Vimukthi Jayasundara, known for his distinct cinematic direction with a Tarkovskian touch, is back in his usual ‘heavenly’ set in Riverston, in the central hills of Sri Lanka, with his fifth film, ‘Turtle’s Gaze on Spying Stars’, a sci-fi, independent, medium-budget film that is an international collaboration between Sri Lanka, India and France.
The one-month shoot in Riverston, which wrapped up last week, involved an international cast and crew. I had the opportunity to be on the set, have quick chit-chats with the cast and crew during breaks and mostly to witness the demanding process of filmmaking. The level of commitment, attention to detail and patience needed from everyone on the set, from the director to the tea boy, was truly commendable, highlighting that cinema is a significant collaborative effort.
Saadgiee Gupta, Indira Tiwari, Hidaayath Hazeer and Vimukthi Jayasundara
The main film set is designed as a luxury boutique suite at the viewpoint in Riverston, facing a picturesque range of hills covered in lush greenery and mist. For a moment, one feels as if he is in heaven. Most of the film takes place in this suite and in the woods of Riverston. While sitting in a cozy corner of the same film set, Jayasundara said that the premise of ‘Turtle’s Gaze on Spying Stars’ is how humans and human relationships can manipulate the manifestation of nature.
“So far, we have considered that humans are not as natural as nature. However, human beings entered a crisis with the advent of AI, as it exposed our natural being. We always tend to think that nature has its own justice. The film is set in a future ravaged by a mysterious pandemic caused by humanity’s over-dependence on technology,” he said.
The protagonist of the film, crafted by the young and inspiring Indian actress Indira Tiwari, is a refugee from Sri Lanka who returns to the country and is forcibly admitted into a valley resort that has been converted into an isolation facility. Once there, memories from her Sri Lankan past haunt her; however, instead of producing fear, as intended by the facility, the experience has the opposite effect. She develops love and compassion through her interaction with strangers.
Spiritual journey
Jayasundara reflected on his return to filmmaking after a nine-year hiatus, the longest break he has ever taken between projects. During this time, he experienced a significant internal crisis regarding his existence and embarked on a spiritual journey. His last film, ‘Dark in the White Night’, was completed in 2015 and was an abandoned project he had shot even before ‘Chatrak’.
While pursuing his spiritual journey, he also participated in several visual art exhibitions and short films, focusing his work with the hope of living in Sri Lanka and engaging with the cultural-political activism of the country. However, with the onset of the pandemic in 2020, he realised that he had allowed opportunities to fall by the wayside due to his negligence. Although, he was developing a new plot during the pandemic, it was a challenging time to secure funding and assemble a team, as the world was not ready for a movie at that time.
“From 2020 to 2024, there have been many changes in the socio-political context of the world compared to the previous decades, especially in terms of the invasion of social media and artificial intelligence.” Jayasundara said. This led to several changes in the script during its development. Ultimately, it took four years to get the right producers, cast and crew on board, but he expressed satisfaction that everything fell into place at the right time.
Evolution of global cinema
Considering the evolution of global cinema, having a solid international collaboration is of paramount importance in filmmaking, as it simplifies the process of reaching various film markets and Festivals around the world. Speaking about the film’s international collaboration, Jayasundara said, “Nila Madhab Panda is the Indian producer of the film, and the main actress Indira Tiwari and the Director of Photography, Eeshit Narain, are from India. I have a long history with Eeshit; I have worked with him before. He is an aspiring young DoP with ample industry experience and knowledge about the advancement of technology. The sound artist, Roman Dymny is from France and I always go to France for sound and post-production, as their labs are the best for that. The editor of the film is Saman Alvitigala and he has been my editor throughout my career. Tiwari is a promising actress in India, and we hope to have an Indian release as well as a Sri Lankan release of the film.”
From the set ‘Turtle’s Gaze on Spying Stars’
Jayasundara emphasised that through this film, he aims to highlight the fact that the third world can also imagine the future. “Let’s see how the world is going to take this,” he said with a smile.
Cinematography
Throughout the film set, Eeshit Narain, the director of photography exemplified his dedication as he focused entirely on his craft, skillfully managing a high-tech Sony Burano camera by himself. Balancing the complexities of working with a diverse foreign production crew, while ensuring seamless communication and collaboration is no easy task.
However, with a clear understanding of the director’s vision, he diligently captured every possible angle and nuance of the story, showcasing his commitment to bringing the cinematographer’s artistic perspective to life. I was able to catch up with Eeshit for a quick chat during the shoot, just two days before the wrap-up of the film. “This project is special to me as it is all about how relationships improve over time.
Vimukthi was my directing mentor at the Asian Film Academy in Busan, and the editor of this film, Saman Alvitigala, is also one of my batch mates.” Eeshit previously worked as the DoP for Vimukthi’s short film ‘Thun Denek’, noting that this collaboration is quite unique, especially since Vimukthi is doing a full-length feature after a while. “I really like the theme of the film, which is quite relevant to the contemporary world,” he added.
Eeshit acknowledged that the project presents a challenge since the entire technical crew is from Sri Lanka and he does not speak the language. However, he said “The team is very supportive.” He spoke of the importance of regional collaboration and believed that it is always positive to go beyond borders, as cinema is inherently a collaborative process. “You can become trapped in your own stories, language and aesthetic within your own circle of people. Co-producing with others around the world will always bring new perspectives to your project and help to broaden your expression, reaching a wider audience,” he said.
Based between Bombay and London, Eeshit is a 2014 graduate of the prestigious Film & Television Institute of India (FTII, Pune). Over the years, he has worked on several international projects, including short films, over 200 commercials, documentaries and feature films. His work has travelled to Festivals across the globe and has won numerous accolades, including the Student Emmys (USA), Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland), Busan Film Festival (Korea) and National Film Awards (India). Eeshit recently filmed ‘Dabba Cartel’, an eight-part Netflix original series set in Mumbai, India.
Sounds
‘Turtles Gaze on Spying Stars’ employs the direct sound technique, capturing both dialogue and ambient sounds on set, which can be quite challenging. The authenticity of a film’s sounds is essential to create the right mood that complements its visual aesthetic; sound is a key element that Vimukthi deeply values. Roman Dymny, a renowned sound recordist and sound designer from France, is someone Vimukthi consistently trusts to bring his films to life through sound. “I have worked with Vimukthi before, but this is the first time I’m collaborating with him and a local crew here in Sri Lanka. This is also my second visit to Sri Lanka, as I came here for a workshop some time ago. Vimukthi and I have a strong mutual understanding when it comes to work.”
Speaking about the challenges of direct sound, Roman said, “There are limitations and compromises that must be addressed in any film production but I believe the compromises shouldn’t affect the end product. The decisions made on set impact the editing and audio post-production workflow, so having the right technical know-how and appropriate equipment is crucial for a smooth flow of both production and post-production.”
Indira Tiwari
The lead role of the film is portrayed by Indira Tiwari, who has successfully played characters in several Bollywood productions, including a notable role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi. ‘Turtles Gaze on Spying Stars’ marks her first international production, clearly demonstrating her adaptability across genres. Jayasundara’s visually-driven storytelling, characterised by minimal dialogue—a stark contrast to Bollywood’s cinematic language—allowed Indira’s acting capabilities to shine, enabling her to grasp his vision effortlessly.
“Working with Vimukthi Sir was a great opportunity for me. It was an interesting film with a unique cinema aesthetic and a theme that I thoroughly enjoyed. I had a wonderful time shooting with Sri Lankan core actors and I look forward to this project making its journey around the world soon,” Indira said.
Local cast
‘Turtle’s Gaze on Spying Stars’ features a talented local cast, including Saumya Liyanage, Kaushalya Fernando, Steve De La Zilwa, Hidaayath Hazeer, Samanalee Fonseka and special appearances by Dileepa Abeysekara and Upali Amarasinghe. Speaking on set, Samanalee expressed her joy and gratitude to Jayasundara for casting her in this remarkable project, which she considers very special in her career as an actress. “Although my character is not a lead role, I was truly moved by the theme of the script. I have always loved being part of quality productions, regardless of the role I play,” she said.
She also noted the friendly, professional and easy-going environment that Jayasundara creates for his cast, allowing them to perform freely. “It’s very easy to work with Vimukthi, and it was a great experience to collaborate and share knowledge, especially with the foreign cast and crew,” she added.
As the month-long shoot of Turtle’s Gaze on Spying Stars comes to a close, the film will begin its editing and post-production in India and then in France in the coming months. May the film’s artistic vision find a warm reception around the world.
‘Turtle’s Gaze on Spying Stars’ is produced by Nila Madhab Panda, Vincent Wang and Fred Bellaiche’s Paris-based House on Fire (‘Whether the Weather is Fine’) and Sri Lanka’s Film Council Productions (‘Dark in the White Light), with France’s Le Studio Orlando (‘Plan 75’) as co-producer. It is supported by Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund + Europe, France’s CNC – Aide aux CInemas du Monde fund and Taiwan Creative Content Agency’s (TAICCA) Taiwan International Co-funding Program.
