Rub Al Khali's wilderness on Indian cinema

Muscat: The mysterious Empty Quarter or Rub al Khali, the sand desert encompassing most of the southern third of the Arabian Peninsula covering some 650,000 km2

shared by the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has always been an unread book for many writers, novelists, filmmakers, documentary directors and the like and several pieces of art have already been made on this vast expanse of the desert.

The first international movie covering most of the Rub al Khali as well as the beauty of Oman is all set for worldwide release on January 5, thanks to the joint efforts of the Oman Film Society (OFS), AUL productions, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Royal Oman Police (ROP) in enabling the making of the 126-minutes-long Malayalam film during the last summer.

“We are finally to the theatres after a hectic, life-and-death 37 days and nights shooting in the largest sand desert in the world and thanks to the citizens and expatriates who made this big film happen,” said Aneesh Anwar, director of the film.

Titled 'Raastha' (The Way), the highly anticipated survival thriller film has both Omani actors sharing screen space with the Indian actors including Sarjano Khalid, Anagha Narayanan, Aaradhya Ann, Sudheesh, Irshad Ali, TG Ravi, and Anish Anwar, the film is produced by Linu Sreenivas under the banner of ALU Entertainments.

At a press conference organised at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) under the auspices of Faisal Abdullah al Rawas, Chairman of OCCI, the cast n crew of the movie shared their rich experience of shooting in Oman and the story which is based on real previous incidents.

Humaid al Amri, Chairman of Oman Film Society, while sharing his experiences, said the movie will give a boost to Oman's entertainment industry and will inspire more movie makers to come to Oman and shoot movies here.

Haitham Mohammed Rafi, acclaimed Omani singer, who sings in multiple languages, sang the film song for the audience to a standing ovation.

Abdul Latheef Uppala, the owner of ALU Entertainments, Board Member of Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Managing Director of Badr al Samaa Group of Hospitals said that the story of the movie motivated him to consider it as it is based on true facts and how it showcases the true nature and culture of Oman. He said he feels it is his responsibility to contribute to the promotion of the entertainment and tourism industry of Oman and this movie is the first such step in this direction.

A heart-wrenching story of a girl who travels to the Gulf to find her mother, Raastha has all the ingredients to make it dear to the family audience and the makers claimed that it would be a sureshot to entertain audiences of different genres.

Penned by Shahul and Faiz , 'Raastha' promises an enthralling cinematic experience with its gripping story, screenplay, and dialogues. Vishnu Narayanan handles the cinematography, while Avin Mohan Sithara contributes the musical score, ensuring a captivating auditory journey.

While speaking on the intricate filmmaking process, Sudha Shah, Line Producer of the film said that the support from the various ministries and other local authorities has helped a lot in the making and it wouldn’t have been possible without their support.

Edited by Aftar Anwar, 'Raastha' boasts stellar performances complemented by the artistic direction of Venu Thopil. The film features outstanding songs sung by Vineeth Srinivasan, Alphonse Joseph, Suraj Santhosh, and Avin Mohan Sithara.

The ensemble behind the scenes includes Premlal Pattazhi for cinematography, Rajesh Nenmara for makeup, A.B. Jub for sound design, Liju Prabhakar as colorist, and Qasim Muhammad Al Sulaimi overseeing VFX at Fox.Media. Costume design is handled by Shaibi Joseph, spot editing by Rahul Raju, and finance control by Rahul Cheral. Production Controller (Hochimin KC), Design (Collins Lyofill), Marketing and Communication (PR Pratheesh Sekhar) are others who supported the production of the film.

With a powerhouse cast and a talented crew, 'Raastha' promises to deliver an immersive cinematic experience, blending suspense, survival, and the raw essence of storytelling.