Kurosawa’s daughter to back jallikattu film

After becoming the first film to shoot at the Harvard university, the team of the upcoming film Jallikattu 5-23, which is based on the Marina jallikattu protest, has managed to rope in Kazuko Kurosawa, the daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, to help with the release of the film in Japan. Says the film’s producer, Nirupama Santhosh, “A friend of mine, who resides in Japan, suggested that a film on the jallikattu moment deserves a wider audience.In several parts of Japan, people gathered to show their support to the Marina movement and held a protest. It was he who suggested that we discuss this project with Kurosawa Studios.”
Nirupama, who is currently in Japan with her husband and the director of the film, Santhosh, reveals that Kazuko was unaware of the Marina protest until they started communication with her, but became very interested in this after hearing about it. She says, “That it was a people’s movement was the single significant factor that attracted her because her father always believed that a common man can bring about change. She was also attracted to the fact that the film was shot in real time amidst the protest and how the essence of the real protest was captured.”
“Kazuko has worked in the later films of her father, like Rhapsody In August and Ran, and in Takashi Kitano’s Zatoichi as a costume designer. She is coming on board as a consultant to help the film reach the Japanese audiences, as we are also coming out with a Japanese version,” says Nirupama and adds that during their meeting, Kazuko mentioned that her father was a great admirer of India and had visited India several times. “In fact, after his initial visit, he had returned to Japan more contented and sober. So, Kazuko has a great fantasy about India,” she says.