Kurinji

By Pickle November 24, 2024

The Disappearing Flower

India, Germany | Malayalam | Drama

Synopsis

Laly, a lonely housewife in coastal Kerala, has been waiting for her husband Mohan, a migrant labourer in the Gulf, to return home for years. With weekly phone calls to keep her company, and a rare visit, she has built a life around his absence. Their pre-teen daughter, Vini, listens to his voice on tapes filled with advice from afar. A promising student, Vini’s heart is set on studying in a place called Oxford. All Laly knows about Oxford is that it is far away–and the thought of losing Vini too is more than she can bear. Though they speak every Friday night, Laly finds it hard to picture Mohan’s face lately. Until one fateful Friday, Mohan’s phone calls and money transfers abruptly end. With the help of her lover, Chacko, Laly searches for answers to his sudden disappearance. But when a moneylender arrives to collect Mohan’s debt, which Laly knew nothing about, Laly wonders what else he might have kept hidden from her.

Payal Sethi
Director
payal1202@gmail.com

Director(s) Statement

I first started thinking about Laly Mohan’s story when I came across the term ‘Gulf Baarya’, which refers to Kerala women whose husbands have migrated to work in the Gulf. Struck by the overlooked reality of wives and families impacted by migration, I shifted perspective to the one who is left behind, to illuminate the untold stories of these resilient women who shoulder responsibilities in their husbands’ absence. The interplay of love, sacrifice, and the constant pursuit of what’s best for one’s family resonates deeply with my own journey through motherhood, making this project both a personal and artistic endeavour.

Budget
USD 600, 000

Financing in place
USD 170, 000

Production Company
Barycenter Films

Looking for
Co-Producers, Financers, Post Production Partners