Santhosh Sivan hits British Box office

Acclaimed Indian cinematographer-turned-director Santosh Sivan's English language period film ‘Before The Rains’, which opened in 18 theatres across Britain, has become an instant hit. The movie which is interspersed with twenty percent Malayalam and Tamil dialogues was shot at Moonar in Kerala. Santhosh Sivan as usual, has captured the best of the Kerala beauty as he did for the Kerala tourism advertisement, making the movie the richest in visual treatment. “People have now begun asking in details about the location and the beauty of the place has attracted many who wish to see the place," says Sivan who is over whelmed with the responses. The movie set in the 1930's had its world premier at Toronto International festival, last year. Since then the movie was also a success in the US markets when it was released there, this May. This 98 minute feature, written by late Cathy Rabin, is set against the growing nationalist movement of the 1930's. It tells the plight of a good man caught between two cultures. “It's a story that could have happened anywhere, in any time," Sivan said. The movie is based somewhat on a short called Red Roofs, which is part of the Israeli film "The Desert Trilogy: Yellow Asphalt. The prime cast of ‘‘Before The Rains '' includes Linus Roache, Nandhitha Das, Rahuk Bose, Jennifar Ehle and John Standing.