Directions: If you were to create a filmed advertisement (a “trailer&rdquo for a movie based on The Grass-Eaters, which scene would you select? Why? Discuss ways in which you might film the scene.

The story of The Grass Eaters is originally told by Krishnan Varma in a sarcastic and humorous way. When I read it, I found the positive attitudes of Ajit Babu inspiring and meaningful. If I were to direct a trailer for a film based on this piece of writing, I would surely want to convey the optimism and describe the extreme life the protagonist has been leading to the potential audience. Thus, I would use the scene where Ajit lived in pipe along with his wife. I feel that this scene can best serve my purpose. There is black humor in the scene. Common people might find the living condition horrible to bear, but contrary to most people’s thought, Ajit was actually leading a contented life in it. I believe audience would find the unexpectedness in the protagonist’s attitude interesting and at the same time, would be curious to find out what life in a pipe would be like.

The first possible way for me to make the trailer will be to shoot the scene from the side so that we might see the setting and happenings in the pipe. There might be some dim light. The camera would then gradually lead us to see the simple and shabby furniture condensed together in such limited space. The kitchen area is simply an old kettle and a pan. Right next to them are Ajit and his wife sleeping. They are wearing contended smile on the faces and murmuring “Such a cozy little place” in their dreams. At the same time, a huge blow of wind come in; Ajit move a bit and get hit by the box in which his wife and him keep all their shabby clothes. Ajit will not be irritated by the little accident. Instead, he says sorry to the box and looks at it in a loving way. Through this trailer, Ajit shows his optimism toward the hardship of life and audience might feel like to know more about the unusual protagonist and his unusual life.

The second possible way I have thought of is to shoot the surrounding of the house. When Ajit says good night to his wife, their pipe is in the suburbs of a certain town. They have an old couple living in a townhouse as their neighbor, yet when they wake up next morning, they are trapped in a big forest. It seems a dangerous place, but Ajit still regards it as a lucky free trip. There might be wild animals in the vast wilderness, but Ajit, having experienced all sorts of bad happenings, can no longer be scared. He has nothing to lose, so he chooses to remain positive. People might be amused by the black humor at first, but at the same time, they would ask themselves what kind of people would take the extreme instability and danger in life in such a light way. I believe this trailer might also boost people’s interest in finding out more about the story of the Grass-Eaters.