Fifty-nine settings, 300 actors, 150 technicians, countless costume and makeup changes, 90 days of rehearsal, and a story that spans 50 years–Iravin Nizhal, the world’s first non-linear single-shot film, is truly a colossal undertaking for Indian cinema, making a statement in the entertainment industry as it delivers unrivaled choreography and storytelling seamlessly blended into one single take. No cuts, no fillers, just pure talent and artistry taking filmmaking to a whole new level.
Written by R. Parthiban, who also played the protagonist in the story, Iravin Nizhal is set to be an official entry to the Oscars. Parthiban is a three-time winner in the Indian National Film Awards, has acted in over 72 films, directed 15, and produced 12. He is a leading visionary among the rising filmmakers in India, championing culturally-rooted stories to the spotlight.
The conception of Iravin Nizhal has been nothing but easy, from choreographing the actors, training the crew, and ensuring that all performances are perfect for one take. In its continuous line of scenes, a story unfolds and follows the events of the protagonist’s life. The one-shot film includes scenes under different weather conditions, lighting, musical scores, and diverse technological aspects, but the crew pulled off a narrative that perfectly depicts the social and historical value it wanted to communicate to viewers.
The film’s musical scores were arranged by Academy Award Winner AR Rahman, widely recognized for his work in Slumdog Millionaire, and was awarded “Padma Bhushan,” the Indian nation’s third-highest civilian award. Among the sound crew is Craig Mann, who won an Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing in the film Whiplash. Also with them is VFX supervisor Cottalango Leon, an Indian-American computer graphics technician who won a joint Academy Award and technical achievement in 2016. With his award-winning team, Parthiban was confident that Iravin Nizhal would be a success despite the challenges they went through.
Non-linear single-shot films are not often explored in Indian cinema because of their complexities. Even the cast of Iravin Nizhal confessed that despite countless rehearsals, there were still some unprecedented moments during the shoot that forced them to use their creativity and improvise so as not to compromise the shot. But after many takes, they achieved what is now celebrated as a new beacon in Bollywood and are ready to take on the international stage.
With thousands of films released to audiences every year, not to mention the rise of independent online content, filmmakers are always striving to deliver something fresh and tell stories no one has ever dared tell before. Iravin Nizhal not only tells a story but explores an untapped artistry in the Indian film industry. Parthiban, a vital part of the Tamil film industry for nearly four decades and known for his innovative storytelling techniques, succeeds once again in creating a masterpiece that would set the bar higher in the landscape and challenge other filmmakers to go outside of their comfort zone.
Besides Iravin Nizhal, Parthiban is also the genius behind the world’s first single-actor film called Single Slipper Size 7, which he also directed and produced himself, a true one-man show. Iravin Nizhal is now streaming on Prime Video.
