IT Professional masters movies
By Resmi Jaimon

Ranjith Sankar, Film Director and screenplay writer of Malayalam movies successfully handles multiple roles in life - one that of an IT professional and the other in the Cine world. He may be only two films old, but his films have been very well received and his first movie ‘Passenger’ received multiple awards. Ranjith talks to Techgoss about his IT life and interest in films. 
 

Techgoss (TG): Tell us about your educational and IT background.
Ranjith Sankar (RS): I did my B.Tech (Civil) from MA College of Engineering, Kothamangalam. I am an IT professional working with NeST Information Technologies Kochi since last ten years.

 
TG: How did you get interested in movies?
RS: From my childhood, I was interested in film. But, my vision was to be of a writer. I wrote screenplays for Malayalam tele-serials such as American Dreams. When I attempted to write screenplays for films, I realized the filmdom is a director’s medium. So, either I have to find a story that a director likes or write a story and direct it on my own. Since the screenplays are available, I learnt from the published screenplays on how to write one and so on. My flair for writing helped me in screenwriting. To know the in and out of film direction, I used my film contacts to interact with directors and spent time at shooting locations for practical learning.
 

TG: Does IT get boring after the creativity of the arts world?
RS: I find both lives in IT industry and as a screenwriter and film director equally creative in their own ways. Both field demands managing a group of people. In IT, it is about creating a product that meets client’s requirement, where too creativity is required. In film, we have to make characters, create the film and the client (the audience) evaluates the product. Both industries, like in other industries, have similar factors like tensions, late night work etc.
 

TG: Which movies have you done? Any movies with IT, BPO, Telecom characters?
RS: Passenger and ArjunanSakshi, both in Malayalam. Passenger, a 2009 film, received multiple recognitions including Best Screenplay (Asianet Film Awards, World Malayali Council – Kairali Awards, LohithadasPuraskaram for Best Screenplay), Best Debut Director (Dubai AMMA Awards)  and  Special Jury Award for Direction (Kerala Film Critics Award).
 
In ArjunanSakshi, released in 2011, the main character is of an engineer (architect), in which I have incorporated the current professional (working) style etc. You can read and know more about the film at arjunansaakshi.com.
 

TG: Do you have plans to move out of the IT field for a full-time career in movies?
RS: It is about flexibility. I have passion for films and IT is my profession. I haven’t given a thought of moving out of IT industry, as of now. But things might change later.
 

TG: How supportive has been NeST, for your passion for movies?
RS: They have been extremely supportive and it’s because of that I could take around 40 days leave for ArjunanSakshi.
 

TG: Which is your next film?
RS: Since I have just finished with ArjunanSakshi, haven’t given a thought about another movie at the moment.