Christ Nagar has been one of the foremost educational institutions in Trivandrum for the past thirty seven years. Trying to get the best out of their children and helping them find their own forte has given the school many memorable occasions to be proud of. One such is the short film 'Pachathrurthukal', made by a team of students and teachers on behalf of the Nature's Club of the school. The script for the film was prepared by a tenth standard student Nikhil Banarjee, who has also directed the twenty minute long film.

“It all began three years ago,” says Malayalam teacher, Thomas Poovattil, who also was the camera man for the film. “When he was in the seventh standard, I had asked the class to prepare a script on a particular story as assignment. We follow that procedure every year. And Nikhil always has shown a deep passion for making films. He saw it as an opportunity; three years later he approached us with this plan of making a short film on behalf of the Nature's Club.”

Exams –usually are right on top of  the priority list of  boys of Nikhil Banarjee's age. But he appears vaguely disinterested was and is more enthusiastic to talk about the film.

“It is a film that focuses on showing the way humans are moving away from nature. The story revolves around a village girl who forms a deep bond with her teacher.”

The 'village girl' was played by Ardra, a sixth standard student. Other than the child artiste, two teachers, Preena and Swapna and even the principal Fr Kurien Chalangady, played parts in the film, helping it turn into a reality.

“The first location was a paddy field in Punnampara, Venjaramoodu, belonging to an award winning farmer, Bhaskaran Nair. Then we shot some scenes inside the owner's house, with his permission of course, and then one at a hotel in Devaswom Board Jn. It was hard work from the beginning to the end.”

More than anything else, Nikhil Banarjee sees the experience he gained in making 'Pachathuruthukal' as a glimpse of what it is like to be a real film director.