Next Productions
KANDAM
SYNOPSIS
Some paths are better left unexplored, for one never knows what one might discover. An unsuspecting fisherman, a genetics scientist, and a medical professor, soon find themselves on the threshold of millennia of mystery.
“To be or not to be…” that is the question that faces Ashok, a genetics scientist from London. On being stonewalled by his company, he decides to plunge ahead on his own, and travels to Jaffna to study more about the human remains that had been buried in the ocean for centuries. His research and subsequent cloning intimidates the scientific community and thrusts him into a race for life.
AMIT BHARGAV
DR. ASHOK BALAN
Amit Bhargav, the well renowned actor from South India plays the lead role of Dr. Ashok Balan. Amit’s first public performance was in a play titled, ‘Sadarame’, directed by the illustrious B.Jayashree. His love for theatre propelled him to form his own group, Pratikriya, and direct his first play, ‘Mamamouchi’, a Kannada translation of Moliere’s ‘Le bourgeois Gentilhomme’.
Soon thereafter he also acted in the mythological TV serial, ‘Seethe-Rama Katha Hridayam’. The films under his belt include, ‘Vizhi Moodi Yosithal’, ‘Yennamo Yedho’, ‘2 States’, and ‘Yennai Arindhal’.
Amit also does voice over and dubbing, and has lent his voice to many including Abhimanyu Singh’s character in ‘Thalaiva’. He also conducts numerous ceremonies as an emcee and writes scripts for short plays. He is currently playing the lead role of Arjun in the Tamil serial, ‘Kalyanam Muthal Kadhal Varai’ on Vijay TV.
NICO BIRNBAUM
MAXWELL BAUER
He began his career in 2009 as a lecturer at the University of Bonn, and later worked as a German teacher and translator in Rome. In 2012, he completed his doctorate with summa cum laude from Bonn, at which time acting caught his attention and so subsequently he attended the Scuola Nazionale di Cinema Indipendente in Florence. Nico has acted in German films Veras Mantel, Manuela - Gegen den Strom, Warning Signs, Einsteins Verrat, Verbotene Liebe, Konfetti, Estefania und die Vogelhochzeit, Smart “Erlkönig”, Zeichen der Schande and Broken Dreams.
He began his career in 2009 as a lecturer at the University of Bonn, and later worked as a German teacher and translator in Rome. In 2012, he completed his doctorate with summa cum laude from Bonn, at which time acting caught his attention and so subsequently he attended the Scuola Nazionale di Cinema Indipendente in Florence. Nico has acted in German films Veras Mantel, Manuela - Gegen den Strom, Warning Signs, Einsteins Verrat, Verbotene Liebe, Konfetti, Estefania und die Vogelhochzeit, Smart “Erlkönig”, Zeichen der Schande and Broken Dreams.
JERAD NOEL
JEEVA
THENUKA KANTHARAJAH
MAITHILI SRITHARAN
Thenuka Kantharajah is a multi-faceted personality. She is a renowned actor, dancer, yoga instructor and counseller. In her first feature-length film, A Gun and A Ring, she plays the lead character, Aby. Her powerful and stunning performance earned her a nomination for the Golden Goblet Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival, 2013, the best actress award at the Norway International Festival, and the best actress award from the Toronto Tamil Film Academy.
The film was also an official entry at the Montreal World Film Festival. Thenuka’s other films include the French film, Ceres et le temoin muet (Ceres and the silent witness),the German/English bilingual film, Geplatzte Traume (Broken Dreams) and the trasngereded saga, Roobha.
Thenuka learnt the nuances of classical Bharatnatyam dance at the prestigious Chidambaram Academy of Fine Arts in Chennai, under the tutelage of Padmashri Chitra Viswewaran. She has performed at numerous cities in North America and Europe.
SINTHAR ATHITH
MANU
An actor who belongs to the young breed of actors, but stands head and shoulders above the rest. To state that his acting abilities have not been quite harnessed yet, would be an understatement. He has appeared in numerous music videos and has won accolades for the same. Currently he is acting in a feature length film in India.
PEARLIJA JRAJ
SAHANA
Pearlija’s liveliness and grace has made her a much sought after actor from the young generation. Her vivacity has endeared her to the audience and catapulted her to the top of her peers. She has paired with Jerad Noel in a tele-film that was broadcasted on Shakthi TV.
A young actor who carries himself with the gravitas of an accomplished thespian. His sophistication and maturity has made him a favourite among the masses. His performances on stage has sharpened his skills and has set him on the course to reach great heights.
CATHERINE HALLBAUER
PRINCETEN CHARLES
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
COMPOSER
Catherine Hallbauer is a screenwriter and producer currently based in Germany, and has worked on numerous international feature and commercial film projects. Catherine received her bachelor’s degree in Film and Video Production from Brooks Institute in Southern California. She thrives in all aspects of filmmaking and effectively fills the roles of an assistant director as well as script supervisor. Catherine has an innate capacity to quickly learn and adapt to various cultures and traditions and efficaciously translates this acquired knowledge into her written and filmed work. In her spare time, Catherine loves to express her creativity through photography and acting.
As a highly talented musician, Princeten gives a potent glimpse into the hotbed of Indian vibes in Europe. His works consist of music written, arranged and composed by himself. The colours of his beats range from urban and swing to playful and intricate ballads with an emphasis on strong ensemble dynamics. Princeten’s reputation as an original composer/arranger for well known singers continues to grow. Since 2007, He has worked with various rappers and major R&B artists from Europe, North America and India. His melodic inventiveness, harmonic richness and willingness to take chances are amazing.
ARSENIJ GUSEV
PARTHIPAN MAHESU
ART DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Parthipan Mahesu is a connoisseur of art par excellence. With over 20 years of dedicated work as an arts teacher, he has been guiding multitudes of youth to appreciate art. Parthipan is an avid miniature sculptor and has numerous amazing pencil lead sculptures to his credit. He also expresses his creativeness with other media, including wax, papier mâché, oil paints, and water colour. He has held numerous exhibitions in India and Sri Lanka.
The young maestro, Arsenij Gusev, etches visual poetry with his camera. He holds a Masterclass DOP from Moskau, and a degree in Film and TV Production focus Camera 2010 from Dortmund, Germany. His in-depth knowledge in filmmaking, is apparent in the plethora of his work. He has worked as a Director of Photography in ‘Pastell Shades‘, ‘The Ghost with a Hole WT‘, ‘Children Children‘, ‘Reise im Kopf‘, ‘Zwiegestalten, No. 7‘, ‘Reise zum Fluss‘, ‘Solanum‘, ‘Lust‘, ‘Bagatelle‘; as a DP for the commercials, ‘Hornback Sonnenschirm‘, ‘Youtailor, Size Does Matter‘, ‘CO’PS Drinks‘, ‘Duisburg Stadtwerke‘, ‘Eisbar‘, ‘Most Wanted‘, ‘Camaloon Web Advertising Series‘, ‘EP-Flow Werberseri‘, ‘Schachmatt‘ and ‘Westspeil Entertainment Werberserie‘; and as a second unit DP for ‘Sicher ist Sicher‘, ‘Sex and Crime‘, and ‘My Last Concert‘.
PRAS LINGAM
DIRECTOR
Pras Lingam eats, sleeps and breathes movies, and has dreamt about being a director from the time he can remember. In the past, he has proved his excellence behind the camera on multiple levels, as a cinematographer, writer, and producer. The German-English bi-lingual film, Broken Dreams, which was shot entirely in Berlin, marks the directorial debut. He conceived the idea for Kandam a few years ago after watching a History Channel documentary. He toyed with it for some years until it evolved and took its present shape.