Private Project

The Grasshoppers Sleep Here

When a man comes with grass cutting machine to a field, a girl is seen sleeping there.

Where developments are inevitable, this simple yet layered film strongly prompts the audience to acknowledge the small ecosystems that are inevitably important.

  • Balaram J
    Director
    Story of a beginning (2020), Kaanch (2019), Juda (2018)
  • Balaram J
    Writer
    Story of a beginning (2020), Kaanch (2019), Juda (2018)
  • Balaram J
    Editor
    Story of a beginning (2020), Kaanch (2019), Juda (2018)
  • Balaram J
    Producer
  • Rameez M Abbas
    Cinematographer
  • Renganaath Ravee
    Sound Designer
    Ee Ma Yau (2018) , Jallikattu (2019), Churuli (2021)
  • Jewel V Sukumaran
    Music Composer
    Nagam Musical, Ezhaam Raavu
  • RangRays Media Works Kochi
    DI
    Chola (2019), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020), Churuli (2021), Nayattu (2021) etc.
  • Liju Prabhakar
    Colorist
    Chola (2019), Anjaam Pathiraa (2020), Churuli (2021) etc.
  • Fazal A Backer
    Re-recording Mixer
    Churuli (2021), Story of a beginning (2020).
  • Avani Satheesh
    Starring
  • Gangadharan Pillai
    Starring
  • Raw and New, Kochi
    VFX
    Nizhal (2021), Churuli (2021), Nayattu (2021)
  • Swathy Pramod T
    3D Artists
  • Riyaz Khan
    3D Artists
  • Mahesh Mohan
    3D Artists
  • Athul Jayaram
    Title Designer
    Story of a beginning
  • Abhinand P B
    Assistant Colorist
  • Vysakh Sobhan
    Sound Effects Editor
  • Mohammad Iqbal (Paratwada)
    Foley Artist
  • Mohammad Aaquib
    Assistant Foley Artist
  • Mohammad Shoaib
    Foley Recording
  • Dev Mandal
    Foley Editor
  • Afterplay, Mumbai
    Foley Studio
  • Coptrix, Angamaly
    Helicam
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Fiction, Short, Environmental
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 27, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Malayalam
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Balaram J

Balaram J is a writer, designer and independent filmmaker from Kerala, India. He is a Communication Design graduate from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. He created animation for Lijo Jose Pellissery's feature films Jallikattu (2019) and Churuli (2021). His thesis film 'Story of a beginning' (2020) talks about human's never-ending conflicts over ideas, beliefs and faiths and the constant search for meanings and answers about life. The film travelled to more than 45 international film festivals and bagged several awards.

His stories are born from observing life around him and his personal experiences. He craves stories that make him a better human and wishes to make films that do the same to others. He enjoys telling compelling stories using different visual mediums and hopes to push the limits of the existing visual communication methods. Currently, he is working on a few music videos and feature film projects.

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Director Statement

The storytelling of 'The grasshoppers sleep here' is very simple yet layered. From small kids to senior cinephiles, this film offers a thought-provoking experience. The story is rich with visual and sound metaphors, which makes it worth multiple-watching. The theme of the film is highly relevant in today's time and the philosophy it put forward will be relevant always.

'The grasshoppers sleep here' is inspired by true events. While working on my animated film I had to sit in front of the laptop for long hours. During these days, a new obsession grew in me, to lie down on the grass and wonder at the small world of insects, as an escape from the pixels and brightness of the screen.

One time, a Man came to clear the grass from the children's park ground where I used to lie down. I felt sudden distress as I looked at the insects, peaceful and blissful among the grasses. Trimming the grass felt like cutting down a huge forest. I requested the Man to leave a small patch of grass for the insects. He could not accept it as he was doing it for a wage.

After clearing the grass, I could not find the insects I had befriended, nor did I feel like lying there. This film is a result of the helplessness I felt after the incident. But I am hopeful now.

The film is shot with a crew of 4 people; myself (director), the cinematographer and the two actors. The cast, Miss Avani and Mr. Gangan are first-time actors. Mr. Gangan does grass cutting for a living. The film is shot by strictly following the Covid guidelines issued by the Kerala State Government.