# T. Soumya
Let’s get to know Rafi Kandyparam, who designs the clothes for the characters in the movie
VeIn Lilithira, the clothes worn by the characters also have a story to tell. So much regarding the character, the period in which the story takes place. Then there should be a clear knowledge regarding the story and the character in the mind of those who are doing it.
Among those who dress up with the characters in mind, there is a Kannur man. That name was printed on the poster of both the films which were released in theaters at the same time. Costume Design: Rafi Kandyparam.
Solomon’s Bees, directed by Lal Jose, and Kiran Antony’s Holy Mejo, the films for which Rafi did the costume design, hit the theaters at the same time. Even in Ganesh Raj’s heyday, it was Rafi who designed the clothes for the characters. He is the associate costume designer for Prithviraj’s upcoming film Aadujeetu directed by Blessy. Kadakan, starring Srinath Bhasi, is the movie that Rafi is going to start shooting with costume design.
Rafi has been in the industry for 17 years with stardom and film stars.
Started as a costume designer’s assistant. Along with Sameera Saneesh, Steffi Xavier and others all became assistants. Rafi was a costume assistant in the films Vijay Super and Pournami, Mahesh’s Revenge, Queen, A Time in Crabs’ Land, Guppy, ABCD, Ezra, Vadkan Selfie, Thattathin Marayat, Amar, Akbar, Anthony and the Tamil film Suzhal. He became a freelance costume designer with the English film Silent Dark directed by Rajesh Diwakar. TP 51 Vet is the first Malayalam film to have independent costume design. He also did costume design for Tamil films Jamai and Sivaganga.
Ezra, Adu Jivetva, and Cold Case, who had to prepare the clothes of three periods, including the Jews, had to struggle to design the clothes. One has to travel for days in search of textiles. For Ezra, the color of the clothes was used to fade.
Rafi’s name was suggested to Lal Jose by Vinod Shornur, the producer of Vishudhu Mejo and Pookalam. That’s how Rafi became a participant in Solomon’s bees. Rafi considers it an invaluable honor that Lal Jose read the script of the film and when the film was completed, he and the screenwriter Prageesh called him to congratulate him. In spite of the rush, Rafi visits his home in Chattoth Pookavil in Kandyparam every now and then. To see and be with Umm Sharifa and her siblings.
