The 2018 Tamil romantic drama “Under the Lemon Tree” was filmed primarily in India, as well as in some European countries. It is the feature film debut of director Gayatri Kashi, who wanted to capture the beauty of the Indian countryside for her movie. Filming for “Under the Lemon Tree” began in the summer of 2017 and was wrapped up in the autumn of 2018. To create the backdrop for the film, the production team traveled to several distant and disparate locations to create a visually stunning multi-location project.
Main filming for “Under the Lemon Tree” took place in various parts of India, such as the cities of Chennai, Kodaikanal, Madurai, and some villages in Tamil Nadu. The production also took advantage of scenery in the western part of India, such as Mumbai, Udaipur, and Gujarat. During the production, cast and crew were said to have faced numerous challenges due to particularly hot days, developing technical issues, and other unexpected occurrences. Nevertheless, they persevered and managed to complete filming most of the scenes successfully.
For the more exotic locales, “Under the Lemon Tree” travel to locations such as Paris, Switzerland, and the Italian countryside. The film also shot scenes in Vienna, Poland and Germany, where the crew was able to select several unique environments to portray the international aspects of the story. In Padua, Italy, a 1930s of house was chosen to create a retro atmosphere. The Palazzo Papadopoli in Venice was also featured in the film, as the home of the main protagonist’s family. Additionally, a special sequence was shot in the grounds of the Schonbrunn palace in Vienna.
In order to create the necessary realism, director Gayatri Kashi and her team also hired actors from various regions of India and explored new socio-cultural issues in this Indian movie set in a multi-cultural setting. The movie is Co-produced by Apple Tree Studios, Qube Premiere and Cinema Class Presentation and won several awards internationally. “Under the Lemon Tree” skillfully captures the sights and sounds of India and other countries, making the film an international hit.
Casting Process
The casting process for “Under the Lemon Tree” began in the early stages of pre-production. Both new and experienced actors were auditioned and the team eventually finalized the cast in late 2017. Tamil stars Amith Yadhav and Kanika Raval were chosen to play the two main characters of the movie, and the entire cast were in complete support of director Gayatri Kashi’s vision for the film.
The supporting cast of the film included respected Actors from different South Indian language films, such as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Actors like Suhas, Sarath Babu, Alka Raghuvanshi, Vasudevan, Geeta, Tej Sapru, Devan, Balasubramaniam and Parthiban added to the recognition of the movie. While the main stars of “Under the Lemon Tree” had already worked in several domestic and international productions, the movie served to introduce the incredible talent of the new actors.
In order to capture the emotions of the characters, director Gayatri Kashi relied on an emotionally charged cast. All of the actors were given ample time to rehearse their lines and create believable performances. The cast also bonded with each other during weekly table reads, creating an atmosphere of both professionalism and respect.
The actors had to work in various filming conditions, from the hot Indian summer to the cold weather of Europe. Besides capturing the physical characteristics of the characters, director Kashi also focused on the psychological depth of each actor’s performance, which makes “Under the Lemon Tree” a profound drama with a unique script.
Film Editing and Post- production
After shooting wrapped up, the film underwent extensive editing, taking nearly six months before it was ready for release. Some reshoots were also done during this post-production stage, in order to make cuts and includes scenes that had been left out of the first cut. Indian cinematographer Ramachandraiah used beautiful and expressive camera shots to capture the dynamics of the characters, while the editing team created the sequences and transitions that were necessary to tell the story.
The editing of the film went on for a very long time and for the final look, director Gayatri Kashi used colorful images and diverse tones. Background score and sound design proved to be a very important element in “Under the Lemon Tree”, creating a lasting atmosphere of romance and passion. The sound design team chose to use the traditional instruments and style of the Tamil culture to give the film a unique flavor.
The post-production technique used for this movie also included the dubbing of some scenes and the use of both digital and physical effects. The production team spent some time on perfecting each scene and finetuning the details. This attention to detail allowed “Under the Lemon Tree” to achieve international recognition and several awards, such as the award for Best Film at the 2019 Indian International Film Festival.
Visual Effects
Visual effects were also extensively used to make the film look more cinematic and realistic. In the movie, most of the scenes are shot in a rural setting, where director Gayatri Kashi wanted to portray the beauty of Indian villages. To achieve this effect, the filmmakers used computer generated graphics to create the small town feel, as well as adding digital matte paintings to create the atmosphere of the story.
The team also used motion capturing techniques and motion graphics to deliver a cinematic experience. For example, the crane shots used in the film’s introductory sequence were propelled by digital technology, providing the audience with a stunningly beautiful aerial view of the landscape. Besides digital effects, some of the scenes also required practical effects, such as miniature sets or traditional artworks for certain parts of the story.
The visual effects of this Indian film also added a sense of grandeur to the movie, evolving the small-town mood into an epic journey of love. By using computer graphics and other technologies, the production was able to create an uplifting and unique movie experience that audiences around the world could enjoy.
Music and Soundtrack
The music of “Under the Lemon Tree” was composed by veteran South Indian composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, who is well known for his melodic and innovative music. Raja collaborated with director Gayatri Kashi and the lyricists to create the soundtrack of the film, which was full of sentimental and contemplative tunes.
The background score was composed to create the feeling of both intimacy and grandeur.Soft instrumentals and soft rock pieces created an aura of romanticism, while some of the soundtracks had a mix of folk and classical elements, creating a feeling of nostalgia. With such a rich variety of themes and scores, the soundtrack of “Under the Lemon Tree” was able to add a unique layer of emotion to the story.
The music of the film also included tracks by established Indian music groups, such as Kailash Kher and Bombay Jayshree, which contributed to the depth of the movie. These artists brought a unique flavor to the soundtrack, which was appreciated by both critics and audiences alike. Besides being featured in the film, two of the songs from the album were also nominated for awards.
The soundtracks featured on the movie also had a major contribution in making the film an international success. “Under the Lemon Tree” was praised by critics, who appreciated the richness of the songs and the uniqueness of the music. The music and soundtrack of the movie were lauded by the international festival jury and served as a major impact to the film’s success.
Publicity and Promotion
The marketing and promotional campaign of “Under the Lemon Tree” began months prior to its release date. Director Gayatri Kashi worked closely with the marketing team to create a strong digital campaign. Teaser trailers, motion poster, and video clips were created to build anticipation and to create a connection with fans.
The promotional team also widely used social media to spread the word about the film, as well as to build hype around the movie. In addition, the team also conducted interviews with the cast and director, allowing fans to get to know more about the movie and its creators. Furthermore, press conferences and other publicity events were organized to raise awareness about the project.
The promotion for “Under the Lemon Tree” also included various engagements with fans. Special events were set up to allow viewers to meet the cast and the director and to discuss their thoughts about the movie. Furthermore, the film was featured in several international festivals, giving the production team a chance to showcase the movie in front of an international audience.
By the time the movie was released, the promotional campaign had generated a lot of attention. The movie drew in millions of viewers, quickly becoming a huge success in both India and abroad. With its unique story, great cast, beautiful cinematography, and uplifting soundtrack, “Under the Lemon Tree” continues to be one of the best Indian movies of recent years.
