Creative high for Gireesh Nair

His first work, a documentary on street children and women in an Indian city titled The Unknown, was short-listed in competition at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Now, Gireesh Nair, who went on to work on TV commercials and films, is exploring two new film projects in Malayalam.

Gireesh’s credentials are strong also as a radio professional, having been the founder director of the Dubai-based RadioMe 100.3 FM, which he now heads as Chief Executive Officer. He has previously worked with renowned cinematographers including Rajeev Menon (on Minsara Kanavu), Madhu Ambat (on the Kerala shoot of Raj Kumar Santhoshi’s Lajja), Sunny Joseph and KG Jayan, and film director PN Menon.

Having started his career in advertising in Mumbai, before moving to television, he plans to scout for UAE talent for his new projects. “There is a wealth of talented youngsters in the UAE, who are keen to work in Malayalam cinema,” says Gireesh. “The new wave in filmmaking in the industry has broken all barriers, which has also opened up new opportunities for creative professionals.”

Gireesh says his two new projects approach subjects that are seldom explored, and one of them will be a bold female-centric movie. “There is a shift in the way Malayalam audiences appreciate movies too. While formula movies do have their takers, there is also a keen interest in promoting new approaches and narratives,” he says.

Having made Malayalam movie premieres much-talked about among Keralites in the UAE through RadioMe promotions, Gireesh is also looking at creating a talent pool of actors and technicians in Dubai, who can assist film directors seeking to shoot in Dubai.