When Life Changes Direction
For many people, a stable engineering job in Dubai is the ultimate dream — a life of comfort, structure, and success. But for one civil engineer, it was only the beginning of a different kind of blueprint — not for skyscrapers or bridges, but for stories that connect people and nature.
This is the story of a man who traded concrete and calculations for creativity and camera lenses. His journey led him from construction sites in Dubai to the misty, green landscapes of Kerala, where he found his true calling through a Malayalam feature film titled Lurk — a nature drama that explores humanity’s fragile relationship with the environment.
The Unexpected Calling
Every passion has an origin. For this Dubai-based engineer, storytelling was always quietly running beneath the surface of his structured life. The precision and planning required in engineering oddly mirrored the discipline of filmmaking — both demanded vision, patience, and attention to detail.
But something was missing. Despite a thriving career in Dubai, he found himself craving emotional depth — something a technical job could never fully provide. The spark came during a solo trip to Kerala’s Western Ghats, where the serenity of nature inspired a question:
What if the world around us could speak? What would it say about how we treat it?
That question became the seed for Lurk — a story that blends human drama with the haunting silence of nature.
From Blueprints to Storyboards
Transitioning from engineering to filmmaking wasn’t easy. Without formal training in cinema, he had to rely on self-learning, observation, and an unwavering belief in his vision.
He began watching films differently — not just as a viewer, but as a student. Every frame, every cut, every sound became a lesson. Soon, he started writing scripts during his off hours, jotting ideas on his phone between project meetings and site visits.
“It was like living two lives,” he shared in an interview. “By day, I managed blueprints and deadlines; by night, I was sketching characters, emotions, and scenes. Eventually, the second life became stronger — it started pulling me completely.”
When Lurk began to take shape, he knew it was time to take the leap of faith that every artist fears but secretly longs for — to trade safety for storytelling.
The Birth of Lurk
Lurk is not just another Malayalam indie film. It’s a visual and emotional exploration of humanity’s uneasy coexistence with nature.
Set deep in the forests of Kerala, the story follows characters whose lives are intertwined with the natural world — people who depend on it, exploit it, and sometimes lose themselves within it. The film’s title, Lurk, captures the ever-present tension between man and nature — both beautiful and dangerous, giving and taking.
The script was born out of real experiences and observations during his time in Kerala’s rural landscapes. He spent weeks in forest villages, talking to locals, listening to their stories, and understanding their connection to the environment.
“Nature has moods,” he says. “It’s gentle, yet unpredictable. In Lurk, nature is not a background — it’s a character.”
Filming in the Heart of Kerala
Shooting Lurk in Kerala was both breathtaking and challenging. The film was set in real locations — dense forests, riversides, and mountain trails — which tested both the cast and crew.
Filming equipment had to be carried through uneven terrain, and unpredictable weather became part of the storytelling process. But those very challenges brought authenticity to every shot. The mist rolling through the trees, the rain cascading down the leaves — nothing was fabricated.
It was the raw beauty of Kerala captured in its purest form.
For the filmmaker, every drop of sweat and every delay was worth it. “Kerala is not just a setting,” he explains. “It’s the soul of the film. Without its natural rhythm, Lurk wouldn’t exist.”
The Power of Purpose
What makes Lurk special isn’t just its setting or visuals — it’s the intent behind the story.
The film carries an urgent message about humanity’s growing disconnect from nature. It doesn’t preach; instead, it lets silence and scenery do the talking. The rustle of leaves, the call of distant birds, the quiet fear of what lies unseen — all become metaphors for our fading relationship with the environment.
At its heart, Lurk asks:
- Have we stopped listening to the earth?
- What happens when nature starts speaking in ways we can no longer ignore?
These questions give Lurk a universal resonance, transforming it from a regional film into a global environmental reflection.
Finding Strength in Simplicity
As a debut filmmaker, the Dubai engineer turned director didn’t have a massive production house or a star-studded cast behind him. What he had was clarity of vision and a small, dedicated team that believed in the story.
His approach was minimalist — relying on natural light, authentic dialogues, and organic performances rather than overproduced spectacle. This stripped-down filmmaking style gave Lurk a haunting intimacy.
It proved that passion can compensate for resources, and that truthful storytelling doesn’t need a big budget — only a big heart.
Balancing Two Worlds
Even after Lurk, he remains connected to both engineering and cinema — two worlds that seem opposite but often intersect in surprising ways.
“Engineering taught me structure, patience, and precision,” he says. “Filmmaking taught me empathy, creativity, and chaos. Somewhere between the two, I found balance.”
That balance defines his personality — methodical yet imaginative, practical yet poetic. His journey is a reminder that our careers don’t always define us — our courage to follow what moves us does.
The Broader Impact: A New Voice in Malayalam Cinema
Malayalam cinema has long been celebrated for its realism and depth. Yet in recent years, there’s been a growing appetite for stories that merge social consciousness with cinematic beauty.
Lurk fits perfectly within that evolution — part art film, part environmental drama, and entirely human at its core. It positions its creator among a new generation of filmmakers who are redefining Malayalam storytelling from both within and beyond India’s borders.
His Dubai background also adds a unique dimension — a global perspective shaped by distance, nostalgia, and rediscovery. It’s a lens that allows him to see Kerala not just as a native landscape, but as a living narrative of memory and meaning.
Lessons from the Journey
Looking back, the filmmaker acknowledges that the path from engineer to artist was far from linear. There were moments of doubt, financial strain, and creative frustration. But through it all, one thing stayed constant — his belief that stories can build bridges stronger than concrete.
Here are some of the key lessons from his journey:
- Every career can lead to creativity — if you follow your curiosity.
- Nature isn’t scenery; it’s a teacher. Observe it, and you’ll learn more about yourself.
- True success lies in self-expression, not in external validation.
- It’s never too late to start. The best stories come from lived experience.
Looking Ahead: Seeds of the Future
After Lurk, the filmmaker is already exploring new scripts that continue to blend human emotion with environmental awareness. Each project, he says, is a new chapter in an ongoing dialogue with nature.
He dreams of taking his stories to international platforms, showing that Malayalam cinema can be both deeply rooted and universally relevant.
For him, filmmaking is no longer a dream — it’s destiny.
A Journey from Concrete to Creativity
From engineering towers in Dubai to creating stories in Kerala’s forests, his journey is a powerful reminder that passion can rewrite destiny.
Lurk isn’t just a film; it’s a metaphor for his own transformation — the hidden artist who was always “lurking” beneath the surface, waiting to emerge.
In finding his voice through cinema, he found something greater — a purpose that connects humanity, nature, and the magic of storytelling.
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