lazer D’Cruz - could be a prominent name and confirmed before the end of the month.

Speaking about the process of adapting a great literary work for screen, Balram says, “The difficulty comes only in deciding where and what period to base the work in, such as putting Othello in the theyyam scenario of north Kerala for Kaliyattam. But once that is decided, the writing flows fairly easily. Also, as a writer, I find that it is easier to adapt from a novel than a play.”

Kannur Bishop Dr Alex Vadakumthala has written the lyrics to a song for the film.