SYNOPSIS
When his ten-year-old nephew, Aaryan, mysteriously disappears in Windsor, Canada, former Indian cop and national security officer Mohan Kumar, 50, embarks on a desperate quest to uncover the truth. Driven by love and a fierce determination to protect his family, Mohan navigates a web of secrets and danger in a foreign land. As he confronts unexpected challenges and unravels dark connections, he must rely on his instincts and skills to bring Aaryan home before time runs out.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
CA-YA-TE” (Take Vengeance On) is a crime thriller short film that blends the Malayalam and English languages, capturing the essence of my community’s experiences in Canada. Since my film school days, I’ve dreamed of telling stories that reflect the unique perspectives of the Malayali diaspora, using the rich narrative style and tonal elements of Malayalam cinema.
Creating this proof of concept was a deeply personal journey. It was crucial for me to work with a primarily Malayali cast and crew, ensuring authenticity and a shared understanding of the cultural nuances. I was fortunate to collaborate with incredibly talented individuals from my community, some of whom were embarking on their filmmaking journey for the first time. To support them, I enlisted the help of industry professionals to workshop the basics of shooting, scheduling, and pre-production, ensuring we were all aligned in our vision.
Despite the challenges of balancing day jobs with the demands of filmmaking, my dedicated team gave their all, bringing this project to life with passion and commitment. This short film represents the first 20 minutes of a feature-length story, serving as a glimpse into the world we’ve begun to build with our limited resources. It’s not just a film; it’s a demonstration of the potential of this story and an invitation for further support to complete the thrilling narrative we’ve only just begun to tell.
My hope is that “CA-YA-TE” will open the door to creating a full-length feature film, allowing us to finish this compelling story and share it with a wider audience.