Sanjeev Sivan's next on couple's fight for dead son's semen

Thiruvananthapuram, July 6 (IANS) You may have heard people fighting legal battles for property or family rights, but have you ever heard of a couple fighting a case to get hold of their dead son's semen? Weird as it may sound, but this is a true story being brought to screen by Malayalam filmmaker Sanjeev Sivan.

He will present the story through two films.

"I read the travails of the couple who lost their son and after a legal battle got their son's semen, which is now kept in a private hospital. I went and met them and expressed my interest in making two separate films and they agreed," Sanjeev told IANS.

Sanjeev is not new to filmdom. He comes from the celebrated 'Sivan' family - his two brothers Sangeeth and Santosh are already established names and his father Sivan is an award winning filmmaker.

The two films that Sanjeev has planned will be in two formats - one will be an out and out documentary, in which the parents act, while another will be a full length feature film with a star studded cast.

"The documentary has been titled 'In Search Of A Womb' and the shoot will start this month. We will begin shooting for yet-to-be-named feature film towards the end of the year and National Award winning actor Salim Kumar has agreed (to work in it). We are now trying for Seema Biswas and I also wish to rope in superstar Mammootty to do a cameo," said Sanjeev who directed suspense thriller "Aparichithan" in 2004.

The script is being penned by well-known scribe T.A. Razak.

The film is based on the story of Ravi Kumar, 59, a casual labourer, and his 58-year-old wife Karthiyayani from Thrissur. Their son, a sound engineering in a Bangalore institute, was diagnosed with tumour in his testes and later died. While he was being treated, doctors advised that his semen be collected and stored for further use. And that's what he did.

Ratheesh died at the age of 28 last year after contracting pneumonia.

After the son's death, when the elderly couple approached the hospital for the semen, it refused to give it to them.

The couple filed a case against the hospital. In February this year, the Lok Adalat at Kochi directed the hospital to give Ratheesh's semen to his parents.

" Ratheesh was a brilliant and talented person. I was amazed to see what he has done given his limitation. With this in mind, I spoke to Oscar award winner Resul Pookutty and he has told me to count him in for the project in any capacity," said Sanjeev.

He added that he is now committed to the couple for their needs in building a home and also for their efforts for having a surrogate child.

"Am really excited with the interests numerous people in the country and abroad have shown and are willing to cooperate with me," said Sanjeev, who just finished a short film on the security aspects at the London Olympics.

(Sanu George can be contacted at [email protected])