FILMMAKING is serious business for director/producer Nagaraj Veerappan of SV Production Sdn Bhd. For the past 16 years, SV Production made it a point to come up with movies with unusual themes. One such movie was SV Production's first effort Gila-Gila Remaja (Teen Craze), directed by veteran director Hussein Abu Hassan and released in 1984. Gila-gila is about a group of free-spirited teenagers who resort to drugs as a way of life.
Then there was a story about a pair of inseparable twins in Kembar Siam (Siamese Twins); a mischievous monkey whose role is to help a man improve his life in Hero; and a smug chap who thinks he is God's gift to women in the aptly-titled Jejaka Perasan (Vain Guy).
Since 1984, SV Production has churned out no less than 19 movies, among them Femina, Mr Os, Simfoni, Suratan Kasih, Awang Spanar, Adik, Sejati, Mati Hidup Semula and Keluarga 99.
The last effort was the 1998 release, Ghazal Untuk Rabiah, directed by Nagaraj and budgeted at RM1.2mil. Popular singer Jamal Abdillah and budding actress Wilma Mohamad were given the lead roles.
``A good script is still an integral part of a movie. One simply can't have a good movie if the script is bad. Audiences are usually not bothered about the technicalities of a movie but they will look out for interesting plots anytime; that's how the minds of the crowds here work. Most of the movies we've produced had good scripts.
``But then again, there are other factors which make up a good movie, like good directing, a good cast and so on, but then that's a different story,'' said Nagaraj or Raj as he is fondly referred to.
The recent work by Nagaraj is Getaran and was scripted by Raw'd Noor, one of SV Production's in-house scriptwriter.
``It is a simple love story which talks about sacrifice and aspirations. It should appeal to the younger generation,'' said Raj.
Getaran starts off with former singer Awie in the role of a character who runs a car-repair shop in a poor neighbourhood. He meets a group of aspiring rockers who call themselves Kristal. Confident the rockers have what it takes to cut an album, Awie grooms them.
One day, a group of baddies who have an old score to settle with Awie gang up and beat him to a pulp, causing him to lose his memory.
Kristal become disheartened and decide to put aside their ambition to become famous until Awie recovers. The only person who can bring back the old Awie is Mona, his secret lover ...
The Getaran cast include Fiza of all-female group Elite, rock groups Kristal and XPDC, Faisal Hussein, Aida Rahim, Bob Lokman and Jasmin Deo.
The movie was shot on location in the Klang Valley, Cameron Highlands and Tampoi Mental Hospital, Johor Baru.
Look out for new songs from Kristal and Awie in the movie soundtrack, especially a catchy number called Samurai.
``I am quite happy with Getaran. It's easily one of my best efforts. Though it is a commercial movie with lots of music and songs, it also has a strong message about making sacrifices for a good cause,'' said Raj who also imports and distributes Hindi and Tamil movies through SV Production.
Getaran is expected to hit the cinema circuit in April.
BY ZIEMAN - PUBLISHED 18/1/2001
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