For Biju Viswanath it's recognition at long last. The young filmmaker from Thiruvananthapuram, who is all ready to hit the international circuits with his most ambitious film Déjà vu, looks extremely happy after the response to his film at the 6th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), which was just recently held in Thiruvananthapuram.

The response to his film was indeed overwhelming, and Biju has got all reasons for being happy and proud that at last he has made it. This young filmmaker, who began by making ad-films, short films etc, had always dreamt of making an English movie, and with Déjà oblivion vu, he has been able to realize that dream of his, and that too in a grand way.

After the screening of Déjà vu at the IFFK, lots of people walked up to Biju and congratulated him on having done such a splendid work of the film. People from the media were seen interviewing him. People, both Indians and foreigners, were discussing with Biju on the various aspects of the film. Indeed Biju Viswanath had a very nice time. He was enjoying every minute of it and was really happy that all had come out well.

Deja vu, produced by noted editor Sreekar Prasad and Said Alvi under the banner of Film Freaks, is set in a remote island and has only two characters. The film begins with a quote from T.S.Eliot-"We do not like to walk out of a door, and find ourselves in the same room".

And this truly is an indication to the sad predicament of David, the protagonist of the film. David, an engineer is left alone in a remote island, when others of his team leave for the mainland for bringing provisions. Left alone for days on end, David ends being frustrated beyond limits.

He starts imagining things and yearns for company. His perception of things around him starts changing. He tries in vain to establish contact with the mainland over his wireless set. He is on the verge of madness, when as a sort of a relief; a man with scars on his body is washed ashore. He takes him into the lighthouse and nurses him, but once the man is nursed back to normalcy, David finds that he doesn't utter a word and he fails to establish communication with him. That intensifies his problems and what is in store for him is no less than an ordeal.

Paddy Fletcher has played the role of the distraught David to perfection. With him in the role of the other man is Simon Binns. Shot with hand held camera cranked by Biju himself, the film, with excellent background score by Sharath and artwork by Radhakrishnan Mangalaththu, creates the necessary mood and the viewer shares to the maximum the emotional crisis undergone by the hapless David.

Biju has done an excellent work of the script, which he has done along with Laura Andrews. And in total, Déjà vu becomes a different experience for film goers. And also for the man who had made the film, Déjà vu is certainly an experience in itself and after IFFK 2001, he is looking forward for an international release which, he feels would elicit a really good response from the viewers. Biju was only too glad to give a short interview immediately after IFFK.

How do you feel after the screenings at IFFK 2000?
I feel very confident. In fact the response of foreign delegates and the media was very positive.

What was the response to your film, from various quarters, when it was shown at IFFK2001?
The response was very good, much better than I expected. I got a very good marketing offer and I am discussing with my sales agent in U.K regarding that.

What are your plans regarding a commercial release?
We are planning to release the film in Indian metros by August, but our priority is releasing it abroad about which we are doing negotiations. The most important thing is that we are looking forward for the international premiere in a big festival.

Any new offers? Any new plans?
I am planning my next feature film in English. It is a co-production. The shoot will start in October. International and Indian actors will be there in the cast. It would be a bigger film than Deja vu with more characters, bigger budget etc. We are expected to shoot the movie in Scotland and also in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.